MP by David Hoang

MPPhotography by David Hoang

DetailsToo often do we see students (and many adults) cringe at the sight of a math problem. Too often do we question its value and practicality in our personal lives and careers.What many of us seem to forget is the fact that math is all around us and not just in the hardcover textbooks we keep in the classrooms.

MP (Math Photography) is a series of photographs intended to inspire children, parents and families, and educators to think creatively about how math is all around them in the real world. It is this author’s hope that the photographs within this series can be used as a catalyst for more discussions and open-ended questions focused on how we can relate math to subject areas such as math, language arts, and social studies. The ultimate challenge will be to move beyond this photographic series and share your knowledge and understanding through your own pieces of art.

DedicationsMP is dedicated to the children, families, and educators that have inspired me to think and live creatively (and mathematically).

Children are encouraged to learn more about the photographs and create word problems they may try to solve with their friends. Select photographs have keywords, numbers and ideas that can be used explicitly or loosely as inspiration for creating relevant word problems.

Parents and families may also enjoy MP by reading the book with their children at home. Furthermore, parents and families may work with their children to make relevant math word problems from their very own family photo albums to share with relatives and friends.

Educators are encouraged to try and utilize this resource book as a starting point for making math meaningful. Educators may place a hard copy of the book in their classroom reading centre or load the digital copy onto a projector or a SMART board for class discussions and minds-on math activities. Once educators feel comfortable engaging students in discussions and creating word problems, the class may begin to use their own photographs or creative commons photographs online to continue this project where an emphasis is on relevant and real world math problems.

Distribution To ensure this resource is available to as many children, families, and educators as possible a digital copy is available for use within the classrooms and homes as a hard copy book or online with a personal computer.

Math content and ideasThe possibilities for creating word problems and discussions related to math through photography are endless! Here are a few examples of questions you may ask and explore.

Is this photograph symmetrical or asymmetrical? What about the building or subject within the photograph?

What kind of 2D and 3D shapes can you find in this photograph?

If a student was racing in the Criterium how fast do you think he could cycle?

How do you think we could measure this building or subject? With snap cubes or metre sticks? Why?

How old is this building?

What do we know about this building? What do we want to know? How can we find out?

If a student is 1.5 metres tall how can we photograph her to look 5 meters tall?

If there are 6 elevators & the maximum capacity is 16 per elevator, how many people can get to the observation deck at the same time?

What kind of math problems do you think the architect of this building had to solve to build this building?

When and where do you think the photographer took this photograph?

Can you photograph something in your classroom or community similar to this?

ROYAL TRUST TOWER77 King Street West

Completed in 1969185 metres

24 elevators 46 floors

Canadian National (CN) Tower301 Front Street West

Completed in 1976World’s tallest structure until 2009

553 metres to the top of the antenna spire457 metres to the top of the roof

446 metres to the top floor6 elevators

Curved steel framed staircase at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)317 Dundas Street West

Founded in 1900Transformation AGO (Frank Gehry renovations) in 2008

Osegoode Hall Ceiling130 Queen Street West

Completed in 1832

The Skywalk

Pedestrian bridge connecting Union Station, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Rogers Centre, and the CN Tower

Kurt Perschke’s Red Ball at Old City Hall

Public art installation as part of the Luminato Creativity Arts FestivalThe giant inflatable red ball is 20 feet in diameter

It has bounced around 6 places in Toronto in 2009(Nathan Philips Square, Old City Hall, First Canadian Place, Elm Street alley, Ryerson University, Queen Street West alley)

It has bounced around the world in Barcelona, Sydney, Busan South Korea, and Chicago

David Rokeby’s Long Wave at Brookfield Place’s Allen Lambert Galleria

Public art installation as part of the Luminato Creativity Arts Festival in 2009Long Wave forces us to think about how art can bring public space to life

Scotia Plaza Tower40 King Street West

Completed in 1988275 metres68 floors

44 elevators

Sol LeWitt’s Five Modules with One CubeAlbright-Knox Art Gallery

Scotiabank Theatre Toronto (formerly Paramount)259 Richmond Street West

14 cinemasRubik’s cube perched up on roof

Cost of admissionGeneral - $12.99 | Child - $8.99 | Senior - $8.99 | 3D - $15.99 | IMAX - $18.99

Wooden textured wall in the foyer of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts145 Queen Street West

Completed in 2006Maximum capacity of 2071 persons

Toronto BuskerFest in support of Epilepsy Toronto

St. Lawrence Market Criterium

$50 entry fee$20 000 in prizes

13 race categoriesAverage speed of elite 1/2 men’s race 47.6 km/h

Guinness World Record attempt at Yonge Dundas Square

As part of the Luminato Creativity Arts Festival in 2009Toronto participants attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people playing a single song.

Total number of Toronto participants 1623World record set in Germany 1802