Activity
Your teacher will give you a picture that is 7 inches by 4 inches, a piece of colored paper that measures 4 inches by 2.5 inches representing framing material, a ruler, and a pair of scissors.
Cut the framing material to create a rectangular frame for the picture. The frame should have the same width all the way around and have no overlaps. All of the framing material should be used with no leftover pieces. The frame should not cover any part of the picture.
Let’s review the information we know.
The picture measures 7 inches by 4 inches.
There are 10 square inches of framing material.
The frame must be uniform in width.
All of the framing material must be used.
The frame should not cover any part of the picture.
Describe the process you used to create the frame.
Compare your answer:
Here are some examples of the process shown in images. Only some of the attempts are correct while others are not.
Now that you have completed the activity, can you think of any mathematical method to solve the problem?
Are you ready for more?
Extending Your Thinking
Juan says, “The perimeter of the picture is 22 inches. If I cut the framing material into 9 pieces, each one being 2.5 inches by inch, I’ll have more than enough material to surround the picture because those pieces would yield , or 22.5 inches for the frame.”
Do you agree with Juan? Be prepared to show your reasoning.
Compare your answer:
No, Juan is not correct because 9 pieces would not be enough to go around the frame. While the total length of those pieces is enough to surround the picture, he will need at least two pieces for each short side to cover 4 inches and at least 3 pieces for each long side to cover 7 inches. This adds up to 10 pieces, as shown below.
Self Check
Additional Resources
Modeling a Quadratic Problem
This activity challenges you to complete a very difficult task!
Let’s review the information we know from the picture in the Self Check.
- The picture measures 8 inches by 3 inches.
- There are 12 square inches of framing material.
- The frame must be uniform in width.
- All of the framing material must be used.
- The frame should not cover any part of the picture.
What other information can you learn from the situation?
- The perimeter of the picture is , or 22 inches. The framed picture will have a perimeter greater than this.
- If the picture is 8 inches by 3 inches, then the area of the picture is , or 24 square inches.
- Since there are 12 square inches of framing material and all of it must be used, the framed picture will have an area of , or 36 square inches.
The more you know about the situation, the closer you are to being able to solve this problem mathematically instead of guessing and checking to see if you are correct.
We will use this information in later activities to set up a quadratic equation that can be used to solve the problem.
Try it
Try It: Modeling a Quadratic Problem
Suppose you want to frame a different picture that measures 10 inches by 6 inches. The frame is created from 36 square inches of framing material. The frame must be uniform in width, and all of the framing material must be used.
1. What is the perimeter of the picture?
2. What is the area of the picture?
3. What will be the total area of the framed picture?
What is the perimeter of the picture?
Here is how to find the missing information about the framed picture:
The perimeter of the picture is inches.
Suppose you want to frame a different picture that measures 10 inches by 6 inches. The frame is created from 36 square inches of framing material. The frame must be uniform in width, and all of the framing material must be used.
4. What will be the total area of the framed picture?
Here is how to find the missing information about the framed picture:
The total area of the framed picture will be square inches.
5. What is the area of the picture?
Here is how to find the missing information about the framed picture:
The area of the picture is square inches.