let's explore some circles

Otherwise known as "String Around My Waist Day".

ooh la la ... measure my waist if you can slow it down!

This is a neat exercise to try on yourself, or better yet, on a friend.

You will need a ball of yarn or string, and a pair of scissors.

The challenge is to try to cut off a piece of string that is just exactly long enough to fit around your waist.  You must do this without wrapping the ball around your waist.  You can only use your eyes to estimate the proper length!

Now if you have one or more friends with you, it can become a contest.  Select one of your group, and have everyone estimate that person's waist length.

The one who has the closest string wins.

VARIATIONS:

If some of the group think they could do better a second time, try a round of
"
String Around My Head"
"
String Around My Wrist"
"
String Around My Thumb"

Click HERE to learn why this is harder than it appears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The circumference of a circle is roughly what you are measuring in this game, (even though the body parts are not perfect circles).  Now the circumference is always a little more than 3 times the diameter on any circle. 

Actually this amazes most people when it is pointed out in a visual manner like in this game.

Maybe you could even win some money by betting a person they can't get within 5 inches of the correct length.   Most folks will bet with that margin of error and most folks will lose too.

Give it a try!

back

   

Copyright © 1999-2020 themathlab.com


Google