Juggling with algebra

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Description

Ian Vallance, Head of Maths at St Edward's School, Hornchurch, discovered that Head of Science Nicholas Hyde was an expert juggler. From this grew the idea of analysing juggling techniques to introduce Year 7 pupils to number sequences and algebra in a stimulating and memorable way. Mr Hyde explains to the pupils that the juggling world has an accepted notation for the patterns that can be successfully thrown. This is based on the beats , or comparative units of height, to which objects need to be thrown by the left and the right hand. Mr Hyde demonstrates a typical two- ball juggle, which involves throwing each ball up to a height of three units from his right hand and across one unit from his left, a pattern called a three-one. The pupils have a go at juggling, and begin to realise the various permutations possible and the number patterns involved. The teacher moves them towards understanding what the permutations would be when they don't know how many balls are available.