Picture Frame (DESMOS activity)


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This interactive Desmos activity was created by Sarah Lonberg-Lew. In it, students will informally explore using proportional reasoning (or not using proportional reasoning) to enlarge a picture. Students will adjust the dimensions of a picture to fit in a frame. Because the frame does not have the same proportions as the picture, students will have to decide what to prioritize in fitting the picture in the frame. There is no single right answer. Students will also look at some sample enlargements and speculate on how the creator reasoned about them. This activity can generate discussion that will show whether students are reasoning proportionally and what strategies they are using. Depending on the level of your students, you may push for more formal reasoning or keep things at an informal level.