Math in Our World: Pedaling Power

Aaron and his dad have been biking almost every day this week. Sometimes they bike to the water and sometimes they bike to the woods.

On this map, distances are as follows starting from the home point. To Winnick Woods Greenbelt Trail it is 2.6 miles. This is a woods destination. The next three are water destinations. To Bug Light Park it is 1.5 miles. To Willard Beach it is 0.8 miles. To Portland Head Lighthouse it is 1.9 miles.

Use pictures, models, or numbers to show what is happening.
What do you notice? What do you wonder?
What mathematical questions can you ask about this situation? Answer any questions you can!

How could you get started?

If their trip today was to one of the locations and straight back home, how far might they have biked?
Draw an open number line or use the MLC Number Line app to add the decimal amounts.

Follow-up

Show your work to someone else, and explain your thinking. Did they understand?
Ask if they have any other questions you can answer!

Challenge

With your family, use a local map to figure out some bike trips or long walks you could safely take. Determine the distance for each trip. (Be safe! Don’t go alone or without permission.)

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Reference for Educators