Skateboard Flex

One important quality of a skateboard is its "flex"—how far the deck will bend when weight is put on it, and how well it snaps back to its original shape.

Subject: Mathematics; Algebra (optional)
Topics:
- Decimal operations
- Statistics
- Coordinate System (optional)
Grades: 6 - 8
Concepts:
- Ratio (explicit)
- Mean (explicit)
- Optional: Coordinates (explicit)
- Optional: Function (implicit)
Knowledge and Skills:
- Can describe a real world situation in terms of ratios.
- Can do operations with decimal numbers.
- Can find the mean of a set of data.
- Optional: Can plot a point in a two-dimensional coordinate system, given the coordinates.
- Optional: Can relate aspects of a graphical model to the real world situation which is being modeled.

Download Activity: Skateboard Flex (PDF)

Hands-On Math Movie:

The Skateboard DesignerDesigning Stronger Skateboards

Tim Piumarta took his love for the sport of skateboarding, combined it with his skills in mathematics and design and became one the world's most influential skateboard designers.
Running time 5:19 minutes.

Watch the Movie