Trigonometric Function: What’s Your Function???
My project-based unit places the student in a role as a mathematician. As a mathematician each PreCalculus student is looking for a scheme to represent trigonometric functions in a musical way. Students will use music to help them understand the mathematics of trigonometric functions. Each student team will build a homemade musical instrument and tune the instrument using trigonometric graphs. CBR2 motion detectors will be used to create trigonometric graphs of the sound waves created by the instruments. This data will assist students in the tuning process of their instrument. Each team will create a presentation that relates the instrument they build to its mathematical connections to trigonometric functions.