T-Shirts: Some Real-Life Math in Need of Act 3…?

IMG_7673This post is based on a true story… how it ends is where I need your help!  Think of it like a “choose-your-own-adventure” book… except you get a say-so in authoring it.

True story: I ordered a rockin’ Estimation 180 t-shirt from my math pal, Andrew Stadel.  I ordered a “medium” but it was a little snug for my taste.  I wondered… could we do something to be proactive and help other ladies order the correct size?  How do folks determine t-shirt sizes anyway?

So, I measured a few of my favorite size “medium” t-shirts and sent the data along to Andrew.  It appeared his size “medium” was a little smaller than other “mediums.”  After completing the exchange process, I’m happily wearing a size “large”… but is that it?  Is that the end to a story involving Estimation 180 t-shirts and measurement?!?

My wheels were turning, I had already gathered a bit of data, and this tweet shows up from Andrew:

Well aren’t those numbers purdy?  Except, my task isn’t so purdy… I’ve got to act!

Except… I’m missing Act 3!

Act 1:

Screen Shot 2014-08-03 at 6.24.08 PM

 

 

 

 

Act 2:

Screen Shot 2014-08-03 at 9.33.26 PM

 

 

 

 

image 2Sure, I have ideas of where to go with this, keeping 8th grade and Algebra 1 TEKs in mind… but it’s so much fun to ask you… where would you go next, based on the students and courses you’ll be teaching this fall?

And a bigger question… what if I *don’t* create a specific Act 3?  Is it okay to just leave this thing open and see what students will do with it?  What if I have several choose-your-own-adventure options up my sleeve, prepared to explore with students, but I don’t force upon them what *I* think Act 3 should be?  Discuss.

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