Grade
5

Same & Different: Staycation

Over school vacation, Alex walked to the library 4 times and to the museum 3 times. His grandma picked him up and drove him home each time.

Here are the routes he walked. What do you notice?

A: A map with directions from Alex's house to the library. Walk 0.2 miles then take a left. Walk 0.5 miles more and take a right. Then walk 0.25 miles and take a slight left. Walk 0.6 more miles and then take another left. In 0.25 miles, the library will be on the right hand side of the street. B: A map with directions from Alex's house to the Museum. Walk 1 and 1-twentieth of a mile then take a left. Walk 3-tenths of a mile more and take a right. Then walk 1-fourth of a mile and take a left. Walk 1-half of a mile more and then take a right. In 3-tenths of a mile, the museum will be on the left hand side of the street.
  1. How are pictures A and B the same mathematically, and how are they different?
    • A and B are the same because …
    • A and B are different because …
  2. Make a third route that shows distances on a map. You may choose to use the blank map of the neighborhood. Explain how your picture is the same as pictures A and B, and how it is different.
A map with Alex's house marked on it.
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Reference for Educators

Sample problems and solutions