Parity and Pigeons
Legend
Interactive
Notice
Slideshow
Video
Konigsberg Interactive: Help a monster cross the bridges of Konigsberg
Handshaking Monsters Interactive: None
Konigsberg Tweak Interactive: Help a monster cross the bridges of Konigsberg, but now add and remove bridges!
Chessboard Interactive: Lay dominoes on a chessboard with the corners removed
Chessboard Interactive Tweaked: Lay dominoes on a chessboard and pick which squares to remove
Monsters with Umbrellas Interactive: Find a loop in a tangle of ropes
Loopy Monsters Interactive: Keep track of ropes under umbrellas while finding loops
Monsters with Sox Interactive: How many sox do you need for a pair?
Pigeonhole Interactive: Help the pigeons find a pigeonhole
A shortcut for those who need it: Take the sidetrack to avoid the most intricate part of this Exploration. If you're feeling lost, by all means use this, but you will miss a truly beautiful piece of mathematics
Messy Monsters: Some Monsters offer insight
Konigsberg Intro: Introduces the Bridges of Konigsberg problem.
Pigeons Explained: Describes what's going on when too many pigeons try to fit into a small pigeon roost. Otherwise known in mathematics as the Pigeonhole Principle.
Handshaking Monsters Explained: Explains what's happening when a bunch of monsters start shaking hands and what that has to do with pigeons.
Konigsberg Tweak: Exploring changes to the Bridges of Konigsberg problem.
Try Some Monsters: Where to find insight into the Bridges of Konigsberg problem?
Monsters In Konigsberg & Domino Intro: Monsters take to the streets of Konigsberg to help solve the famous problem. Then, a new problem is introduced, involving a chessboard and dominoes.
Domino Tweak: How we might tweak our Chessboard Interactive.
Dominoes Explained: Explains the insights you might have observed in the last Interactive.
Konigsberg Graph: Describes how the Bridges of Konigsberg and Messy Monsters with Umbrellas are really both different views of the same mathematical object called a graph.
Loops: Examines loops in problems related to the Bridges of Konigsberg and Messy Monsters with Umbrellas. Specifically mathematical loops in their corresponding graphs.
Konigsberg Induction: The beautiful induction argument that shows when problems like the Bridges of Konigsberg and Messy Monsters with Umbrellas can be solved. A pictorial argument involving graphs.
Sox Explained: A beautifully simple way of guaranteeing you can pick a pair of sox from your drawer, even if you happen to be a three-footed monster (in which case, obviously, you'll want a triple).
Dominoes and Chessboard:
Problems with cover partial chessboards with dominoes.

Age Range:
7+, younger audiences will need more guidance interpreting problems, but all will have fun playing with it. Great for everyone!

Mathematics:
Parity. Matching. Geometric intuition. Exploring with Trial and Error.

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Konigsberg:
Explore the famous Bridges of Konigsberg problem. Simplify and alter the problem to shed light on what is happening. Finally, clever counting reveals the solution.

Age Range:
5+, younger audiences will move slower, but everyone will get something from these activities

Mathematics:
Parity. Exploring with Trial and Error. Simplifying and altering questions as a mode of inquiry.

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Messy Monsters:
Using Messy Monsters to see reverse of Bridges of Konigsberg problem

Age Range:
10+, younger audiences will move slower, but the arguments are beautiful and well worth showing everyone.

Mathematics:
Induction. Exploring with Trial and Error. Elementary Graph Theory

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Monster Handshake:
If a group of students shake hands, must two of them have shaken the same number of hands?

Age Range:
5+, younger audiences will move slower, but everyone, including adults, will be delighted and surprised by these activities.

Mathematics:
Pigeonhole Principle. Exploring with Trial and Error. Simplifying as a mode of inquiry.

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Pigeonhole:
How easy is it to find a pair of sox, or fill pigeonholes with pigeons?

Age Range:
5+, younger audiences will move slower, but everyone will get something from this task.

Mathematics:
Pigeonhole Principle. Exploring with Trial and Error. Simplifying and altering questions as a mode of inquiry.

Click for more!