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1998 New Zealand Mathematics Colloquium
July 6-9, 1998
Victoria University of Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand

Organizers
Peter Donelan, Chris Atkin, John Harper, Philip Rhodes-Robinson, Jim Neyland, Geoff Whittle, Steve White, Vladimir Pestov, Tom Crosby

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Modelling Ducks with Chick-Peas
by
Neville De Mestre
Bond University

A problem is proposed on the flight formation of ducks. Chick-peas are used to carry out a hands-on experiment to investigate the mathematics of the model . This leads to a discussion of the nature of proof, arithmetical progressions, Fibonacci sequences, discrete calculus and symmetry. Suitable for middle and upper high school students.

Date received: June 14, 1998

Copyright © 1998 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # cabd-57.