TO THE TEACHER: This is a mathematical enrichment  experienced through four activities. Each activity builds confidence to take on further mathematical challenges and lessens anxiety to work with mathematics objects.

To properly assess this note, have  pencil and paper handy and follow the activity instructions.

The activities escalate in difficulty. The first activity introduces the definition of a racetrack, a racing lane and the greens of a racetrack: the objects of the enrichment. The activity closes asking the student to compute the length of the racing lane and the area of the track’s “greens”. Each computation is an easy application of the area and circumference formulas for circles and rectangles.

The second activity gives a method of how to construct a second racetrack with a longer racing lane while having the area of its greens exactly equal to the area of the greens of the standard racetrack. The most advanced concept in this construction is “a perpendicular segment to a given line at a given point.”. Experience supports illustrating each step of the construction process with a drawing of the instructions. It accelerates student understanding and discovery of the construction secrets.

The third activity presents a method to construct a sequence of racetracks whose racing lanes increase but the areas of greens are all equal. Although this activity is the most challenging, it is doable.

The fourth activity is optional. It is for the mathematically curious student who wishes to go deeper. Mathematical tools and hints are give to aid a deeper investigation of the enrichment topics. The note closes with an invitation to apply the lessons learned in this enrichment to situations one faces when dealing with people.

PEDAGOGY: Small learning groups have richer learning experiences than learning in lectures. Thus, the author encourages the teacher to use small groups with diverse mathematical abilities when using this enrichment.

A student who has completed geometry will find the ideas in the enrichment within reach. For such a student this enrichment will be an ideal independent study.

ACTIVITY 1: A Standard Race Track

A racetrack can be viewed as a closed figure of two parallel line segments of equal length capped on each end by a semicircle. The length of the diameters of the semicircles is equal to the separation between the line segments.

Labeling the racetrack: Select one of the line segments. In a counterclockwise fashion, label the endpoints A and B. Counterclockwise; label the endpoints of the parallel segment, C and D. This closed figure with the counterclockwise labeling is called the standard racetrack.

The racing lane and the greens: The racing lane is the path traced out by the parallel line segments and the two semicircles. The length of the racing lane is called the length of the racetrack. The region enclosed by the race lane is the greens.

The track dimensions: Let h denote the separation between the parallel line segments. And let l be the length of a line segment.

Give the formulas to compute the length of the racing lane and the area of the greens.

ACTIVITY 2: Constructing a new racetrack from a standard racetrack

A standard racetrack is given.

Let P₁ be a point on the segment AB between A and B .

Let R₁ be the endpoint of a perpendicular segment of length h/4 at P₁.

Draw the segments AR₁ and R₁B.

The linear path through the points A, R₁ and B is one side of the “new” racetrack. It replaces the old segment, AB, of the standard racetrack.

Without rotation, slide triangle AR₁B so that AB lies on the segment CD so that point A lays on the pointD and the point B lays on the point C.

The point R₁ covers a point. Call it, S₁.

Draw the segments DS₁ and S₁C.

The path along the segments DS₁ and S₁C is the second side of the “new” racetrack.

The new racetrack is the path composed of the two semicircular ends; the linear segments through the points A, R₁, and B; and the linear segments through the points D, S₁ and C .

Compute the area of the greens in the standard racetrack and the area of the greens in the new racetrack. Compare the length of the standard racetrack to the length of the new racetrack? Give reasons for your answers.

A thought question

In the construction of the new racetrack, there were two choices for the point R₁. Suppose the other choice for R₁ were selected. Correspondingly, a different choice would have to be made for S₁. What effect would these choices have on your answers to the previous questions?

ACTIVITY 3: A sequence of racetracks: the greens of all the members have equal area but the lengths of the members increase

Given a standard racetrack. Let P₁ and P₂ be two points on AB that are strictly between the points, Aand B. Further assume P₂ is between P₁ and B.

On the perpendicular to AB at P₁ choose a point at a distance h/4¹ from P₁ and call it R₁.

On the perpendicular to AB at P₂ choose a point at a distance h/4² from P₂ on the opposite side of ABas R₁. Call the point R₂

Draw the segments: A R₁, R₁R₂ , R₂B. This path along these segments is one side of the new racetrack.

Without rotation, slide this new side so that the point A lies on D and the point B lays on C.

Call the point that R₁ covers S₁ and call the point that cover, R₂ covers S₂ .

Draw the segments: DS₁, S₁S₂, , S₂C . This path along these segments is the second side of the new racetrack.

We now have three racetracks: the standard racetrack; the racetrack obtained in Activity 2 from the standard race track by using only P₁ ; and finally the racetrack constructed by using P₁ and P₂.

Compute the area of the greens in these three racetracks? Compare the lengths of these three racetracks? Give reasons for your answer.

Give a method to construct a sequence of new racetracks the lengths of all its members increase but the areas of all the greens are equal ?

ACTIVITY 4: Optional

The following facts can be used to demonstrate that the lengths of the linear segments in a constructed sequence can never be larger that a certain number. See geometric sums.

1. If x and y are real numbers then √(x²+y²) ≤ |x|+|y|.

2. Hint: Square each side of the inequality. Or interpret x and y to be the lengths of sides of a triangle.

The construction in this enrichment guarantees that the areas of all greens will be equal to the area of the standard track. Further this construction yields that the length of all of the racetracks has an upper limit regardless of the number of linear segments on a side.
It is predictable that the lengths of the racetracks increase. But that the greens all have equal areas is not evident. Only through further investigation is it evident. Use this observation to discuss the wisdom of judging others.