Mathematics

=Mathematics=

Second Life could improve pupils' **Maths** skills through building structures. In order to build skillfully in SL it is better to use numbers for co-ordinates and dimensions in the objects properties, rather than adjusting by eye. Also to build a complex shape more than 10m big, angles need to be worked out using formula and trigonometry. It can be done by hand but doesn't look as good. Co-ordinates and maps are also skills that can be developed, with orienteering challenges being quite easy to set up.

In Second Life I can easily create a primitive object (I can "rez a prim") by right clicking on the ground and choosing 'create' from the menu.

This prim has a central point with x y and z coordinates that tell you exactly where it is on the sim (island or large plot of land). I can change the coordinates on the object's properties and the object will move position.

The object properties tell you the size of the prim - the length (x), breadth (y) and height (z). You can change these numbers in the properties and the prim will change size. The largest size in any direction is 10 metres. The smallest size is 1mm.

The object properties also let me change the rotation of the prim along x, y and z. I can spin objects any way. I can also cut and skew prims.

All of this sounds really complex, but you can just use the handles on the object to move, resize and rotate an object really simply and easily. The numbers however are exceptionally useful when you want to do accurate building without textures overlapping (the computer doesn't know which texture to display if they overlap so they flicker a bit).

So all this means that if I want to build an object like a large hexagonal sloping roof or a semicurcular ampitheatre then I need to use FORMULAE. Maths in action. So next time your pupils ask when they will ever use trigonometry, now you have an answer!