Abstract
This article describes a geometric mathematical modeling task designed for prospective secondary mathematics teachers and adaptable for high school students. In the task, students are asked to determine, “How many boxes can fit inside a truck?” After determining what information they need to know and estimating the final answer, groups collaborate to solve the problem. In my implementations of the task, the most common initial strategy used seems reasonable at first but does not take into account the constraints of the problem situation. Students must analyze and revise their model in context. Through multiple iterations, they work towards a final answer that best models the situation. I describe how I launch the task, highlight common strategies, and how I select and sequence student work for whole-class discussion.
Keywords
mathematical modeling, mathematics teacher education, modeling cycle, geometry
How to Cite
Smith, C., (2026) “Fitting It All In: A Geometric Modeling Task”, Ohio Journal of School Mathematics 103(1): 3, 41-46. doi: https://doi.org/10.18061/ojsm.7296