Watch Those Wheels

Stage: 1 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Cars are all around us, on the roads, in the streets, at the shops and of course in the staff car park.
But look carefully at these two photographs of wheel trims:

first wheel trim
second wheel trim

What is similar about the images? What is different?
Now, with your teacher, go out and about in the staff car park.
Sketch or photograph wheel trims. See how many different patterns you can find.
How do the wheel trims differ?
How many are the same?
How many are similar?
How many are different?
What is the most complicated arrangement?
Which is the simplest?

You could also explore:
Symmetry patterns
Frieze patterns (when looking at tyre treads)
Most frequently occurring patterns

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities can be found here.
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NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.