Activities for

Class XII
The basic principles of learning mathematics are :
(a) learning should be related to each child individually
(b) the need for mathematics should develop from an
intimate acquaintance with the environment (c) the child
should be active and interested, (d) concrete material and
wide variety of illustrations are needed to aid the learning
process (e) understanding should be encouraged at each
stage of acquiring a particular skill (f) content should be
broadly based with adequate appreciation of the links
between the various branches of mathematics, (g) correct
mathematical usage should be encouraged at all stages.
– Ronwill
Activity 1
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To verify that the relation R in the set A piece of plywood, some pieces of
L of all lines in a plane, defined by wires (8), nails, white paper, glue etc.
R = {(l, m) : l ⊥ m} is symmetric but
neither reflexive nor transitive.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
Take a piece of plywood and paste a white paper on it. Fix the wires randomly
on the plywood with the help of nails such that some of them are parallel,
some are perpendicular to each other and some are inclined as shown in
Fig.1.

DEMONSTRATION
1. Let the wires represent the lines l1, l2, ..., l8.
2. l1 is perpendicular to each of the lines l2, l3, l4. [see Fig. 1]
 3. l6 is perpendicular to l7.
4. l2 is parallel to l3, l3 is parallel to l4 and l5 is parallel to l8.
5. (l1, l2), (l1, l3), (l1, l4), (l6, l7) ∈ R

OBSERVATION
1. In Fig. 1, no line is perpendicular to itself, so the relation
R = {( l, m) : l ⊥ m} ______ reflexive (is/is not).
2. In Fig. 1, l1 ⊥ l2 . Is l2 ⊥ l1 ? ______ (Yes/No)

∴ ( l1, l2) ∈ R ⇒ ( l2, l1) ______ R (∉/∈)

Similarly, l3 ⊥ l1 . Is l1 ⊥ l3? _______ (Yes/No)

∴ ( l3, l1) ∈ R ⇒ ( l1, l3) ______ R (∉/∈)

Also, l6 ⊥ l7. Is l7 ⊥ l6? _______ (Yes/No)

∴ ( l6, l7) ∈ R ⇒ ( l7, l6) ______ R (∉/∈)

∴ The relation R .... symmetric (is/is not)

3. In Fig. 1, l2 ⊥ l1 and l1⊥ l3 . Is l2 ⊥ l3? ... (Yes/No)

i.e., (l2, l1) ∈ R and (l1 , l3) ∈ R ⇒ (l2, l3) ______ R (∉/∈)

∴ The relation R .... transitive (is/is not).

APPLICATION NOTE
This activity can be used to check whether a 1. In this case, the relation is
given relation is an equivalence relation or not an equivalence relation.
not. 2. The activity can be repeated
by taking some more wire in
different positions.

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Activity 2
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To verify that the relation R in the set A piece of plywood, some pieces of
L of all lines in a plane, defined by wire (8), plywood, nails, white paper,
R = {( l, m) : l || m} is an equivalence glue.
relation.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
Take a piece of plywood of convenient size and paste a white paper on it. Fix
the wires randomly on the plywood with the help of nails such that some of
them are parallel, some are perpendicular to each other and some are inclined
as shown in Fig. 2.

DEMONSTRATION
1. Let the wires represent the lines l1, l2, ..., l8.
2. l1 is perpendicular to each of the lines l2, l3, l4 (see Fig. 2).
 3. l6 is perpendicular to l7.
4. l2 is parallel to l3, l3 is parallel to l4 and l5 is parallel to l8.
5. (l2, l3), (l3, l4), (l5, l8), ∈ R

OBSERVATION
1. In Fig. 2, every line is parallel to itself. So the relation R = {( l, m) : l || m}
.... reflexive relation (is/is not)
2. In Fig. 2, observe that l2
l3 . Is l3 ... l2? (|| / || )
So, (l2, l3) ∈ R ⇒ (l3, l2) ... R (∉/∈)
Similarly, l3 || l4. Is l4 ...l3? (|| / || )
So, (l3, l4) ∈ R ⇒ (l4, l3) ... R (∉/∈)
and (l5, l8) ∈ R ⇒ (l8, l5) ... R (∉/∈)

∴ The relation R ... symmetric relation (is/is not)

3. In Fig. 2, observe that l2 || l3 and l3 || l4. Is l2 ... l4 ? (|| / || )
So, (l2, l3) ∈ R and (l3, l4) ∈ R ⇒ (l2, l4) ... R (∈/∉)

Similarly, l3 || l4 and l4 || l2. Is l3 ... l2 ? (|| / || )

So, (l3, l4) ∈ R, (l4, l2) ∈ R ⇒ (l3, l2) ... R (∈,∉)
Thus, the relation R ... transitive relation (is/is not)
Hence, the relation R is reflexive, symmetric and transitive. So, R is an
equivalence relation.

APPLICATION NOTE
This activity is useful in understanding the This activity can be repeated
concept of an equivalence relation. by taking some more wires
in different positions.

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Activity 3
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To demonstrate a function which is Cardboard, nails, strings, adhesive
not one-one but is onto. and plastic strips.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Paste a plastic strip on the left hand side of the cardboard and fix three nails
on it as shown in the Fig.3.1. Name the nails on the strip as 1, 2 and 3.
2. Paste another strip on the right hand side of the cardboard and fix two nails in
the plastic strip as shown in Fig.3.2. Name the nails on the strip as a and b.
3. Join nails on the left strip to the nails on the right strip as shown in Fig. 3.3.

DEMONSTRATION
1. Take the set X = {1, 2, 3}
2. Take the set Y = {a, b}
3. Join (correspondence) elements of X to the elements of Y as shown in Fig. 3.3

OBSERVATION
1. The image of the element 1 of X in Y is __________.
The image of the element 2 of X in Y is __________.
 The image of the element 3 of X in Y is __________.

So, Fig. 3.3 represents a __________ .

2. Every element in X has a _________ image in Y. So, the function is
_________(one-one/not one-one).
3. The pre-image of each element of Y in X _________ (exists/does not exist).
So, the function is ________ (onto/not onto).

APPLICATION NOTE
Demonstrate the same
This activity can be used to demonstrate the
activity by changing the
concept of one-one and onto function.
number of the elements of
the sets X and Y.

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Activity 4
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To demonstrate a function which is Cardboard, nails, strings, adhesive
one-one but not onto. and plastic strips.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Paste a plastic strip on the left hand side of the cardboard and fix two nails
in it as shown in the Fig. 4.1. Name the nails as a and b.
2. Paste another strip on the right hand side of the cardboard and fix three
nails on it as shown in the Fig. 4.2. Name the nails on the right strip as
1, 2 and 3.
3. Join nails on the left strip to the nails on the right strip as shown in the Fig. 4.3.

DEMONSTRATION
1. Take the set X = {a, b}
2. Take the set Y = {1, 2, 3}.
3. Join elements of X to the elements of Y as shown in Fig. 4.3.
OBSERVATION
1. The image of the element a of X in Y is ______________.

The image of the element b of X in Y is ______________.

So, the Fig. 4.3 represents a _____________________.

2. Every element in X has a _________ image in Y. So, the function is
_____________ (one-one/not one-one).
3. The pre-image of the element 1 of Y in X __________ (exists/does not
exist). So, the function is __________ (onto/not onto).

Thus, Fig. 4.3 represents a function which is _________ but not onto.

APPLICATION
This activity can be used to demonstrate the concept of one-one but not onto
function.

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Activity 11
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To verify Rolle’s Theorem. A piece of plywood, wires of
different lengths, white paper,
sketch pen.
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a cardboard of a convenient size and paste a white paper on it.
2. Take two wires of convenient size and fix them on the white paper pasted on
the plywood to represent x-axis and y-axis (see Fig. 11).
3. Take a piece of wire of 15 cm length and bend it in the shape of a curve and
fix it on the plywood as shown in the figure.

4. Take two straight wires of the same length and fix them in such way that
they are perpendicular to x-axis at the points A and B and meeting the curve
at the points C and D (see Fig.11).
DEMONSTRATION
1. In the figure, let the curve represent the function y = f (x). Let OA = a units
and OB = b units.
2. The coordinates of the points A and B are (a, 0) and (b, 0), respectively.
3. There is no break in the curve in the interval [a, b]. So, the function f is
continuous on [a, b].
4. The curve is smooth between x = a and x = b which means that at each point,
a tangent can be drawn which in turn gives that the function f is differentiable
in the interval (a, b).
5. As the wires at A and B are of equal lengths, i.e., AC = BD, so f (a) = f (b).
6. In view of steps (3), (4) and (5), conditions of Rolle’s theorem are satisfied.
From Fig.11, we observe that tangents at P as well as Q are parallel to
x-axis, therefore, f ′ (x) at P and also at Q are zero.

Thus, there exists at least one value c of x in (a,b) such that f ′ (c) = 0.

Hence, the Rolle's theorem is verified.

OBSERVATION
From Fig. 11.

a = ______________, b = _____________

f (a) = ____________, f (b) = _________ Is f (a) = f (b) ? (Yes/No)

Slope of tangent at P = __________, so, f (x) (at P) =

APPLICATION
This theorem may be used to find the roots of an equation.

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Activity 14
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To understand the concepts of local A piece of plywood, wires,
maxima, local minima and point of adhesive, white paper.
inflection.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a piece of plywood of a convenient size and paste a white paper on it.
2. Take two pieces of wires each of length 40 cm and fix them on the paper on
plywood in the form of x-axis and y-axis.
3. Take another wire of suitable length and bend it in the shape of curve. Fix
this curved wire on the white paper pasted on plywood, as shown in Fig. 14.
 4. Take five more wires each of length say 2 cm and fix them at the points A, C,
B, P and D as shown in figure.

DEMONSTRATION
1. In the figure, wires at the points A, B, C and D represent tangents to the
curve and are parallel to the axis. The slopes of tangents at these points are
zero, i.e., the value of the first derivative at these points is zero. The tangent
at P intersects the curve.
2. At the points A and B, sign of the first derivative changes from negative to
positive. So, they are the points of local minima.
3. At the point C and D, sign of the first derivative changes from positive to
negative. So, they are the points of local maxima.
4. At the point P, sign of first derivative does not change. So, it is a point of
inflection.

OBSERVATION
1. Sign of the slope of the tangent (first derivative) at a point on the curve to
the immediate left of A is _______.
2. Sign of the slope of the tangent (first derivative) at a point on the curve to
the immediate right of A is_______.
3. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate left
of B is _______.
4. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate right
of B is _______.
5. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate left
of C is _______.
6. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate right
of C is _______.
7. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate left
of D is _______.

Mathematics 135
 8. Sign of the first derivative at a point on the curve to immediate right
of D is _______.
9. Sign of the first derivative at a point immediate left of P is _______ and
immediate right of P is_______.
10. A and B are points of local _______.
11. C and D are points of local _______.
12. P is a point of _______.

APPLICATION
1. This activity may help in explaining the concepts of points of local maxima,
local minima and inflection.
2. The concepts of maxima/minima are useful in problems of daily life such
as making of packages of maximum capacity at minimum cost.

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Activity 16
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To construct an open box of maximum Chart papers, scissors, cellotape,
volume from a given rectangular sheet calculator.
by cutting equal squares from each
corner.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a rectangular chart paper of size 20 cm × 10 cm and name it as ABCD.
2. Cut four equal squares each of side x cm from each corner A, B, C and D.
3. Repeat the process by taking the same size of chart papers and different
values of x.
4. Make an open box by folding its flaps using cellotape/adhesive.

DEMONSTRATION
1. When x = 1, Volume of the box = 144 cm3
2. When x = 1.5, Volume of the box = 178.5 cm3
 3. When x = 1.8, Volume of the box = 188.9 cm3.
4. When x = 2, Volume of the box = 192 cm3.
5. When x = 2.1, Volume of the box = 192.4 cm3.
6. When x = 2.2, Volume of the box = 192.2 cm3.
7. When x = 2.5, Volume of the box = 187.5 cm3.
8. When x = 3, Volume of the box = 168 cm3.
Clearly, volume of the box is maximum when x = 2.1.

OBSERVATION
1. V1 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 1.6) = .................
2. V2 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 1.9) = .................
3. V = Volume of the open box ( when x = 2.1) = .................
4. V3 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 2.2) = .................
5. V4 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 2.4) = .................
6. V5 = Volume of the open box ( when x = 3.2) = .................
7. Volume V1 is ____________ than volume V.
8. Volume V2 is ____________ than volume V.
9. Volume V3 is ____________ than volume V.
10. Volume V4 is ____________ than volume V.
11. Volume V5 is ____________ than volume V.

So, Volume of the open box is maximum when x = ________.

APPLICATION
This activity is useful in explaining the concepts of maxima/minima of functions.
It is also useful in making packages of maximum volume with minimum cost.

Mathematics 141
 NOTE
Let V denote the volume of the box.
Now V = (20 – 2x) (10 – 2x) x

or V = 200x – 60x2 + 4x3

dV
= 200 –120 x +12 x 2 . For maxima or minima, we have,
dx

dV
= 0 , i.e., 3x2 – 30x + 50 = 0
dx

30 ± 900 – 600
i.e., x = = 7.9 or 2.1
6

Reject x = 7.9.

d 2V
= –120 + 24 x
dx2

d 2V
When x = 2.1, is negative.
dx 2

Hence, V should be maximum at x = 2.1.

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Activity 17
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To find the time when the area of a Chart paper, paper cutter, scale,
rectangle of given dimensions become pencil, eraser, cardboard.
maximum, if the length is decreasing
and the breadth is increasing at given
rates.
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a rectangle R1 of dimensions 16 cm × 8 cm.
2. Let the length of the rectangle is decreasing at the rate of 1cm/second and
the breadth is increasing at the rate of 2 cm/second.
3. Cut other rectangle R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, etc. of dimensions 15 cm ×
10 cm, 14 cm × 12 cm, 13 cm × 14 cm, 12 cm × 16 cm, 11 cm × 18 cm,
10 cm × 20 cm, 9 cm × 22 cm, 8 cm × 24 cm (see Fig.17).
4. Paste these rectangles on card board.
DEMONSTRATION
1. Length of the rectangle is decreasing at the rate of 1cm/s and the breadth is
increasing at the rate of 2cm/s.
2. (i) Area of the given rectangle R1 = 16 × 8 = 128 cm2.
(ii) Area of rectangle R2 = 15 × 10 = 150 cm2 (after 1 sec).

(iii) Area of rectangle R3 = 168 cm2 (after 2 sec).

(iv) Area of rectangle R4 = 182 cm2 (after 3 sec).

(v) Area of rectangle R5 = 192 cm2 (after 4 sec).

(vi) Area of rectangle R6 = 198 cm2 (after 5 sec).

(vii) Area of rectangle R7 = 200 cm2 (after 6 sec).

(viii) Area of rectangle R8 = 198 cm2 (after 7 sec) and so on.

Thus the area of the rectangle is maximum after 6 sec.

OBSERVATION
1. Area of the rectangle R2 (after 1 sec) = __________.
2. Area of the rectangle R4 (after 3 sec) = __________.
3. Area of the rectangle R6 (after 5 sec) = __________.
4. Area of the rectangle R7 (after 6 sec) = __________.
5. Area of the rectangle R8 (after 7 sec) = __________.
6. Area of the rectangle R9 (after 8 sec) = __________.
7. Rectangle of Maximum area (after ..... seconds) = _______.
8. Area of the rectangle is maximum after _________ sec.
9. Maximum area of the rectangle is _________.

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APPLICATION
This activity can be used in explaining the concept of rate of change and
optimisation of a function.

The function has local maxima/minima at x = 0 and x = ± 1.27, respectively.

NOTE
Let the length and breadth of rectangle be a and b.
The length of rectangle after t seconds = a – t.

The breadth of rectangle after t seconds = b + 2t.

Area of the rectangle (after t sec) = A (t) = (a – t) (b + 2t) = ab – bt + 2at – 2t2

A′ (t) = – b + 2a – 4t

For maxima or minima, A′ (t) = 0.

Mathematics 145
 2a – b
A ′ (t ) = 0 ⇒ t =
4

A ′′ (t ) = – 4

⎛ 2a – b ⎞
⎝ 4 ⎟⎠
A ′′ ⎜ = – 4 , which is negative

2a – b
Thus, A ( t ) is maximum at t = seconds.
4

Here, a = 16 cm, b = 8 cm.

32 – 8 24
Thus, t = = = 6 seconds
4 4

Hence, after 6 second, the area will become maximum.

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Activity 18
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To verify that amongst all the rect- Chart paper, paper cutter, scale,
angles of the same perimeter, the pencil, eraser cardboard, glue.
square has the maximum area.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a cardboard of a convenient size and paste a white paper on it.
2. Make rectangles each of perimeter say 48 cm on a chart paper. Rectangles
of different dimensions are as follows:
 R1 : 16 cm × 8 cm, R2 : 15 cm × 9 cm

R3 : 14 cm × 10 cm, R4 : 13 cm × 11 cm

R5 : 12 cm × 12 cm, R6 : 12.5 cm × 11.5 cm

R7 : 10.5 cm × 13.5 cm
3. Cut out these rectangles and paste them on the white paper on the cardboard
(see Fig. 18 (i) to (vii)).
4. Repeat step 2 for more rectangles of different dimensions each having
perimeter 48 cm.
5. Paste these rectangles on cardboard.

DEMONSTRATION
1. Area of rectangle of R1 = 16 cm × 8 cm = 128 cm2

Area of rectangle R2 = 15 cm × 9 cm = 135 cm2

Area of R3 = 140 cm2

Area of R4 = 143 cm2

Area of R5 = 144 cm2

Area of R6 = 143.75 cm2

Area of R7 = 141.75 cm2

2. Perimeter of each rectangle is same but their area are different. Area of
rectangle R5 is the maximum. It is a square of side 12 cm. This can be verified
using theoretical description given in the note.

OBSERVATION
1. Perimeter of each rectangle R1, R2, R3, R4, R4, R6, R7 is _________.
2. Area of the rectangle R3 ________ than the area of rectangle R5.

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Activity 27
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To explain the computation of A piece of plywood, white paper
conditional probability of a given pen/pencil, scale, a pair of dice.
event A, when event B has already
occurred, through an example of
throwing a pair of dice.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Paste a white paper on a piece of plywood of a convenient size.
2. Make a square and divide it into 36 unit squares of size 1cm each
(see Fig. 27).
3. Write pair of numbers as shown in the figure.

Fig. 27
DEMONSTRATION
1. Fig. 27 gives all possible outcomes of the given experiment. Hence, it
represents the sample space of the experiment.
2. Suppose we have to find the conditional probability of an event A if an event
B has already occurred, where A is the event “a number 4 appears on both
the dice” and B is the event "4 has appeared on at least one of the dice”i.e,
we have to find P(A | B).
3. From Fig. 27 number of outcomes favourable to A = 1
Number of outcomes favourable to B = 11
Number of outcomes favourable to A ∩ B = 1.
NOTE
11
4. (i) P (B) = , 1. You may repeat this activity by
36
taking more events such as the
probability of getting a sum 10 when
1 a doublet has already occurred.
(ii) P (A ∩ Β) =
36 2. Conditional probability
P (A | B) can also be found by first
P(A ∩ B) 1 taking the sample space of event B
(iii) P (A | B) = = . out of the sample space of the
P(B) 11 experiment, and then finding the
probability A from it.
OBSERVATION
1. Outcome(s) favourable to A : _________, n (A) = _________.
2. Outcomes favourable to B : _________, n (B) = _________.
3. Outcomes favourable to A ∩ B : _________, n (A ∩ B) = _________.
4. P (A ∩ B) = _________.
5. P (A | B) = _________ = _________.

APPLICATION
This activity is helpful in understanding the concept of conditional probability,
which is further used in Bayes’ theorem.

Mathematics 175