Professor Little
Math 160
2 Nov 2014
The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett
1. The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett outlines a very important idea in mathematics: exponential growth and the famous Fibonacci Sequence. The novel opens with two rabbits, Lonely and Chalk. As the two sleep together one cold January night, they well um, do what rabbits do best. By that March, there is a pair of baby rabbits born to Lonely and Chalk. Wonderful illustrations make the progressions of seasons and time frame of the growth very easy and entertaining to follow. After some more inbreeding, there are five pairs of rabbits by that May. In July there are 13 pairs and by October there are 55. The massive family of rabbits all start to wonder how this progression has occurred. As the seasons change the author and illustrator show humorous themes for each of the seasons. Visually, the growth pattern is shown by a fold out page which shows a rough family tree for how this all breeding happened.
2. As most adults can gather, the reason for the increasing growth rate is exponential growth and more specifically, the Fibonacci sequence. This is why two rabbits can lead to 55 or even more. By adding up the previous two terms, one gets the Fibonacci sequence (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,45, etc). I liked the way that the novel portrayed this growth because it is applicable to many other real world situations like the human population growth rate.
3. Literature is an effective way to describe the Fibonacci sequence because if you tried to explain the sequence with only numbers as I did above, it would be difficult for them to understand. Something as basic as reproduction is the only example needed to convey an idea like exponential growth or the Fibonacci sequence. The visuals that are provided in the book help to convey the power of exponential growth, for instance on the one page it depicts rabbits spilling out of the book with a fold-out. This cannot be taught as easily with solely numbers, especially at a young age. I enjoyed reading it myself.
Great story! I like how you related it to exponential growth and the Fibonacci sequence. I addition, I like how you said, ''this growth because it is applicable to many other real world situations like the human population growth rate." Good work!
ReplyDeleteI like the way your story relates to a math topic well! You used great detail in explaining the story, how the math topic relates to the story, and how literature helps teach children in an effective way. Overall, great job!!
ReplyDeletei love how you are specific on not only the exponential growth, but you talk about the fibonacci sequence. it shows your understanding on the concept and i love the story; really interesting.
ReplyDeletemiles,
ReplyDeletehaha! yes, it's totally inbreeding, but we don't tell our young students that when we read this story. ;) fibonacci is my favorite! i love number theory. this sequence of numbers does visually appear to be exponential in nature when graphed, however, an exponential function for this sequence is not exact, but only a model with a base of 1.6. it is most definitely a fibonacci sequence, though. good selection and nice explanation! you're right! visuals make concepts easier to see.
professor little