Rye Neck Middle School Students Solve Math Problems With Toilet Paper

MAMARONECK, NY — Rye Neck Middle School students in Allison Reynolds’ sixth-grade advanced math classes found a unique approach to solve math problems. They used toilet paper to calculate the surface area and volume of a roll of toilet paper.

“They learned a little more about the history of toilet paper and then set out to discover the area and volume of one roll,” Reynolds said. “Each group had a different approach, but after some precise measuring and careful calculation, they found success.”

The students, who recently completed their units on 2D and 3D geometry, worked in groups to unwind the roll of toilet paper, place it on the floor in the form of rectangles and calculate the surface area. They also determined how many rolls it takes to cover a football field.

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Photo credit: Rye Neck Union Free School District.