Area Code Mathematics

Teaching Theme of the Week

from Education World®

Grades 3-12 solve math problems based on a U.S. area code map.

Subjects: Math

Grade levels: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Objectives
Students will:

• solve grade-appropriate math problems (for example, three-digit addition, subtraction, or multiplication),
and
• use the telephone area codes supplied on a U.S. area code map.

Keywords
telephone, map, addition, subtraction, multiplication

Materials Needed

• Internet access or an area code map (or a transparency of an area code map and an overhead projector) from your local phone directory or from a Web page such as Telephone Area Code Map or LincMad's 2001 Area Code Map)
• teacher-created, grade-appropriate math problems (either on work sheets or ready to read aloud)
• paper
• pens or pencils

Procedure
Provide students with access to a telephone area code map. Hand out work sheets with grade-appropriate problems for students to solve, or call out math problems for individuals or groups to solve. For example,

• Grade 2 and up: What is the total of Idaho and North Dakota? (This problem requires no carrying: 208 + 701 = 909)
• Grade 3 and up: What is the total of western Nebraska and the area that includes Wichita, Kansas? (This problem requires simple carrying: 308 + 316 = 624)
• Grade 4 and up: What is the total of Alabama? (256 + 205 + 334 + 251 = 1,046)
• Grade 5 and up: What is the difference between western Colorado and northernmost Arizona? (970 - 928 = 42)
• Grade 6 and up: Which state multiplied times 2 equals Vermont? (Vermont is area code 802; Rhode Island is area code 401. 401 x 2 = 802)

Assessment
Students should be able to solve 75 percent of the problems correctly.

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