MATHEMATICS PRACTICAL MANUAL XII

Activities for
Class XII

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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]

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 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 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 __________.

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 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 3
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To draw the graph of sin −1 x , using the Cardboard, white chart paper, ruler,
graph of sin x and demonstrate the coloured pens, adhesive, pencil,
concept of mirror reflection (about eraser, cutter, nails and thin wires.
the line y = x).

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Take a cardboard of suitable dimensions, say, 30 cm × 30 cm.
2. On the cardboard, paste a white chart paper of size 25 cm × 25 cm (say).
3. On the paper, draw two lines, perpendicular to each other and name them
X′OX and YOY′ as rectangular axes [see Fig. 5].

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 4. Graduate the axes approximately as shown in Fig. 5.1 by taking unit on
X-axis = 1.25 times the unit of Y-axis.
5. Mark approximately the points

π π π π π π
 ,sin  ,  ,sin  , ... ,  ,sin  in the coordinate plane and at each
6 6 4 4 2 2
point fix a nail.
6. Repeat the above process on the other side of the x-axis, marking the points
 –π –π   – π –π   –π –π 
 ,sin ,  ,sin  , ... ,  ,sin  approximately and fix nails
 6 6   4 4   2 2 
on these points as N1′, N2′, N3′, N4′. Also fix a nail at O.
7. Join the nails with the help of a tight wire on both sides of x-axis to get the
–π π
graph of sin x from to .
2 2
8. Draw the graph of the line y = x (by plotting the points (1,1), (2, 2), (3, 3), ...
etc. and fixing a wire on these points).
9. From the nails N1, N2, N3, N4, draw perpendicular on the line y = x and produce
these lines such that length of perpendicular on both sides of the line y = x
are equal. At these points fix nails, I1,I2,I3,I4.
10. Repeat the above activity on the other side of X- axis and fix nails at I1′,I2′,I3′,I4′.
11. Join the nails on both sides of the line y = x by a tight wire that will show the
graph of y = sin −1 x .

DEMONSTRATION
Put a mirror on the line y = x. The image of the graph of sin x in the mirror will
represent the graph of sin −1 x showing that sin–1 x is mirror reflection of sin x
and vice versa.

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OBSERVATION
The image of point N1 in the mirror (the line y = x) is _________.
The image of point N2 in the mirror (the line y = x) is _________.
The image of point N3 in the mirror (the line y = x) is _________.
The image of point N4 in the mirror (the line y = x) is _________.
The image of point N1′ in the mirror (the line y = x) is _________.
The image point of N′2 in the mirror (the line y = x) is _________.
The image point of N′3 in the mirror (the line y = x) is _________.
The image point of N′4 in the mirror (the line y = x) is _________.
The image of the graph of six x in y = x is the graph of _________, and the
image of the graph of sin–1x in y = x is the graph of __________.

APPLICATION

Similar activity can be performed for drawing the graphs of cos –1 x, tan −1 x , etc.

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Activity 4
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To find analytically the limit of a Paper, pencil, calculator.
function f (x) at x = c and also to check
the continuity of the function at that
point.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

 x 2 – 16 
 , x ≠ 4
1. Consider the function given by f ( x ) =  x – 4 
 10, x = 4 


2. Take some points on the left and some points on the right side of c (= 4)
which are very near to c.
3. Find the corresponding values of f (x) for each of the points considered in
step 2 above.
4. Record the values of points on the left and right side of c as x and the
corresponding values of f (x) in a form of a table.

DEMONSTRATION
1. The values of x and f (x) are recorded as follows:

Table 1 : For points on the left of c (= 4).

x 3.9 3.99 3.999 3.9999 3.99999 3.999999 3.9999999

f (x) 7.9 7.99 7.999 7.9999 7.99999 7.999999 7.9999999

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 2. Table 2: For points on the right of c (= 4).

x 4.1 4.01 4.001 4.0001 4.00001 4.000001 4.0000001

f (x) 8.1 8.01 8.001 8.0001 8.00001 8.000001 8.0000001

OBSERVATION
1. The value of f (x) is approaching to ________, as x → 4 from the left.
2. The value of f (x) is approaching to ________, as x → 4 from the right.

3. So, lim f ( x ) = ________ and lim+ f ( x ) = ________.

x→4 x →4

4. Therefore, lim f ( x ) = ________ , f (4) = ________.

x →4

5. Is lim f ( x ) = f (4) ________ ? (Yes/No)

x →4

6. Since f ( c ) ≠ lim f ( x ) , so, the function is ________ at x = 4 (continuous/

x →c
not continuous).

APPLICATION
This activity is useful in understanding the concept of limit and continuity of a
function at a point.

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Activity 5

OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED

To understand the concepts of Pieces of wire of different lengths,
decreasing and increasing functions. piece of plywood of suitable size,
white paper, adhesive, geometry
box, trigonometric tables.
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 of length say 20 cm each and fix them on the white
paper to represent x-axis and y-axis.
3. Take two more pieces of wire each of suitable length and bend them in the
shape of curves representing two functions and fix them on the paper as
shown in the Fig. 13.

4. Take two straight wires each of suitable length for the purpose of showing
tangents to the curves at different points on them.

DEMONSTRATION
1. Take one straight wire and place it on the curve (on the left) such that it is

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 tangent to the curve at the point say P1 and making an angle α1 with the
positive direction of x-axis.
2. α1 is an obtuse angle, so tanα1 is negative, i.e., the slope of the tangent at P1
(derivative of the function at P1) is negative.
3. Take another two points say P2 and P3 on the same curve, and make tangents,
using the same wire, at P2 and P3 making angles α2 and α3, respectively with
the positive direction of x-axis.
4. Here again α2 and α3 are obtuse angles and therefore slopes of the tangents
tan α2 and tan α3 are both negative, i.e., derivatives of the function at P2 and
P3 are negative.
5. The function given by the curve (on the left) is a decreasing function.
6. On the curve (on the right), take three point Q1, Q2, Q3, and using the other
straight wires, form tangents at each of these points making angles β1, β2,
β3, respectively with the positive direction of x-axis, as shown in the figure.
β1, β2, β3 are all acute angles.
So, the derivatives of the function at these points are positive. Thus, the
function given by this curve (on the right) is an increasing function.

OBSERVATION
1. α1 = _______ , > 90° α2 = _______ > _______, α3 = _______> _______,
tan α1 = _______, (negative) tan α2 = _______, ( _______ ), tan α3 =
_______, ( _______). Thus the function is _______.
2. β1 = _______< 90°, β2 = _______, < _______, β3 = _______ , < _______

tan β1 = _______ , (positive), tan β2 = _______, ( _______ ), tan β3 =

_______( _______ ). Thus, the function is _______.

APPLICATION
This activity may be useful in explaining the concepts of decreasing and
increasing functions.

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Activity 6
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

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 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.

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 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 + 24x
dx 2

d 2V
When x = 2.1, is negative.
dx2

Hence, V should be maximum at x = 2.1.

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Activity 7
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To verify geometrically that Geometry box, cardboard, white
paper, cutter, sketch pen, cellotape.
( )








c× a + b = c× a + c×b

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Fix a white paper on the cardboard.
2. Draw a line segment OA (= 6 cm, say) and let it represent c .

3. Draw another line segment OB (= 4 cm, say) at an angle (say 60°) with OA.



Let OB = a

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4. Draw BC (= 3 cm, say) making an angle (say 30°) with OA . Let BC = b
5. Draw perpendiculars BM, CL and BN.
6. Complete parallelograms OAPC, OAQB and BQPC.

DEMONSTRATION






1. OC = OB +BC = a + b , and let ∠COA = α .

( )







2. c × a + b = c a + b sin α = area of parallelogram OAPC.



3. c × a = area of parallelogram OAQB.



4. c × b = area of parallelogram BQPC.

5. Area of parallelogram OAPC = (OA) (CL)

= (OA) (LN + NC) = (OA) (BM + NC)

= (OA) (BM) + (OA) (NC)

= Area of parallelogram OAQB + Area of parallelogram BQPC




= c+a + c × b

So, c × ( a + b ) = c × b + c × b

Direction of each of these vectors c × (a + b ), c × a and c × b is perpendicular
to the same plane.








So, c × (a + b ) = c × a + c × b.

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OBSERVATION



c = OA = OA = _______



a + b = OC = OC = ______

CL = ______




c × ( a + b) = Area of parallelogram OAPC

= (OA) (CL) = _____________ sq. units (i)

c × a = Area of parallelogram OAQB

= (OA) (BM) = _____ × _____ = ______ (ii)

c × b = Area of parallelogram BQPC

= (OA) (CN) = _____ × _____ = ______ (iii)

From (i), (ii) and (iii),

Area of parallelogram OAPC = Area of parallelgram OAQB + Area of

Parallelgram ________.





Thus c × (a + b | = c × a + c × b

( )








c × a, c × b and c × a + b are all in the direction of _______ to the plane
of paper.

( )






Therefore c × a + b = c × a + ________.

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APPLICATION
Through the activity, distributive property of vector multiplication over addition
can be explained.

NOTE
This activity can also be per-
formed by taking rectangles
instead of parallelograms.

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Activity 8
OBJECTIVE MATERIAL REQUIRED
To measure the shortest distance A piece of plywood of size
between two skew lines and verify it 30 cm × 20 cm, a squared paper,
analytically. three wooden blocks of size
2cm × 2 cm × 2 cm each and one
wooden block of size 2 cm × 2 cm
× 4 cm, wires of different lengths,
set squares, adhesive, pen/pencil,
etc.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
1. Paste a squared paper on a piece of plywood.
2. On the squared paper, draw two lines OA and OB to represent x-axis,
and y-axis, respectively.
3. Name the three blocks of size 2 cm × 2 cm × 2 cm as I, II and III. Name the
other wooden block of size 2 cm × 2 cm × 4 cm as IV.
4. Place blocks I, II, III such that their base centres are at the points
(2, 2), (1, 6) and (7, 6), respectively, and block IV with its base centre at
(6, 2). Other wooden block of size 2 cm × 2 cm × 4 cm as IV.
5. Place a wire joining the points P and Q, the centres of the bases of the
blocks I and III and another wire joining the centres R and S of the tops of
blocks II and IV as shown in Fig. 26.
6. These two wires represent two skew lines.
7. Take a wire and join it perpendicularly with the skew lines and measure the
actual distance.

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 Fig. 26

DEMONSTRATION
1. A set-square is placed in such a way that its one perpendicular side is along
the wire PQ.
2. Move the set-square along PQ till its other perpendicular side touches the
other wire.

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3. Measure the distance between the two lines in this position using set-square.
This is the shortest distance between two skew lines.
4. Analytically, find the equation of line joining P (2, 2, 0) and Q (7, 6, 0) and
other line joining R (1, 6, 2) and S (6, 2, 4) and find S.D. using

( )( )








a2 – a1 ⋅ b1 × b2
 . The distance obtained in two cases will be the same.
b1 × b2
OBSERVATION
1. Coordinates of point P are ________.
2. Coordinates of point Q are ________.
3. Coordinates of point R are ________.
4. Coordinates of point S are ________.
5. Equation of line PQ is ________.
6. Equation of line RS is ________.

Shortest distance between PQ and RS analytically = ________.

Shortest distance by actual measurement = ________.

The results so obtained are ________.

APPLICATION
This activity can be used to explain the concept of skew lines and of shortest
distance between two lines in space.

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Activity 9
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

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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.

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