IA ideas · for IB Design Technology students
Maths IA ideas for design technology students
Design is constrained optimisation: the strongest shape for the least material, the most tins in the smallest box, the least waste from a plank, a ramp that fits the space and the regulations. Those questions use calculus, linear programming, geometry and trigonometry.
These ideas suit students who like making things. Many involve a real object you can measure or build, so you can test the mathematical answer against reality.
Accessible (5)
- Why aren't drinks cans the optimal shape?AA SLAI SLAA HLAI HLAccessible
- What is the best shape for a rain gutter?AA SLAI SLAA HLAI HLAccessible
- Designing an accessible ramp for a real entranceAA SLAI SLAccessible
- Which function best describes the arch of a famous bridge?AA SLAI SLAccessible
- Does my phone battery really drain in a straight line?AI SLAI HLAA SLAccessible
Solid (9)
- Square or hexagonal? Packing tins into a boxAA SLAA HLAI SLSolid
- Cutting shelves from planks with the least wasteAA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
- The hidden angles of a hip roof: 3D trigonometryAA SLAI SLAA HLSolid
- Is a hanging chain a parabola? Catenary versus quadratic modelsAA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
- Is a satellite dish really a parabola, and where is its focus?AA SLAA HLSolid
- How are letters drawn on a screen? Bézier curvesAA HLAA SLAI HLSolid
- Where should the 125 ml line go on a glass?AA HLAI HLSolid
- What is the volume of an egg?AA HLAI HLAA SLSolid
- Will the sofa fit round the corner? The longest object through a corridorAA SLAA HLAI SLAI HLSolid
Ambitious (2)
More in this area: all optimisation & linear programming IA ideas · trigonometry, navigation & surveying · matrices, transformations & markov chains. Thinking of using the same topic or data as another IA? Check your school's policy and ask both teachers first.
Frequently asked questions
What maths IA topics suit design technology?
Optimisation (packaging, cutting, material use), curves and surfaces (catenaries, parabolas, Bézier curves), volumes by integration, and trigonometry for structures and ramps.
Is the drinks-can optimisation IA too common?
On its own, yes. Make it yours by measuring real products, adding a constraint that matters (rim thickness, stacking) or comparing several shapes.
Can I use CAD software in a Maths IA?
Yes, as a tool. Explain the mathematics it carries out (curves, areas, volumes) and show at least one calculation by hand.
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