Ohio State nav bar

Hogan Lesson Plan

Hogan Lesson Plan

Dr. Guy Hogan is one of the seven Black mathematicians to have earned a PhD in mathematics from The Ohio State University. He graduated in 1970.

Dr. Hogan's dissertation falls under the field of group theory. The solutions to many puzzles, such as the famous Rubik's Cube, involve group theory. In this activity, students are introduced to the rough idea of a group through picture hanging puzzles. While groups are not part of the basic education math curriculum, they provide an opportunity to expand on students' understanding of what an operation is.

Lesson Details

Grade level: 7th to 12th

Estimated time: 100 minutes

Form of work: Small groups

Ohio Math Standard:

  • 6.EE.3 Apply the properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions.
  • 6.EE.4 Identify when two expressions are equivalent. 
  • 7.NS.1 Apply and extend previous understandings of addition and subtraction to add and subtract rational numbers; represent addition and subtraction on a horizontal or vertical number line diagram.

Math concepts: equivalent expressions, operations, negative numbers

Kids and adults engaged in solving the picture hanging puzzle.
Game cards in three different colors with the symbols + and -
Students discussing the puzzle.