Dr. Sarah's Math 1010 Class Highlights

Dr. Sarah's Math 1010 Overnight Assignments and Class Highlights Fall 2001 Page
See the Main Class Web Page for ALL due dates

Geometry of the Earth and Universe

  • Mon 12/3 We will work on a review lab which is due at the end of the class.
  • Tues 12/4 Review parts of the review lab, class evaluations, review sheet for final.
  • Mon 11/26 Collect summary on Heart of Math reading. We will work on WebCt quiz 7, the shape of the universe lab, and do stock update number 3.
  • Tues 11/27 Seeing is Believing Video (notes collected at the end), and the 4th dimension continued. Why time isn't the fourth dimension, and useful applications of the 4th dimension (business and diabetes).
  • Thur 11/29 Review the 4th dimension, euclidean, hyperbolic and spherical geometry and the hypercube. Explore why the universe is not thought to be a hypercube. Explore some of the shapes that might be the shape of the universe (10 Euclidean possibilities, a number of spherical possibilities, and current matheamtical attempts to classify the hyperbolic possibilities). Dr. Sarah's research and how it fits into these ideas.
  • Mon 11/19 We will work on Spheres and GPS - How it Works, Homer part 2 (due in lab) and WebCT quiz 6 total on the What is a Mathematician segment (study these questions and the trends and statistics that we discussed).
  • Tues 11/20 Life by the Numbers Shape of the World Video (notes are collected at the end). Creating new spaces from old - cylinder, mobius band, donut, Klein bottle, and a cube with opposite sides identified.
  • Thur 11/22Thanksgiving Break.
  • Mon 11/12 Summarize the What is a Mathematician segment via IDS viewpoint. Work on perspective drawing and Homer part 1 lab. If time remains, then you may work on the geometry report.
  • Tues 11/13 Collect geometry report. Start going over the problems.
  • Thur 11/15 Review geom problems 1-6, Mercator Map, Sun and Moon by M.C.Escher (1948), Circle Limit 4 -- (Heaven and Hell) by M.C.Escher (1960) Finish geom problems.

    What is a Mathematician?

  • Monday 11/5 In lab, we will work on "Dodge Ball". You will discover a winning strategy for player 2, and will write this up before we start presentations. Your lab grade will be based on the clarity, depth and correctness of your winning strategy (1 per group of 2). Then, presentations and worksheets on George Cantor and Ramanujan.
  • Tuesday 11/6 Presentations and worksheets on Paul Erdos and David Blackwell
  • Thur 11/8 Presentations and worksheets on Mary Ellen Rudin, Frank Morgan and Ingrid Daubechies
  • Mon 10/29 Collect hw. In lab we will begin the geometry of the earth and universe segment, take WebCT quiz 5 total on Andrew Wiles and Carolyn Gordon and their mathematics (your grade is the highest of the (up to) 5 times that you take this quiz before Nov 19), and work on a MathSciNet search (only works from school) for modern mathematicians, and other searches for papers by your mathematician. If time remains, you may work on the mathematician project or the geometry report.
  • Tues 10/30Presentations and worksheets on Agnesi and Fuller.
  • Thur 11/1Presentations and worksheets on Germain and Gauss.
  • Monday 10/22 In lab, we will go over Microsoft PowerPoint features for your presentations, and learn about Andrew Wiles and Fermat's Last Theorem. If time remains, you can work on the What is a Mathematician? segment.
  • Tues 10/23 Go over logistics for What is a Mathematician? worksheet and presentation. Andrew Wiles worksheet on the mathematics.
  • Thur 10/25 Discuss the fact that in "The Proof" video, we saw very few women, and only heard about one woman working on the problem, and we saw no African Americans. Statistics on women and underrepresented minorities in mathematics. Briefly talk about Carolyn Gordon and Can you Hear the Shape of a Drum? Work on Carolyn Gordon worksheet. If time remains, you can work on the What is a Mathematician? segment.

    Statistics

  • Monday 10/15 In lab we will go over an interactive linear regression applet, work on the 2nd major writing assignment, being a statistics detective. Begin the What is a Mathematician segment, by assigning topics and presentation dates.
  • Tuesday 10/16 Statistics Test
  • Thursday 10/18 Fall Break
  • Monday 10/8Collect hw, go over linear regression on excel via How Do You Know p. 209 number 11, how to use the equation of the line to make predictions, and highlight situations where the prediction makes sense versus those that don't (armspan as a predictor of height, p. 209 number 11 prediction for 15 hours and 100 hours, and stocks). Lab directions,   Linear regression lab,   Egg bungee jump lab, then WebCT quiz 4.
  • Tuesday 10/9 Do linear regression by hand via p. 208 number 11 and compare to Excel work. Discuss actual predictor value, estimated predictor values from a graph or via a line fit by eye, and related issues such as the fact that if someone had 10 absences in our class then they wouldn't even be taking the midterm! Review questions 8, 9 and 10 on WebCT quiz 4, on boxplots. Talk about Does SAT score predict college GPA? Discuss the fact that more than a dozen studies of large student groups and specific institutions such as MIT, Rutgers and Princeton conclude that young women typically earn the same or higher grades as their male counterparts in math and other college courses despite having SAT-Math scores 30-50 points lower, on average. Discuss gender and multicultural issues on test taking, and discuss stereotype vulnerability via students reading selections from FairTest Examiner Stereotypes Lower Test Scores, and Claude Steele has Scores to Settle
  • Thursday 10/11 Collect hw, discuss HIV testing issues, and unintented consequences via heart of math reading. Discuss linear regressions of Buchanan votes in Palm Beach. Review for test via WebCT quiz 4.
  • Monday 10/1 In lab, we will work on modular arithmetic , Mean, Median and Mode lab, and stock market update #2. HOMEWORK - see main class web page
  • Tuesday 10/2 Continue to use the class data to discuss bar charts, and how you can tell whether the mean will be above or below the mean, standard deviation, histograms, pie charts, and then talk about "bad" graphs. HOMEWORK - see main class web page
  • Thursday 10/4 Continue various graphical representations - changing the scale of axes, boxplots, and begin linear regressions. HW - see main class web page.
  • Monday 9/24 In lab, we will work on Lab Directions - Collecting Data,   Class Data Collection Sheet,    reading - intro to the market,    stock market update #1,    quantitative literacy, and the pineapple part of the lab. ***Homework See main web page
  • Tuesday, 9/25 Collect real life rates. Go over credit card statement, payday lending offer, credit card offers, real-life rates. Discuss biases related to the census of class data. Review pineapple material. Begin sampling. Use the table of random digits to choose a sample of students from our class.
    ***Homework See main web page
  • Thursday, 9/27 Look at summary of readings, review survey method guaranteeing complete anonymity from Heart of Math, use this method on an embarrasing but interesting survey question, students look at golden mean poster, and then we analyze the survey results. Review the difference between a census and a survey. Then use the table of random digits to pick people from the class. Students work on the circle sampling problem from How Do You Know.
    ***Homework See main web page

    Financial Mathematics

  • Monday 9/17 Go over no late policies and grading policies from the syllabus (there is the exception of one late lab allowed, and the lowest lab and quiz will also be dropped). Students take out Stock intro hw that is due , and use it: In lab we will work on Homer's Taxes, Stock Part 1, and if time remains, reading - intro to the market
    ***Homework See main web page for longer term hw, review for test on Thursday, and bring the printed WebCT quiz 2 (that I gave you last week) to class on Tuesday along with your book and calculator.
  • Tues 9/18 In class we will work on p. 90-92 9 and 14 and p. 101 number 8, review parts of the condo lab, Ben Franklin, and WebCt quiz 2. If time remains, students can review for Thursday's test or finish up the Homer tax lab.
    ***Homework WebCT quiz 2 retakes due Wed night, study for test.
  • Thursday, 9/20 Test on finance, review sheet
    ***Homework See main class web page.
  • Monday 9/10 Collect Homework from Thursday, WebCT quiz 2, Dr. Sarah's Condo Part 2 One per group of 2 (I will photocopy your work for the second person). We only finished up thru the Car table (the last part we needed Excel for).
    ***Homework Work on Ben F due Friday.
  • Tues 9/11 Go over by hand problems from the HW collected on Monday, look at the second by hand homework problem as a loan payment problem - instead of saving up for the $50000 car, assume that we found a car loan for 18.38 years at 8% compounded monthly. Then what will our monthly payment be? Compare this to the $100 savings per month option and discuss. Finish Dr. Sarah's condo part 2 in class. When finished, turn in (1 per group) part 1 and part 2. Dr. Sarah will photocopy so that everyone in the group gets one back. If finished before class ends, work on finance review sheet.
    ***Homework Ben F due Friday the 14th , stock market intro hw due Monday the 17th (be sure also that you are comfortable using campus pipeline), WebCt quiz 2 retakes due Wed the 19th, check newsgroup posting from Dr. Sarah to the forum containing both of you about your 1010 performance, study for Finance test Thur the 20th.
  • Thur 9/13 Analyze Dr. Sarah's student loan statements, analyze past student Mark's student loan statement. p.90-92 problems - students worked in groups and presented their solutions to the class.
    ***Homework for Friday 14th and Monday 17th See Tuesday's hw and the main web page.
  • Monday 9/3 Labor Day vacation
  • Tuesday 9/4 Collect homework, review web pages and web based problems, go over Jane and Joan extra credit (excel sheet) - using goal seek to discuss what interest rate would result in equal savings for them both. Discuss the loan payment formula for Dr. Sarah's Condo (costs $105,265, putting 20% down, at 6.75% compounded monthly) as we go though as much of the condo part 1 sheet as time allows.
    ***Homework Problems for Monday September 10
    1. Web based problems need to use Internet Explorer , Problem 2.3 #1, Problem 2.3 #2, Problem 2.3 #3 (slight error - the last box in the table should say 69930.86 not 23344.56).
    2. Finish the last part of Dr. Sarah's condo part 1 if we did not finish in class.
    3. What would have happened if I had waited until today to buy the condo? Assume that the price of the condo stayed the same (which it wouldn't have!) What is the monthly payment if we use today's mortage rate of approximately 7.0%. How much would I pay in total? How much of that would be interest? (I obtained this rate at Bank of America Page by choosing Conventinal Fixed and looking at the 30 year rate.)
    4. If I can afford to save $100 per month for a $50000 car, in an account compounding monthly at 8%, then how long will it take for me to save up?
    5. See the main web page for suggestions for studying for WebCT quiz 2.
    6. Work on Ben F part 2
  • Thursday 9/6 Convocation and assessment "vacation"
  • Monday 8/27Collect homework from Thursday. Lab 2 Directions (Ben Franklin Part 1 and Jane and Joan).
    ***HomeworkWebCT quiz 1 retakes, Wile revisions and Ben Franklin Part 2.

  • Tuesday 8/28 Review formulas via sheet, go over questions, How much do we need to invest now for Dr. Sarah to give her niece 100,000 at her niece's retirement? Assume that she has found an account that will pay 6.5% interest, compounded monthly. We used algebra. How about if Dr. Sarah will deposit a certain amount per month? How much must she put in? The problem with this scheme is that Dr. Sarah will be making payment for the next 60ish years! Instead, let's say she can affort a monthly payment of $20. How long will it take for the money to grow to 100,000? We set up the problem and then did Guess and check. Intro to Logs. Solve 5^time=25. Then solve: How long will it take Dr. Sarah to save 100,000 for her niece if she puts in $20/month at 6.5% interest, compounded monthly. We set up the problem and then reduced to number^power=number, and then solved for the exact answer using logs.
    ***Homework Problems for Thursday August 30 You Try It 2.8, 2.9 and 2.10 p. 85ish (solutions are on page 306 so your job is to try it on your own, compare with the answers, and write it up in your own words), Also Section 2.2 p. 90-91 problems 8 and 10-13.

  • Thursday 8/30 Collect hw from Tuesday (you have until Friday at 5pm to turn this in and I have extra office hours Friday 1-4). Continue log problems. How long does it take to tripple a lump sum of $1000 at 6% compounded yearly? How long does it take to tripple a lump sum of $1000 at 6% compounded monthly? When can we get our car if we put in $200 a month into a 6% compounded monthly account if we need $22,000? Dr. Sarah read about the 2001 Powerball lottery from usatoday.com. It said "For the jackpot worth 295 million, if there is one winner, then they will have a choice between 25 payments of 11.8 million each or a single lump sum payment of 170 million". By doing a problem with simpler numbers, we asked -- is it better to take lottery winnings as a single lump sum payment of 10,000 dollars, or 12 annual installment payments of 1500 dollars each. Assume that we will logically compare by putting each into saving accounts compounding annually at 10%. How about for 10.5%? How about for a general rate r%? Students work on problems for 30 minutes, and then we go over them as a class. Begin Dr. Sarah's Condo part 1.
    ***Homework Problems for Tues September 4 p. 91 number 20, and need Internet Explorer for Problem 2.2 #8 Problem 2.2 #9, Problem 2.2 #11, Problem 2.2 #12 -- there is a slight error in this one - it should be later NOT sooner for the second part. Recall from the main web page that Wile final draft is due Tuesday at 5pm and that you must turn in your first draft along with the graded checklist too.
  • Monday 8/20 Collect homework from Thursday. Lab 1 Directions Homework For Tuesday - read over the review of lab 1 basics. Web based problems for Thursday need to use Internet Explorer problem 1.2, problem 1.5, and problem 2.2 #1 periodic payment Work on Wile due Fri, Quiz 1 retakes due next Mon.
  • Tuesday 8/21 Hand back homework. Go over web pages - main, class highlights, syllabus, web based problems, WebCT (calendar, bulletin board, quizzes and retakes, and grades), and campus pipeline. Begin lump sum formula via $20 in an interest bearing acount for 5 years, compounding annually at 2%. How about compounding monthly? If you win a lottery, is it better to take 10,000 now, or wait 12 years and get 30,000 then (assume that if we take the 10,000 now, then we won't spend any of the money and instead will compound monthly at an interest rate of r%). Each group of 2 does this for a different r ranging from 6% to 11.5%. Homework For Thursday, p. 90 1 and 2, and web based problems (see Monday). For Friday Wile draft. For Monday read Math 1010 Creative Inquiry - Lessons for Life, Ben Franklin lab, read the message Dr. Sarah sent you, and then post a 2nd message to Dr. Sarah in the forum (your name & Dr. Sarah), and do WebCT retakes.
  • Thursday 8/23 Collect homework, Review lump sum formula. Real Life Bank formula. Past student was told that her c.d. will be compounded monthly at 8% for 8 months, and is told that this 8% will apply each and every month. Let's say that she put in $1000. How much would her c.d. be worth at the end of 8 months if
    -the bank will compound 8% each and every month (ie 96% per year!)
    -the bank means that 8% is the annual rate.
    The bank means 8% is the annual rate! If $100 is deposited into an account and left alone for 25 years, compounded monthly at 5%, how much do we have? Compare to $100 deposited every month into an account and left alone for 25 years, compounded monthly at 5%. Read quote on Reading Mathematics from Burger and Starbird. Read p. 77. Discuss periodic payment formula formulation, and the method of finding the formula. Compare the different philosophies involved in the lump sum and periodic payment formulations. We'll do an exercise to show that the number of digits we use does matter! 100 is deposited each month for 25 years into an account compounding 5% monthly. What do we have at the end? The interest rate is .05/12=.004166666... Each group used a different number of digits and rounding versus truncation methods (ie .004,.0041, .0042,.00416, .00417,.004166, .004167, .0041666, .0041667, .00416666, .00416667) and we compared the final answers to show that we should never round. HW for Monday See Tuesday's homework for Fri and Monday, put in $37 each month for 2 years, at 12.99% compounded monthly. Compare this with putting in $37 and leaving it there for 2 years, at 12.99% compounded monthly. Read pages 77-79 in the How do you Know? book. Need Internet Explorer for Problem 2.2 #5 (this problem takes a while to load - wait until you see the message "Applet Loaded")
  • Thur 8/16 - Fill out index sheet and survey. Intro to the course via syllabus and policies and section 2.1. Each group does a problem 2.1 5,6,7,9,10,12 to turn in and present. HW for Mon 8/20 p. 69-71 # 1, 17, 20, (be prepared to turn this in), start working on Wile E. Coyote assignment, and study class notes, syllabus, hw problems, Wile E. assignment, and read the "orange" poster on my door for WebCT quiz 1 (no prior computer use is assumed and the grading policy is extremely generous). Bring a scientific calculator (with y^x, x^y, or ^) and How Do You Know? book to classes. If you have used WebCT at ASU in the past, remind yourself how to get into your account. Office Hours (326 Walker) Today 3:30-5, Fri 12-4, Mon 12-2, 4-6, Tues 12:30-2 (regular office hours will be posted next week).