Dr. Sarah's Math 1010 Class Highlights

Dr. Sarah's Math 1010 Class Highlights
The following is NOT HOMEWORK unless you miss part or all of the class. See the Main Class Calendar for ALL homework and due dates.

  • Fri Jun 24 Final Project Presentations.
  • Thur Jun 23 Present oral abstracts. Finish going over test 3. Class Statistics. Pants activity.
  • Wed Jun 22
    Go over questions. Andrew Wiles' work. Discuss mathematical breakthroughs and revolutions.
  • Tues Jun 21
    Review.
    Search for information on the mathematician David Blackwell
    Andrew Wiles and The Proof video and questions.
  • Mon Jun 20 Finish the Art of Equations. Go over mathematics quotes.
    Stock and What is Mathematics lab activities.
    If time remains before we come back together then work on hw for tomorrow.
  • Fri Jun 17 Test 3. Start class at 11:40. The Art of Equations. Discuss mathematical breakthroughs and revolutions. David Blackwell and Friend or Foe. Search for information on David Blackwell and prepare to share something that you found. Andrew Wiles and The Proof video and questions. Andrew Wiles' work.
    Impossibility of checking all the cases, but finding a solution by shifting our viewpoint or finding a non-constructivist approach (Andrew Wiles' research).
    Class Statistics. Pants activity.
  • Thur Jun 16 Finish stereotype vulnerability. Here's Good News... SAT scores are declining at a slower rate. Discuss the SAT and whether the SAT should predict college scores. Review the biased MRT instructions and relate to
    Statistics Detective Review
    Discuss causations versus correlations Case Studies: College Success. Take questions on the test. If time remains, Predicting height and solving a crime.
  • Wed Jun 15 Finish
    Can we predict the future?.
    Purchase your Stock.
    Search for information on the presidential election between Bush and Gore.

    Return to the classroom: Media representations:
    Review elections including Landon and Roosevelt, Bush and Obama, and Buchanan and Gore. Analyze and critique and discuss what we would like to back them up.
    Read and discuss the succeeding in mathematics handout. Discuss the homework reading - article exposure to A or F. Review the biased MRT instructions and relate to stereotype vulnerability.

  • Tues Jun 14 Begin the 1969 Vietnam draft data, introduction to scatterplot, line of best fit, and boxplots via Starr [relate to the theme of breaking it up into smaller pieces, like Jeff Weeks, and shifting viewpoints.
    3.4 #11.
    Discuss the interactive regression. Review median, mean and boxplots via the average of Nielsen ratings.
    Can we predict the future?

  • Mon Jun 13 Finish
    Representations of Data
    If time remains before we come back together, begin working on Project 3
    Go over the lab.
    Go over the Heart of Mathematics readings.
    Clicker questions. Discuss the contradictory perspectives in the youth vote, how to "lie" with statistis and relevant page numbers in How Do You Know and Heart of Mathematics, as well as project 3.
  • Fri Jun 10 Finish Histogram of the ASULearn random number from 1 to 10. experiment and Excel analyses, including expected value of 5.2 from SUM(B2:B11)/10 and briefly mention the chi test [(B2-C2)^2/C2, CHITEST(B2:B11,C2:C11)] and p-value (are the observations statistically significant or can the differences be ascribed to random variations of chance?) Discuss whether the human mind can provide a random number.
    Discuss the measures of centers homework and share from How Do You Know.
    Nielsen Ratings and advertising spins. GE experiment as a clicker question.
    Discuss the Statistics of Nature
    Music choices and compatibility issues (measuring "difference" in music tastes via looking at vertical distance between points) music 1, music 2.

  • Thur Jun 9 Test 2.
    Discuss bar chart of volume of stocks from lab including how you can tell whether the mean will be above or below the median using the idea of a scale balance. Distance from home bar chart. Armspan bar chart. Height box plots.
    Worst graph intro, worst graphs cover. Histogram of the ASULearn random number from 1 to 10. experiment and Excel analyses, including expected value of 5.2 from SUM(B2:B11)/10 and briefly mention the chi test [(B2-C2)^2/C2, CHITEST(B2:B11,C2:C11)] and p-value (are the observations statistically significant or can the differences be ascribed to random variations of chance?) Discuss whether the human mind can provide a random number. Discuss sampling versus census. Discuss mathematical proof versus statistical significance and randomness.

  • Wed Jun 8
    Stock Graph and ASULearn anonymous data collection.
    If you are finished before we come back together then continue studying for tomorrow's test.
    Answer questions on the study guide, ASULearn activities and go over the homework.

  • Tues Jun 7
    Condo and Car Purchases: Decisions, Decisions.
    If you are finished before we come back together then work on homework for tomorrow.
    Discuss local debt. Discuss debt in NC, the US, and the world. Richard Feynman quotation: There are 1011 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers.
  • In groups of at least 2, find the stock symbol of a company that is actively traded and that you are interested in "buying" - for example, you might search
    http://finance.yahoo.com/lookup for stocks with certain names
    or www.google.com for
    "stock symbol" "COMPANY NAME"
    where COMPANY NAME is the name of the company that you are interested in.

  • Mon Jun 6 Review finance problems. Philosophy of loans Student loan statement. Payday lender. Credit cards and finance charge. Begin the Condo.
  • Lab work: Click on this Kelly Blue Book link. Click on the New Cars tab on the top left side of the page, and then follow the directions to choose a model, a make, and a year, and then click on the pricing link of the car you want to "purchase" in lab. You might also need to select a trim or other options and enter a zip code (28608 or your home zip code will do). Scroll down the cars pricing report page to find info on the Base Price and Destination Charge, like
                                  Invoice               MSRP                 New Car Blue Book Value
    Base Price             $18,123.00         $18,995.00         $19,592.00
    Destination Charge     695.00                 695.00         Incl.
    Write down the pricing info for your car, as well as the info for your car - make, model, year.
    Condo Lab


  • Fri Jun 3 Discuss the $37 wording. periodic payment. lottery questions Search google news for lottery winner lump. Picture of Excel work, Excel work file. Picture of Excel solutions, Excel solution file.
    Jane and Joan on ASULearn.

  • Thur Jun 2 Review the Lump sum philisophy. Finish Lisa's Thrifty Savers savings account from Bart the Fink.
    Ben Franklin's Will - Part 1
    If finished before we come back together, begin reading Projet 2.
    What about $100 deposited every month into an account for 25 years, compounded monthly at 5%? Work towards periodic payment understanding and compare the philosophy to the lump sum formula derivation and to Jeff Weeks.
    Transparencies from class.

  • Wed Jun 1 Review 142 years. Lump sum philosophy.
    Real-life bank situation. 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?
    (a) 1000(1+.08)8
    (b) 1000(1+.08/8)8
    (c) 1000(1+.08/12)8*12
    (d) 1000(1+.08/12)8
    (e) none of the above
    What did the bank really mean? Discuss other possibilities for unknowns - the time length, the rate, or the number of times compounding per year. Intro to Goal Seek and Solver in Excel via Lisa's Thrifty Savers savings account from Bart the Fink.

  • Tues May 31
    Finish the Universe lab
    Work on Jeff Weeks worksheet as a review.
    Portal. Futurama: I, Roommate. My own research. Discuss test 1 and the study guide.
    Begin finance. Charlie Rose - An exclusive conversation with Warren Buffett [first 54 seconds and then from 3:30-5:18].
    http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=4537231419795681197
    History and ethics of charging interest for the use of land, animals, money.
    Plimpton Cuneiform 322 and interpreting data
    Usury is Piracy
    Quotes on taxation. Local to global taxes. Discuss 142 years compounding monthly versus annually.


  • Fri May 27 Continue going over Project 1 - discuss via homework readings and research. Also review Rob Kirschner's Supernovae results related to whether brightness=1/distance2. Discuss Gauss' experiment and the WMAP data.
    The Shape of Space Video - this 11-minute animated video produced by The Geometry Center introduces the two-dimensional space of flatland, looks at possible shapes for flatland from the perspective of three dimensions, and represents those shapes of space in two dimensions. Then the animation uses the same kind of representation to look at possible shapes for three-dimensional space. Viewers are taken on a ride across the boundless three-dimensional surface of a three-torus and a four-dimensional Klein bottle. As viewers see these imaginary universes from inside the spaceship, they experience the illusion of seeing copies of the universes.
    Universe lab
    If time remains then take a try of the ASULearn practice quiz.

  • Thur May 26 Finish the 2D Universes Lab.
    If you are waiting for us before we come back together, then begin working on homework for tomorrow.

    Watch an excerpt from Flatland: The Movie. clicker questions.
    Go over the lab.
    Use tape to make an equator. Begin going over Project 1.

  • Wed May 25
    In the weeks to come, we will see that there are many real-life applications of hyperbolic geometry, such as models of the internet that hope to reduce the load on routers, building crystal structures to store more hydrogen or absorb more toxic metals, mapping the brain, mapping the universe, and modeling Mercury's orbit.
    Discuss physical models of small pieces of hyperbolic space. Crochet model of hyperbolic geometry Reef Crochet reef.
    Clicker questions. PacMan sequence from Futurama (Anthology of Interest II) and a tiling view versus folding up the space (where PacMan would see his back which would look like a piece of a circle or a flat line to him).
    What does our universe look like, how do we know, and how do we represent it? Selections cut from PBS Life by the Numbers: Seeing is Believing Video: Modern artists and mathematicians are trying to grapple with the 4th physical dimension. Mathematics helps define space and helps present visions of our world to us. Tom Banchoff as a mathematician. Shape of the World video: Viewers see how mathematics has become a tool to explore the heavens as the cosmos is charted. Class concentrates on what our universe looks like, how we know, and how we represent it. Discuss the video. 2-D creature movements of the caterpillar turning into a 3-D movement butterfly. Davide Cervone's Cube Projections.
    Lab work:
    2D Universes Lab

  • Tues May 24 Go over the webpages and ASULearn messages and share from the syllabus or yesterday's class. What does a space look like, how do we know, and how do we represent it...
    3) Are The Simpsons 2-D or 3-D? Dutch graphics artist M.C. Escher and the mathematical clues he left in his work: Sun and Moon (1948) Worksheet on Escher.   (number 2). Quotes from Escher on how he does mathematics and where it comes from. Discuss whether mathematics arises from nature or whether we impose our mathematical discoveries onto nature.
    Where is North? Register the i-clicker. Review Euclidean geometry including angle sum and the Pythagorean theorem.
    Escher's space and Poincare's disk model of hyperbolic geometry.
    Escher drawing
    Sphere with Angels and Devils, 1942. Sphere Surface with Fish. 1958
    Discuss a computer model of Escher's space called hyperbolic geometry.
  • Sketchpad Shortest Distance Paths and Image of Shortest Distance Paths.
    Hyperbolic worksheet.
  • Angle sum and Image of Angle sum
  • Pythagorean theorem and Image of Pythagorean theorem
    In the weeks to come, we will see that there are many real-life applications of hyperbolic geometry, such as models of the internet that hope to reduce the load on routers, building crystal structures to store more hydrogen or absorb more toxic metals, mapping the brain, mapping the universe, and modeling Mercury's orbit.
    Discuss physical models of small pieces of hyperbolic space. Crochet model of hyperbolic geometry Reef Crochet reef. If time remains, discuss homework for tomorrow and project 1.
    Highlight some books from my office that are useful for the project. Sphere questions: Experiencing Geometry by Henderson Geometry Theorems and Constructions by Berele and Goldman The Heart of Mathematics by Burger and Starbird Symmetry, Shape and Space by Kinsey and Moore Universe questions: Beyond the Third Dimension by Banchoff Exploring the Shape of Space by Weeks Geometry, Relativity and the Fourth Dimension by Rucker The Heart of Mathematics by Burger and Starbird Hyperspace by Kaku The Math Book by Pickover Shape of Space by Weeks Symmetry, Shape and Space by Kinsey and Moore

  • Mon May 23 Overview of the course. Discuss How could we tell that the earth is round instead of flat without using any technology (ie if we were ancient Greeks)? Make a list of ideas on the board. Watch 10 minute video excerpts and prepare to share something to discuss: Life By the Numbers Shape of the World (maps of the earth) and Seeing is Believing (perspective). Write down something you found interesting, disagreed with, or that you wish had been shown. Highlight the questions of what our world looks like, how we know, and how we represent it. Highlight Danny Glover's discussion that the earth is finite but has no edges, that a flat map of the earth must contain some distortion, and Sam Edgerton's views that perspective -> industrial revolution, that perspective is learned - not innate, and that we must distort the work to give the illusion of depth.
    Advice from last semester. Julian Beever's pavement drawings:
    Butterfly
    Globe wrong view
    Globe correct view
    Accident
    I decided to get into 3D after seeing the effect of tiles being removed from the street, and later trying to recreate the sense of depth in a drawing. Once I realised you could make things go down, I realised you could make them appear to go up and I began experimenting. Perspective Drawing and Projective Geometry
    Lab work:
    1) Perspective Activities
    2) ASULearn Mathematical Experiences Reflection
    3) Are The Simpsons 2-D or 3-D?
    If time remains before we come back together, then work on homework for tomorrow. Review the activities.