I have used this number trick many times with beginning Algebra classes. I take a dictionary to class and before had write a word on a piece of paper then place it in an envelope. At the beginning of class I select a student at random and give them the envelope then have each student pick a 3 digit number without any zeroes or repeating numbers, such as 389. Next have them perform the following calculations:
Just purchased this book for our neighbor’s daughter whose birthday is around Thanksgiving. It is a great book for elementary through junior high with short stories about each of the 15 mathematician and their contribution to mathematics and three of the featured mathematicians are female which helps to raise the awareness of some of the very good yet unknown female mathematicians. The mathematicians featured run from Thales to Srinivasa Ramanujan.
Here is a link to someone who has done a nice job using the book for home schooling activities.
Mathematician Are People Too activities
I read Simon Singh’s first book Fremat’s Last Theorem and thoroughly enjoyed the story. My youngest son sent me a link to this video and said he had not watched it but thought a math nut like me would enjoy the video. Well he was right, it was very good – and not just for a math nut.
Rizzoli & Isles (2010– ) is a TNT television series starring Angie Harmon as police detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles. The one-hour drama is based on the Rizzoli/Isles series of novels by Tess Gerritsen.
In a recent episode I was surprised by her reference to one of Leonard Euler’s (1707-1783) most famous equations (actually called Euler’s identity). He was one of the most prolific mathematicians of all time and definitely in the top 5 of all mathematicians.
Always in awe of great mathematicians, this two part documentary by BBC Four in 2008 gives a very good look into four famous mathematicians (one is actually a physicist) who delve into new knowledge so different those around them want nothing to do with it yet so compelling to each of them they cannot leave it alone even if it drives them insane.
Thanks for your question about the Golden Rectangle, “Can you please explain- How many Golden Rectangles can be made from a sheet of 8.5 x 11inches? Also, please explain how to draw as well.” Continue reading
What is mathematics? A question which is hard to answer especially for most people who have never had the opportunity to experience ‘real’ mathematics. I ran across this paragraph by Michael Atiyah express his thoughts on mathematics and those we delve into its inner beauty.
I saw this article in Science Digest about some research done at Vanderbilt on the value of teaching concepts – something I have strongly believed in for many years.
Professor N J Wildberger is a mathematics professor at the University of South Wales and in his web site present some very helpful ideas on teaching.
“There was a lack of excitement about learning and some almost had a fear of creativity – they’d been told not to get dirty. We felt we had to move to a more personal, more creative curriculum.”
