Fall 2014 Math 46 Home Page

Green Sheet

Ken Ken Example

Class 19, Thu., Dec. 4, 2014
We went over exam 2 and reviewed.

Recent final exam study guide
Note that the study guide is from a previous year; you won't have an essay question.
Recent sample problem sheet.
Sample problems with some hints and solutions.

Class 20, Tue., Dec. 2, 2014
We went over material on musical scales involving decimals and fractions. We also worked on the pool handout. And we saw the Fibonacci card trick.

Class 19, Tue., Nov. 25, 2014
We heard reports from some students, we will hear the others next Tuesday.
Please turn in chapter 6 homework on Tuesday of next week.

Ch. 7.1: # 1-7,9a,b,10a,b,18,20,23
Ch. 7.2: # 7,8,20a,b,31
Ch. 7.3: # 1,3a,b,7,9,12,29,40
Ch. 7.4: # 4a,b,8,19,23,27,37

Ch. 8.1: # 10,11,18.19,34,36,37

Class 18, Thu., Nov. 20, 2014
We worked on ratio and proportion, and learned why a giant bug, as in the movie Starship Troopers, would die from overheating and not be able to support its own weight (when an animal increases in size in a proportional fashion it's lengths increase as the magnification factor, it's surface area increases as the square of that factor, and it's volume increases as the cube of that factor.) Similarly, a smaller version of an animal would lose heat to fast to sustain itself.

We worked on several problems fromt the text. We worked more on Egyptian fractions, and we learned about exponential functions, including exponential growth (folding a sheet of paper in half) and exponential decay (throwing pennies until we found a penny that came up heads 8 times in a row.)

On Tuesday, we will do a Barbie activity. Please bring any Barbie or Ken dolls to which you have access.
Please also turn in chapter 5 homework on Tuesday.
Also due Tuesday is your last paper, see below for details.

Class 17, Tue., Nov. 18, 2014
We went over material from chapter 7 on decimals.

Homework:
Ch. 5.1: # 1,4,7,8,17,18,22,23
Ch. 5.2: # 1,2,16,19,28,29,30,31
Ch. 5.3: # 5,6,22,23,24,27

Ch. 6.1: # 2,3,5,6,11,23,24,35,36,37
Ch. 6.2: # 1,2,9,13,21,22,23,25,26
Ch. 6.3: #1,2,10a,11a,18,26
Ch. 6.4: # 1,12,16,27,30,34,35

Class 16, Thu., Nov. 13, 2014
Kejian Shi went over material from chapter 7.1.

Class 15, Tue., Nov. 11, 2014
We worked more with fractions, learning about justifications for the rules for multiplying and dividing fractions.

We turned in the take-home exams. I will not be in class on Thursday, but you are required to attend, the sub will take roll!

Chapter 4 homework is due next Tuesday, Nov. 18, along with the Patterns and Modular Arithmetic handout.
Your next paper is due on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Second Essay Assignment.
You have a short paper on a subject related to the course that catches your interest due Tuesday, Nov. 18, and worth 5% of your grade. You will turn the paper in via Turnitin.com.

Here's the description of the essay:
Report on an article or chapter from a popular book about mathematics or math education. The report will be one to two pages long, typewritten, (it must be at least 600 words), and will cover the mathematics from one to several chapters of a book from the following list; other books or sources may also be used. You must use published material, not just web sites, unless you get permission from the instructor, and you MUST cite your sources. A short oral report to the class will also be required.
You should include in what you write and talk about:
(1) why you chose this topic,
(2) what you learned, and
(3) what you think about the subject in question.
(4) What you might like to find out about the subject in the future.


Examples of books with mathematical content:

The Mathematical Tourist and Islands of Truth, by Ivars Peterson.
Any of the books of Martin Gardner on mathematics (over 15 titles).
Game, Set, Math and Does God Play Dice by Ian Stewart, or other titles on math by Stewart.
The Mathematical Experience by Davis and Hersh.
A Number For Your Thoughts and Numbers At Work and At Play by Stephen P. Richards.
Tilings and Patterns by Grunbaum and Shepard.
Mathematical Snapshots by Steinhaus.
Mathematics: The New Golden Age by Keith Devlin, or other titles by Devlin.
The Emperor's New Mind by Roger Penrose.
The Mathematics of Games by John Beasley.
Archimedes' Revenge by Paul Hoffman
What is Happening in the Mathematical Sciences, ed. by Barry Cipra, Vols 1-5 (on reserve in campus library)

Examples of books with cultural content:
Ethnomathematics by Marcia Ascher.
You can also consult this Multicultural Mathematics Bibliography. Many of the references are in our library, and the bibliography contains call numbers for those that are in the library.
A number of Martin Gardner's books are in the De Anza library.

Class 14, Thu., Nov. 6, 2014
We went over problems on fractions.

Class 13, Tue., Nov. 4, 2014
We went over material from chapter 5.

Class 12, Thu., Oct. 30, 2014
We spent most of the class on the group problems.
Chapter 3 homework will be due next Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Here is a site where you can communicate about study groups for the take-home, etc.

Please print Patterns and Modular Arithmetic, work on the problems, and bring to next class.

Class 11, Tue., Oct. 28, 2014
We saw the slides on the Brazilian street math study.
We worked in groups on the chapter 4 problems (see below).
You will present those problems on Thursday. Chapter 3 homework will be due next Tuesday.

We also saw how to make subtraction of negative numbers using counters of two colors, or using measuring of distance by walking forwards, backwards, and in two directions.

Please print Patterns and Modular Arithmetic and bring to next class.

Class 10, Thu., Oct. 23, 2014
We went over the exam and also section 4.3, and assigned
Group problems, and worked on those problems in groups

A
B
C
D
Ch. 4.1, 24-26
Duong
Miles
Joseph
Miho
Ch. 4.1, 31-32
Zac
Max
Rizelle
Yoojin
Ch. 4.2, 17-18
Jose
Katia
Jessica
Ch. 4.2, 21 & 4.3, 23
Citlali
Joceline
Adrian
Taylor
Ch. 4.3, 16-17
Eric
Tony
Brittney
Khan
Ch. 4.3, 18-20
Paula
Silvana
Julie

Class 9, Tue., Oct. 21, 2014
We had exam 1. We also went over a variety of problems from previous chapters.
We went over various divisibility tests, and learned about modular arithmetic.

Look at the chapter 4 group problems, we'll assign them next class.

Please do work on the numbers 11 to 30 using five 5s.

Handout with problems on Patterns and Modular Arithmetic
The Hidden Role of Modular Arithmetic, that reviews what we did in the first two classes and relates it to some other problems from chapter 1.
Here are some links about modular arithmetic, which we will learn more about throughout the quarter:
Here's a site on modular arithmetic.
Here's a site which will do modular arithmetic calculations for you.
Here's a site on modular arithmetic by Susan Addington.

Take home exam will be emailed to you shortly.

Class 8, Th., Oct. 16, 2014
We went over the rest of chapter 3 and section 4.1.
We postponed the first exam until next Tuesday, Oct. 21, when homework will also be due for chapter 2

Ch. 4.1: # 6,8,11,15,16, group: 24-26, 27, group: 31-32
Ch 4.2 # 1,2,6,9,10,12,14, group: 17 & 18, group: 21 & section 4.3 # 23
Ch 4.3 #1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 9, 12, 26, 32, group:16 &17, group:18-20, group:22, (group: 23, see section 4.2)

Here is the video we saw in class: TED Dan Meyer video.

Here's the "Clap your name" activity.
Here are the
Common Core Standards,
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Class 7, Tue., Oct. 14, 2014
We went over problems from chapter 2 and 3.
We postponed the first exam until next Tuesday, Oct. 21.
We did the "How do we calculate" actiity, and also calculated the number of vehicles in a 2 mile long traffic jam!

Class 6, Thu., Oct. 9, 2014
We went over chapters 3.1-3.4
You should be updating your journals after every class!
First exam is next Thursday, when chapter 2 will be due.

Ch. 3.1: # 1,4,5,10,11
Ch. 3.2 # 1,6,9a,10a,11a,13a,14,19
Ch. 3.3 # 1a,7a,10,16,17,20,24
Ch. 3.4 # 1a,7,13,17,21,23,24,25
Ch. 3.5 # 1,2,3,4,8a,18,22,31

Here are articles on Nines Complement subtraction and the Gelosia mulitplication method.
Here are some other methods of addition, etc.

Here's a site on Base systems.
Site on number systems.
Number systems associated with languages.
Site with links to number system sites.

Site on number systems.
How things work on basketball players' numbers: "Each uniform must display one or two digits on the front and back of the jersey. The numbers on a jersey are used to identify a player when calling violations. In most cases, the digits can only be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. While the NBA has allowed players to use numerals higher than 5, it is a rare allowance. This limitation on numerals allows referees to use their hands to signal player numbers to the game's official scorekeeper. Otherwise, a player wearing number 9 could be confused with a player wearing number 54."

Study guide for the first exam
Solutions to the study guide for the first exam problems
Here's another old exam 1.

In the last class I talked about the New Math and how it grew out of the launch of Sputnik - see this article.
I also talked about how the symbolism of set theory and logic was developed during the late 1800s and later to try to make all mathematics into an algebraic activity, and how that failed totally due to the work of Kurt Godel.

Class 5, Tue., Oct. 7, 2014
We went over the rest of chapter 2.
Here's a handout about the Fido puzzle from class: Where's Fido?
Homework for chapter 2 will be due a week from Thursday.

Please keep your journals up to date. For today's entry, please make up an alternative to "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" for a mnemonic device to remember the order of operations usually called PEMDAS.

Class 4, Thu., Oct. 2, 2014
We went over material from chapter 2.1 and some of 2.2. We will complete chapter 2 on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Oct. 7 turn in chapter 1 homework.(Note: this is the correct due date - had it incorrect for a few hours!)
On Thursday, Oct. 9 turn in the Fibonacci assignment.
The game Set, which we played in class, can be found here as a daily puzzle.
We also played the Sorting Junk game - the link is a handout on it; please print and add to your notebook.

Chapter 2 homework:
Ch. 2.1: 7a,c,e,g, 10d, 12, 13,14a,e,15c,24,25
Ch. 2.2: 1,6a,9,13,24,29
Ch. 2.3: 2,7,11,16,30,31,34
Ch. 2.4: 1,2,4,10,25,38

Class 3, Tue., Sep. 30
Note that the problem numbers for chapter one were from another edition; I've corrected them here (if you've already worked some of the "wrong numbered problems," that's fine, don't go back and redo the "correct" numbers! (There are not actually a lot of changes.) Sorry about that!

Ch. 1.1: # 10,11,12,13,15,16
Ch. 1.2: # 4,10,11,19
Ch. 1.3: # 1,3,6,8,12,13,17
Ch. 1.4: # 1,3,5,7,8,9,10,17,18,21
Ch. 1.5: # 5,8,12,13,14,20
Ch. 1.6: # 1,3,5,10,12,15

Today we went over the pigeonhole principle and also several other aspects of sequences of numbers, especially the Fibonacci numbers. We also looked at the Pascal-Khayyim triangle.

In the pigeonhole principle "magic trick," I asked you to choose seven numbers from the list 1,2,3,...,12. The properties each of your lists had were:
(1) A pair of your numbers had a sum of 13.
(2) A pair of your numbers had a difference of 6.
(3) A pair of your numbers had a difference of 3.
(4) A pair of your numbers had the property that their only common factor was 1.
(5) A pair of your numbers had the property that one divided the other equally.
We saw how the pigeonhole principle explained why properties 1,2, and 3 are true. Can you use the pigeonhole principle to explain property 4? Remember, it's all in how you label to (six) pigeonholes!
Property 5 is more difficult to explain; in this case the six pigeonholes have different numbers of numbers assigned to them! For example, one pigeonhole would have 3,6, and 12.

Here is a link to the MoSAIC event this Friday and Saturday in Berkeley. You can use it as the subject of the second paper.

Here is the Fibonacci assignment, which will be due one week from Thursday, on Thursday, Oct. 9. Read it CAREFULLY and do everything it asks!!

Here are some more links on Fibonacci numbers:
Vi Hart's Fibonacci number videos.
A great site about Fibonacci numbers.
Fibonacci site with lots of pictures and interactive applets.
Interactive site that helps explain phyllotaxis, which is the pattern of spirals in many plants.
Pingala's possible use of the Fibonacci Numbers
Rachel Hall who credits Indian mathematician/musician with the Fibonacci numbers - see her article "Math for Poets and Drummers" listed at her site.

Class 2, Thu., Sep. 25
We went over a number of problems from chapters 1.1 and 1.2.
We played the 15-sum game, and how it is really "Magic Square tic-tac-toe."
We played the game Ken Ken. Please go to the Ken Ken site and practice playing the game!
Here's a handout with a Ken Ken example, with solution explained, which may help you understand how the puzzle works.

We learned about several number sequences which are important, including
The odds: 1,3,5,7,...
The evens: 0,2,4,6,...
The squares: 1,4,9,16,...
The triangular numbers: 1,3,6,10,15,...
The cubes: 1,8, 27, 64, 125, 216,...
The primes: 2,3,5,7,11,13,...
The Fibonacci numbers: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,24,...

You have your math autobiography due on Tuesday at the start of class (see green sheet above).

A student asked about turning in homework on Turnitin.com. Only the two papers will be turned in on Turnitin.com, the homework will be turned in on paper. The chapter 1 homework is not due until next Thursday, Oct. 2. You turn in all sections of your chapter 1 homework at one time, not section by section each class session.

The first paper, your math autobiography, worth 5% or your grade, is due this coming Tuesday by 4 PM on Turnitin. Each one of you is registered on Turnitin already under the email address that De Anza has for you.

Several of you still need to get an etherpad account, write your first and second journal entries, and email me the URL for your journal. This is a requirement for this class - go to this address and begin:

https://etherpad.mozilla.org/

Class 1, Tue., Sep. 23

We played the pattern game. Here's a handout about the pattern game, please print and include in your portfolio.
We played the take-away game, in which each player removes 1 or 2 counters on each move, the last player to move winning. We developed a winning strategy involving leaving your opponent with a multiple of 3 on each turn, if possible.

Homework:
(1) Get a looseleaf notebook and set up sections as described on the third page of the green sheet or below
(2) Write a journal entry for this class today and store it at an etherpad site. Email me the URL of your site. (See directions below or on the green sheet.)
(3) Read and work on homework from sections 1.1 and 1.2.
(4) Register or login to Turnitin.com to make sure you can access the class site at which you will be uploading your essays.

Portfolio. Put together your portfolio, a loose leaf notebook with these sections:
Homework
Handouts or articles provided to you at this site (for example the pattern game handout.)
Exams
Class notes
Articles
Your papers or essays

Write a journal entry for each class. It should be one long (6 or more sentences) several short paragraphs detailing your reflections on each day’s class. What struck you as interesting, useful, helpful, unhelpful, puzzling, etc.? How are you feeling about the class? What are your expectations of the class and your own participation? Imagine you are writing to your future self (as in a popular South Park episode?!) and mention those things most memorable! Keep your journal entries at a page you get at an etherpad site, for example, at the Mozilla etherpad site (at Mozilla click on "Create new public pad.")

Use this format for journal entries:
Stanley Student (keep your name at the top)

Th. Jan. 12 (most recent entry)
Blah, blah, blah (at least 1 long - 6 or more sentences - or 3 medium size paragraphs).

Tue. Jan. 10 (older entry)
Blah, blah, blah (at least 1 long or 3 medium size paragraphs).

If you have trouble using an etherpad site, try opening it with a different browser. I have no trouble using the (free) Google Chrome browser.


Some links from recent classes:
Recent final exam study guide
Note that the study guide is from a previous year; you won't have an essay question.
Recent sample problem sheet.
Sample problems with some hints and solutions.

Here is the set of slides of fraction problems.
Here is the set of slides of decimal/ratio problems.
Farey Sequences (skip the advanced part and the cute animation at the beginning!)

We worked on this handout with problems on Patterns and Modular Arithmetic.

Second Essay Assignment.
You have a short paper on a subject related to the course that catches your interest due Thu., May 22, and worth 5% of your grade. You will turn the paper in via Turnitin.com. If you reported on the math/dance concert last time, you may do your math autobiography this time.

Here's the description of the essay:
Report on an article or chapter from a popular book about mathematics or math education. The report will be one to two pages long, typewritten, (it must be at least 600 words), and will cover the mathematics from one to several chapters of a book from the following list; other books or sources may also be used. You must use published material, not just web sites, unless you get permission from the instructor, and you MUST cite your sources. A short oral report to the class will also be required.
You should include in what you write and talk about:
(1) why you chose this topic,
(2) what you learned, and
(3) what you think about the subject in question.
(4) What you might like to find out about the subject in the future.


Examples of books with mathematical content:

The Mathematical Tourist and Islands of Truth, by Ivars Peterson.
Any of the books of Martin Gardner on mathematics (over 15 titles).
Game, Set, Math and Does God Play Dice by Ian Stewart, or other titles on math by Stewart.
The Mathematical Experience by Davis and Hersh.
A Number For Your Thoughts and Numbers At Work and At Play by Stephen P. Richards.
Tilings and Patterns by Grunbaum and Shepard.
Mathematical Snapshots by Steinhaus.
Mathematics: The New Golden Age by Keith Devlin, or other titles by Devlin.
The Emperor's New Mind by Roger Penrose.
The Mathematics of Games by John Beasley.
Archimedes' Revenge by Paul Hoffman
What is Happening in the Mathematical Sciences, ed. by Barry Cipra, Vols 1-5 (on reserve in campus library)

Examples of books with cultural content:
Ethnomathematics by Marcia Ascher.
You can also consult this Multicultural Mathematics Bibliography. Many of the references are in our library, and the bibliography contains call numbers for those that are in the library.
A number of Martin Gardner's books are in the De Anza library.

We saw the TED Dan Meyer video.

Here are articles on Nines Complement subtraction and the Gelosia mulitplication method.
Here are some other methods of addition, etc. Here's another such web site.

Here's a site on Base systems.
Site on number systems.
Number systems associated with languages.
Site with links to number system sites.

Site on number systems.

We did the Fido puzzle - please print out this Where's Fido handout and include in your portfolio. Include the extra problems in the handout as part of homework!

Study guide for the first exam
Solutions to the study guide for the first exam problems
Here's another old exam 1.
Here is the Fibonacci assignment, which is due next Tuesday, April 29. Read it CAREFULLY and do everything it asks!!

Here are Vi Hart's Fibonacci number videos.
Here is a great site about Fibonacci numbers.
Here is a Fibonacci site with lots of pictures and interactive applets.
Here is an interactive site that helps explain phyllotaxis, which is the pattern of spirals in many plants.
Here is a site about Pingala's possible use of the Fibonacci Numbers in ancient India.
Look up Rachel Hall who credits Indian mathematician/musician with the Fibonacci numbers - see her article "Math for Poets and Drummers" listed at her site.

Study guide for the first exam
Solutions to the study guide for the first exam problems

We also played what I call the Sorting Junk game and also the online game Set.
The game Set can be found here as a daily puzzle.
Here is a handout on the Sorting Junk game. Print out such handouts to include in your portfolio for the class.

I talked about the New Math and how it grew out of the launch of Sputnik - see this article.
I also talked about how the symbolism of set theory and logic was developed during the late 1800s and later to try to make all mathematics into an algebraic activity, and how that failed totally due to the work of Kurt Godel.

We played the game Ken Ken. Please go to the Ken Ken site and practice playing the game!

We learned about several number sequences which are important, including
The odds: 1,3,5,7,...
The evens: 0,2,4,6,...
The squares: 1,4,9,16,...
The triangular numbers: 1,3,6,10,15,...
The cubes: 1,8, 27, 64, 125, 216,...
The primes: 2,3,5,7,11,13,...
The Fibonacci numbers: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,24,...
We also learned about the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS), started by mathematician Neil Sloane, at which you can find just about any number sequence you can imagine!

 

Recent final exam study guide
Note that the study guide is from a previous year; you won't have an essay question.
Recent sample problem sheet.
Sample problems with some hints and solutions.

Here is the set of slides of fraction problems.
Here's a related handout on star polygons. Here are some materials on "modular arithmetic," which explains some of the properties we observed when looking at the rhythm patterns within circles:
Handout with problems on Patterns and Modular Arithmetic
The Hidden Role of Modular Arithmetic, that reviews what we did in the first two classes and relates it to some other problems from chapter 1.
Here are some links about modular arithmetic, which we will learn more about throughout the quarter:
Here's a site on modular arithmetic.
Here's a site which will do modular arithmetic calculations for you.
Here's a site on modular arithmetic by Susan Addington.

By the way, how is Halloween like Christmas?
Because Oct 31 = Dec 25 (do you know what this refers to? Hint: base systems...)
Here's a handout with a Ken Ken example, with solution explained, which will help you with one of the take home problems.

Here are articles on Nines Complement subtraction and the Gelosia mulitplication method.
Here are some other methods of addition, etc. Here's another such web site.

Here's a site on Base systems.
Site on number systems.
Number systems associated with languages.
Site with links to number system sites.

Site on number systems.

Base ten: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Base six: 0 1 2 3 4 5 10 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 30

How things work on basketball players' numbers: "Each uniform must display one or two digits on the front and back of the jersey. The numbers on a jersey are used to identify a player when calling violations. In most cases, the digits can only be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. While the NBA has allowed players to use numerals higher than 5, it is a rare allowance. This limitation on numerals allows referees to use their hands to signal player numbers to the game's official scorekeeper. Otherwise, a player wearing number 9 could be confused with a player wearing number 54."

Here is the Fibonacci assignment, which is due next Tuesday, Feb. 4. Read it CAREFULLY and do everything it asks!!

If you have not gotten an etherpad site for your class journal, do so now.
If you have not entered a journal entry for Tuesday also, please do so now, as I am already checking journals. Your first journal check will be complete by Tuesday, April 24, and will count 2 points of the 10 points for the "Portfolio" portion of your grade.

Here are some of the vocabulary words we have used during classes. Try to use each one in a sentence, to make sure you understand them:
multiple: 12 is a "multiple" of 3 and of 4. 3 and 4 are "factors" of 12. Is 13 a multiple of 1? Is 0 a multiple of 13?
horizontal (row): parallel to the horizon. Often means we are thinking about right and left.
vertical (column): up and down
odd numbers : 1,3,5,7,... These numbers are congruent to 1, mod 2. Is -1 and odd number?
even numbers : 0,2,4,6,8, .... Is 0 even? These numbers are congruent to 0, mod 2. Is -6 and even number?
alternate: a pattern in which two "sub-patterns" are each displayed in every other section of the pattern.

We also learned about a connection between the patterns in this game and the 3 by 3 magic square. Here's a handout on magic squares and modular arithmetic. We haven't covered all of the material in this handout yet, but will soon.

You should print out such handouts as the one above and include in your portfolio.

Study guide for the first exam
Solutions to the study guide for the first exam problems

Final Exam study guides:
Recent final exam study guide
Note that the study guide is from a previous year; you won't have an essay question.
Recent sample problem sheet.
Sample problems with some hints and solutions.

We will see several short videos about learning and teaching; you can find the links within Keith Devlin's recent online column.
Here is the set of slides of fraction problems.
Here is the set of slides of decimal/ratio problems

"PEMDAS" memory mnemonic

Prediction Card Trick handout
Painting the Pool
Britney Gallivan, who folded a "sheet" of paper 12 times.
Here is the set of slides of fraction problems.
Here is the set of slides of decimal/ratio problems.
Farey Sequences (skip the advanced part and the cute animation at the beginning!)
TED Dan Meyer video.

Nines Complement subtraction.
Gelosia mulitplication method
"Clap your name" activity.
Wikipedia entry on Turnitin.
Common Core Standards,
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

The triangle numbers,
Base systems
How things work on basketball players' numbers: "Each uniform must display one or two digits on the front and back of the jersey. The numbers on a jersey are used to identify a player when calling violations. In most cases, the digits can only be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. While the NBA has allowed players to use numerals higher than 5, it is a rare allowance. This limitation on numerals allows referees to use their hands to signal player numbers to the game's official scorekeeper. Otherwise, a player wearing number 9 could be confused with a player wearing number 54."
Keith Devlin's articles on multiplication as repeated addition.
Brief history of the New Math.
The game Set, see their daily puzzle.
Sorting Junk game.

Here's a quote from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass. Alice is talking with the White Knight, who many commentators believe to be a stand-in for Carroll himself. We'll see it's relevance later in the course!
"The name of the song is called 'Haddock's Eyes'."
"Oh, that's the name of the song, is it?" Alice said, trying to feel interested.
"No, you don't understand," the Knight said, looking a little vexed. "That's what the name is called. The name really is 'The Aged Aged Man'."
"Then I ought to have said 'That's what the song is called?'" Alice corrected herself.
"No, you oughtn't: that's quite another thing! The song is called 'Ways and Means': but that's only what it's called, you know!"
"Well, what is the song, then?" said Alice, who was by this time completely bewildered.
"I was coming to that," the Knight said. "The song really is 'A-sitting on a Gate': and the tune's my own invention."

Voting methods and their history.
Where's Fido?

TED Dan Meyer video.

Here's a site on Base systems.
Site on number systems.
Number systems associated with languages.
Site with links to number system sites.

Site on number systems.
Number systems associated with languages.
Site with links to number system sites.

How things work on basketball players' numbers: "Each uniform must display one or two digits on the front and back of the jersey. The numbers on a jersey are used to identify a player when calling violations. In most cases, the digits can only be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. While the NBA has allowed players to use numerals higher than 5, it is a rare allowance. This limitation on numerals allows referees to use their hands to signal player numbers to the game's official scorekeeper. Otherwise, a player wearing number 9 could be confused with a player wearing number 54."

Al Khwarizmi.

History of the Magic Square.

Triangle numbers, squares, Fibonacci numbers.

The game Ken Ken - this site has 6 new puzzles every day.

Article by Brian Hayes on the history of Gauss's Trick, published in 2006.
Here are articles on Nines Complement subtraction
and the Gelosia mulitplication method.
Here are some other methods of addition, etc.

The pattern game we played in class
Handout with problems on Patterns and Modular Arithmetic
The Hidden Role of Modular Arithmetic, that reviews what we did in the first two classes and relates it to some other problems from chapter 1.
Here are some links about modular arithmetic, which we will learn more about throughout the quarter:
Here's a site on modular arithmetic.
Here's a site which will do modular arithmetic calculations for you.
Here's a site on modular arithmetic by Susan Addington.

The 15-sum game, and how it is really "Magic Square tic-tac-toe."

Here's a handout about the Fido puzzle from class: Where's Fido?

The game Set can be found here as a daily puzzle.
Here is a handout on what I call the Sorting Junk game.

The "Frogs on a log" problem, which is a textbook homework problem, and in which we will find that with
1 frog per side it took a minimum of 3 moves to exchange places
2 frogs per side it took a minimum of 8 moves to exchange places
3 frogs per side it took a minimum of 15 moves to exchange places
You might have guessed that 4 frogs per side would require 24 moves, 5 frogs per side would require 35 moves.
Figure out how to do these exchanges also, in the minimum number of moves.