Math 46
Winter 2010 Home Page
Green Sheet

Class 21, Tue., Mar. 16, 2010
We went over exponential function (also, briefly, liinear functions). Do homework through section 8.1.
We also learned about the Brazilian street math study.

Here is a recent final exam study guide. Your exam will be very similar
Here's a recent sample problem sheet.
Here are the sample problems with some hints and solutions.

Class 20, Th., Mar. 11, 2010
We went over chapter 7 and Egyptian fractions, and did the Barbie activity. Please turn in Barbie on Tuesday.
Also, turn in chapter 6 homework Tuesday.

Class 19, Tue., Mar. 9, 2010
We went over some exam problems, and also more about decimals, percentages, etc.
Here's George Vaccaro's post about the overcharge by Verizon, that we discussed. You'll also find interesting comments by a variety of readers, as well as Vaccaro's recording of his conversation with the Verizon representative, which is ... entertaining in a way.

We are finishing up chapter 7 during the next class, and will do the "Barbie activity" on Thursday. Please bring any Barbie or Ken or similar dolls you might have on Thursday - thanks!

Do homework through section 7.3, and turn in Chapter 5 homework on Thursday; Chapter 6 will be due next Tuesday.

Class 18, Th., March 4, 2010
Since so many were absent (for "March forth day"), we worked on the take-homes today.
Exams due on Tuesday. Homework for chapter 5 due on Thursday, with chapter 6 due the next Tuesday.

Class 17, Tue., March 2, 2010
We worked on the take-home exams, did more fraction work, and began the chapter on the decimal system and percentages. Do homework through section 7.1.

Class 16, Th., Feb. 25, 2010
We did more work on fractions, also used class time for take-home exam.
Do homework through the end of section 6.3.

Here's the site for playing the game KenKen.

Class 15, Tue., Feb. 23, 2010
We worked on fractions, sections 6.1 and 6.2.

Class 14, Thu., Feb. 18, 2010
We finished the group problem assignment (for all but one of the groups!)
We also went over sections 5.3 and 5.4.
Do homework through section 5.4.

Class 13, Tue., Feb. 16, 2010
We worked on group problems; they will be presented on Thursday.
We also went over material from sections 5.1 and 5.2. Do homework through 5.2

Class 12, Thu., Feb. 11, 2010
We heard oral reports, and did an extension of the least common multiple activity. Work on group problems for Tuesday.

Class 11, Tue., Feb. 9, 2010
We went over sections 3.6, 4.2, and 4.3. Do homework through 4.3.
Papers are due on Thursday. Turn in chapter 3 homework also.

Class 10, Th., Feb. 4, 2010
We went over homework, did the "How do we Calculate?" activity, and went over section 4.2.
Bring calculator to class on Tuesday. Bring homework to turn in Tuesday (chapter 3).

Bring handouts to turn in Tuesday:
Modular arithmetic intro
Patterns and Modular Arithmetic

Group Problems :

	A	B	C	D	E	F
4.1, # 10,17	Katie	Audra	Anna	Sally	Stephanie	Maayan
4.1, # 18,19	Beata	Julie	Laura	Grazyl	Sammi	Hatice
4.1, # 25,30	Ghadeer	Char	Sarah	Crystal	Vui	Melanie
4.2, # 9,11	Rhiannon	Kaila	Kristi	Vanessa	Valerie	Victoria
4.3, # 19,20	Jennifer	Bhavna	Marie	Nora	Patricia	Jessica
4.4, # 13,15	Jamie O.	Chester	Cindy	Jamie L.	Kento	Anna On
4.4, # 19,20 and x=1+1/x	Anna S.	May	Stephanie J.	Justine	Tori

Class 9, Tue., Feb. 2, 2010
We went over homework from chapter 3 and also sections 3.5 and 4.1.
Please do homework for sections 3.4 and 3.5 and begin work on section 4.1.
Also practice your name as a repeating rhythm, remember consonants are claps, vowels are slaps!
Bring a calculator to class on Thursday.
Try to find a new phrase for order of operations mnemonic PEMDAS, other than Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.

Class 8, Th., Jan. 28, 2010
We went over exam 1 and sections 3.2, 3.3, and part of 3.4.
Do homework through section 3.3.

Please complete these handouts and bring to class Tuesday:
Modular arithmetic intro
Patterns and Modular Arithmetic

You have a short paper on a subject related to the course that catches your interest due iat the end of next week (Thursday, Feb. 11) and worth 5% of your grade. Due date Thursday, Feb. 11. 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.

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 library.

Class 7, Tue., Jan. 26, 2010
We had exam 1. Please complete these handouts and bring to class Thursday:
Modular arithmetic intro
Patterns and Modular Arithmetic

Class 6, Thu., Jan. 21, 2010
We went over homework, and also played the "Sorting Junk" game. Here's a handout on Sorting Junk. We also did the "Where's Fido" puzzle; download this handout and work the puzzles in it as part of homework Work the problems on this handout: Modular arithmetic intro.

Exam 1 is on Tuesday. It will require a scantron. Here's a study guide for the first exam. Include problem 16 in the study guide, which is from section 3.1, but not problem 17. Here's another old exam 1 for you to look at. Have your homework through the end of chapter 2, and have your portfolio and journal entries current on Tuesday.

Class 5, Tue., Jan. 19, 2010
We worked on the "frogs on a log" problem, and also several other problems, as well as the use of manipulatives in understanding multiplication and division.
We also went over chapter 3.1.
Do homework through the end of chapter 3.1.

Please print out these handouts, and bring them to class on Thursday:
Modular arithmetic intro
Patterns and Modular Arithmetic

Here's a study guide for the first exam from a previous quarter. So far, we've covered most of these topics.

Class 4, Th., Jan. 14, 2010
Sorry this is late, I've had trouble accessing this site. For Tuesday, complete and turn in the Fibonacci assignment I talked about in class. Also turn in homework for chapter 1. And complete homework through section 2.4.

In class we played the game SET. Go to the SET web site and try the daily puzzle.

We also spent time working on two instances of the Fibonacci numbers.
Here are some links to Fibonacci sites, please take a look at them:
A great site about Fibonacci numbers.
Here's another Fibonacci site with lots of pictures and interactive applets.
Here's an interactive site that helps explain phyllotaxis, which is the pattern of spirals in many plants.

Class 3, Tue., Jan. 12, 2010
We went over several homework problems, especially the magic square problems. We investigated the 3 by 3 magic square in terms of multiples and remainders when divided by 3. Then we morphed the magic square problem into a game which could then be put in th form of tic-tac-toe. Then we investigated a new game we called toe-tac-tic. Find the winning strategy for toe-tac-tic.

See this site for some history of the magic square.

Also do homework through section 2.1. I will take up chapter 1 homework next Tuesday.

Class 2, Th., Jan. 7, 2010
We  went over sections 1.3 and 1.4, including material on the Pigeonhole Principle, the Take-Away Game, a hint about solving one of the homework problems using odds and evens, and the perimeter problem, analyzed also using odds and evens. Here is a page with "16 fun applications of the pigeonhole principle."
Due Tuesday:
(1) Math. Autobiography. See the Green Sheet above for details. Should be at least 600 words.
(2) Work on homework through the end of section 1.4 (see list at bottom of this page). I will take up chapter 1 homework when we reach the end of chapter 1.
(3) Get a looseleaf notebook, create sections for the various aspects of the class (listed below), and bring on Tuesday.
(4) Write a journal entry for each class - do one for Tuesday's class if you have not yet written one. Again, should be one long or several short paragraphs detailing your reflections on today'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!

Class 1, Tue., Jan. 5, 2010
(1) Get your textbook! (See green sheet.)
(2) Assignment: Ch. 1.1 and 1.2 (see problems below).
(3) We worked on the pattern game and associated problems.
(4) We played the "take-away" game, in which each player may remove 1 or 2 counters on each turn. What is the winning strategy?
(5) Put together your portfolio, a looseleaf notebook with these sections: