My blog

 
Outside the equation - www.theage.com.au: "Einstein's Heroes "

Robyn Arianrhod has new status as the friendly face of mathematics

Einstein's Heroes, which uses the discoveries of Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell to explain mathematical principals, has been published by the University of Queensland
posted by TB reader at 6:04 PM

 
EGE, Sadovnichii, talented students, exams
posted by TB reader at 8:34 AM

 
The Ig Nobel Web Page
posted by TB reader at 8:33 AM

 
Daily Lesson Plan
Lesson goal: students use measurement and calculation to explore the mathematical principles behind the M.C. Escher lithograph "Print Gallery."
Inspired by the article "Mathematician Fills in a Blank for a Fresh Insight on Art".
The real investigation by Lenstra and several other people took 2 years and involved tools like elliptic curves. So now students from grades 6-8 are expected:

--attempting to determine if these measurements can be represented by common equations (linear, logarithmic/exponential, trigonometric, etc.)
--determining how equations function to produce the unique form of the image (e.g. a spiral, a staircase that always goes upward, a repeating image with slight variations, etc.)
Groups should determine the mathematical principles (or forms) at work in the image (such as the "cyclic bulge," distortion, and elliptical curves employed to define the principles at work in "Print Gallery"). Using these principles as a guideline, groups create an extrapolation of the image from the original work.

* Log and trig functions in grade 6 (or even in 8 with sufficient understanding)?
* Equations producing ever rising staircases?
* Determine elliptical curves?

Extension Activities:
2. Research Fermat's Last Theorem, or another unsolved mathematical problem. Write a short paper describing the history of the problem, the solutions suggested, why these solutions failed, and the prospects for a real solution in the future.



posted by TB reader at 11:00 PM

 
The Fund Investor's Reading List
posted by TB reader at 7:06 PM

 
HotAIR - Rare and well-done tidbits from the Annals of Improbable Research Êàêàÿ âåùü!
posted by TB reader at 5:26 PM

 
Walt Haney's Home Page writes about testing. Report about errors in tests
posted by TB reader at 2:08 AM

 
NBETPP home: "The National Board on Educational Testing and Public Policy "
posted by TB reader at 2:07 AM

 
Issues & Views black voices of reason.
posted by TB reader at 5:25 PM

 
Culture, Collectivism and Corruption CL9806.html An article by Karen Selick in Canadian Laweyr.
What’s interesting is that so many people, including many aboriginals, seem to want the physical commodities that individualist, capitalist cultures produce—centrally heated houses, indoor plumbing, electrical appliances, snowmobiles, high-tech fishing and hunting gear, etc.—while spurning the cultural attitudes and practices that created such items in the first place.
posted by TB reader at 4:31 PM

 
Doubting Hall - Evelyn Waugh
posted by TB reader at 3:49 PM

 
Math defending Labour MP Tony McWalter
posted by TB reader at 10:39 PM

 
WORLD FEDERATION OF NATIONAL MATHEMATICS COMPETITIONS
Link
posted by TB reader at 7:55 PM