Math G - Math for Liberal Arts Students - Fall 2008

M W 12:40 - 2:45 pm in MT-07

Rules and Tips for Papers and Presentations - updated version

Homework problems on sets & Venn Diagrams - due 9/17/08

Homework problems on linear programming - due 10/13/08

Instructions for MERLOT Report  - due 11/3/08

Instructions for Video Report - due 11/26/08

Homework Assignments and Due Dates

Due 12/17/08  Anonymous class evaluation
Due 12/10/08 TakeHome # 2
Due 12/8/08  Assignment # 9
Chapter 7.6 Mindscapes # 1, 2, 10, 23, 25, 26 / Chapter 7.7 Mindscapes # 3, 4, 24 
Show all steps and explanations in order to receive full credit.
Due 12/1/08  Final Paper.  Turn in 10-15 page paper complete with all sources. 
Due 11/26/08  Video Report  - Get handout in class or download above.
Due 11/24/08  Turn in draft with topic/summary/outline/some of your sources - just to give me a feel. 
Due 11/17/08 Assignment # 8
Chapter 7.1 Mindscapes # 1, 2, 3 / Chapter 7.2 Mindscapes # 1, 3, 5, 8, 9 / Chapter 7.4 Mindscapes # 1, 3, 6, 8
Show all steps and explanations in order to receive full credit.
Early Warning - Final Paper Due Dates
General topic is still "something interesting in mathematics."  - - see also "tips about papers" handout, above.
Due 11/10/08  TakeHome # 1 Graded Homework   Pick up questions in class on 11/3/08 or 11/5/08.
Be sure you understand and can explain whatever you turn in.
Due 11/3/08  MERLOT Report - See classroom handout or download above.
Due 10/29/08 Assignment # 7
Chapter 4.1 Mindscapes # 1, 2, 8 / Chapter 4.6 Mindscapes # 1, 2, 3 / Chapter 4.7 Mindscapes # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Show all steps and explanations in order to receive full credit.
Midterm Due Dates
General topic is still "something interesting in mathematics."  - - see also "tips about papers" handout, above.
Due 10/20/08  Turn in draft with topic/summary/outline/some of your sources - just to give me a feel. 
Due 10/27/08  Turn in 5-10 page paper complete with all sources. 
Due 10/27/08  Be prepared to make a 5 minute class presenation similar to your previous one. 
Due 10/20/08
Read Chapter 7 and Chapter 4.
Due 10/13/08 Assignment # 6
Read Chapter 2 again.
Chapter 3.1 Mindscapes  # 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 / Chapter 3.2 Mindscapes # 1, 6, 11, 21 / Chapter 3.3 Mindscapes # 1, 4, 5, 10
Homework problem from Linear Programming Class Handout - or download above.
Show all steps and explanations in order to receive full credit.
Due 10/8/08
Read Chapter 3.
Due 10/6/08 - Assignment # 5 (Assigned in class 10/29/08)
Chapter 2.6 Mindscapes # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / Chapter 2.7 Mindscapes # 1, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18
Show all steps and explanations in order to receive full credit.
Review linear equations and straight line graphs from your algebra source.
Due 9/29/08- Assignment # 4 (Assigned in class on 9/22/08)
Chapter 2.2 Mindscapes # 1, 3 / Chapter 2.3 Mindscapes # 1, 3
Show all steps and explanations in order to receive full credit.
Due 9/24/08 - Book Report Presentation (Assigned in class on 9/8/08)
Prepare a five minute in class presentation on "something interesting in mathematics".  All you need to turn in on paper is a page showing at least two sources that you used.  One must be "paper" - not a website.  For additional hints see the download on tips about papers - above.
Due 9/22/08 (Assigned in class on 9/15/08)
Read Chapter 2
Due 9/17/08 - Assignment # 3  (Assigned in class on 9/10/08)
Chapter 1 Mindscapes # 1, 3, 10 / Set and Venn diagram survey problems from class handout (download above)
Show all steps and explanations in order to receive full credit.
Due 9/15/08 - Assignment # 2  (Assigned in class on 9/8/08)
Use your algbera source to complete correct solutions for the algebra problems handed out in class - or available to download above.  You must show all steps and explanations to receive full credit.
Read the welcome section and chapter one of your textbook.
Due 9/8/08 - Assignment #1  (Assigned in class on 9/3/08)
Turn in paper copy of completed Student Information sheet with your "buddy name and phone #" (handed out in class or download above).
Explore this class web site and use email link to send me a message by Monday.
Think about the Governor Zen problem and be ready for more class discussion.
Get a textbook/source and review some algebra.

Surprise In-Class Activities (No Makeup)

17)  12/10/08  Self evaluation.
16)  12/8/08  Network problem - individual or pair solution.
15)  12/3/08  Arithmetic and algebra problems.
14)  11/26/08  National Mathematics Advisory Panel report - React national/persona/good/bad/possible/impossible?
13)  11//19/08  Group problem on probability of selecting Holiday Gifts.
12) 11/12/08  Your textbook - what's good/bad/needs improved?  Select traditional or alternative.
11) 11/3/08   Write about the midterm presentation that caught your attention - title, topic, math, applications and why?
10) 10/22/08  Watch "Unsolved Problems". Write summary and critique.
9)  10/20/08  Summarize the chapter you read for homework (4 or 9) and connect with class material.
8)  10/13/08  Self Reflection on what's working successfully and what isn't and what can be improved.
7)  10/8/08  Hotel Infinity Group Activity
6)  10/1/08  Venn Diagram problem.
5)  9/29/08  Write about presentation that caught your attention - math/applications/why?
4)  9/22/08  Write what you learned in Karl's class last week.
3)  9/15/08  Write what you've learned about problem solving - refer to class and homework.
2)  9/10/08  Write what's interesting / difficult / any change of feelings about math.
1)  9/8/08    Write down your algebra source.

Some Math Web Sites

Here are some sites that may help you find topics for some of your math assignments - or you may just enjoy browsing:

Merlot Mathematics - website for a nationwide project of collaborating universities and colleges to identify and evaluate multimedia resources for teaching mathematics (and other disciplines). Merlot Mathematics Click on Mathematics from this main page.

Mathematical Sciences Digital Library - mathematical resources for teacher and students from the Mathematical Association of America. Math Digital Library

Launched in January 2001 - Journal of Online Mathematics and Applications from the Mathematical Association of America. Online Math Journal

Award winning comprehensive archive at St. Andrews University on the history of mathematics and mathematicians. St. Andrews Math History.

Math Professor David Joyce at Clark University has many resources including history and geometry. Clark University Math.

Some mathematician's biographies from Trinity College, Dublin. Dublin Math Biographies.

Descriptions and graphics of some of Archimedes work from Drexel University. Archimedes

Some material on Mendel and genetics and probability. Mendel

A large selection of material for K-16 math education. Math Forum

Award winning site on Fibonacci Numbers and Golden Section.

Interesting collection of Interactive Applets.

Here are some sites of other organizations that involve mathematics.

Mathematical Association of America.

American Mathematical Society

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Comprehensive List of Math, Physics, and Engineering Departments

Here are some sites developed by publishers of math textbooks and software:

Study Web - a large collection of online resources including mathematics at all levels, sponsored by Lightspan of San Diego - allows a thirty day free trial. Study Web

This site, sponsored by Design Science math software, features a comprehensive collection of math resources for students and educators and includes a math encyclodedia - "Platonic Realms".

This W.H. Freeman site provides additional material for the resource book - "For All Practical Purposes".

This John Wiley site provides resources for their new liberal arts math textbook by Gilbert and Hatcher, including a student study corner with interactive applets - "Mathematics Beyond the Numbers".

This Prentice Hall site has some material for users of three of their liberal arts textbooks.

This McGraw Hill software was developed with faculty from U.C. Irvine and features a sophisticated assessment and placement system called ALEKS, for algebra level classes. You can try out a free demonstration. ALEKS Demo

This Addison Wesley site is tied to their textbooks but has a free problem area that can be used with a downloadable plug in for Windows. Select any text and then click on "Interact Math".

This site describes the Academic Systems technology mediated interactive multimedia material used in some of our algebra sections at Mission College. Technology Mediated Algebra

Student Papers and Projects

These are examples of some of the best student work in Math G from previous semesters. They may inspire you to do equally good work and may also give you some ideas for topic selection. Some layout and illustrations may not look correct on this web version.

Spring 04 Dusty Sykes' Midterm paper on Chaos.

Spring 04 Leanne Collins' Midterm paper on Kepler.

Fall 03 Kathy Phelan's Final paper on Einstein.

Fall 03 Heather Porter's Midterm paper on Archimedes.

Fall 03 Kathy Phelan's Midterm paper on Math Anxiety.

Spring 03 Rod Peterson's Final paper on Light, the Big Bang and Inflation Theory.

Spring 03 Tammy Vu's Final paper on Children and Math Education.

Spring 03 Noel Dietz's Textbook Review-"History of Mathematics" of two different Math G textbooks.

Fall 02 Mary O'Malley's Final Paper on Infinity.

Fall 02 Kim Ly's Final Paper on Poetry and Math.

Fall 02 Lynn Sanitate's Textbook Review-"Math in Life, Society & the World" of two different Math G textbooks.

Fall 02 Mary O'Malley's Textbook Review-"Math in Life, Society & the World" of two different Math G textbooks.

Fall 02 Lurraine Rees's Video Report on Social Choice - Election Theory, from the "For All Practical Purposes" Video Series.

Fall 02 Connye Paris's Video Report on Statistics, from the "For All Practical Purposes" Video Series.

Fall 02 Mary O'Malley's Midterm paper on Einstein.

Fall 02 Lynn Sanitate's Midterm paper on Barcodes and Error Correction.

Spring 02 Heidi Chun's Final paper on Tessellations and the Art of M.C.Escher.

Spring 02 Wendi Clouse's Final paper on A History of Infinity.

Spring 02 MacKenzie Hamilton's Midterm paper on Girls and Math: Achieving Equality in Mathematics Education.

Spring 02 Brian Doore's Midterm paper on Longitude.

Spring 02 Wendi Clouse's's Midterm paper on Diamond Cutting.

Spring 02 Nomi Goodnight's Video Review on Patterns of Nature., from the series Life by the Numbers.

Fall 01 Jackie Tacorda's Final paper on Ocean Waves.

Fall 01 Sandy Farnsworth's Final paper on Fractals and Art.

Fall 01 Teresa Adam's Textbook Review-"Nature of Mathematics" of two different Math G textbooks.

Fall 01 Britney Maracchini's Textbook Review-"History of Mathematics" of two different Math G textbooks.

Fall 01 Johnny Posada's Midterm paper on Math Anxiety.

Fall 01 Britney Maracchini's Midterm paper on Probability.

Spring 01 Susan Agee's Final paper on Charles Babbage.

Spring 01 Nazih Malak's Final paper on Pythagoras.

Spring 01 Ryan Olein's Final paper on Hilbert's Problems.

Spring 01 Charles Keller's Midterm paper on the Golden Mean.

Fall 00 Kathie Kratochvil's Final paper on Gender Equity in Math.

Fall 00 Jill Buckley's Final paper on Chaos.

Fall 00 Jim O'Meara's Midterm paper on Auto Racing Design.

Fall 00 Kama Weinberger's Midterm paper on Euclid.

Fall 00 Teresa Adams Video Report on Computer Science - Numerical Representation, from the "For All Practical Purposes" Video Series.

Spring 00 Jeanette Turkus Final paper on Zero.

Spring 00 Jeanette Turkus Textbook Review-"Mathematical Palette" of two different Math G textbooks.

Spring 00 Sandy Farnsworth's Video Report on Computer Science - Graphics, from the "For All Practical Purposes" Video Series.

Spring 00 Jonathon Jude Frost's short Power Point Presentation on Functions.

Fall 99 Lisa Corbett's Final Paper on Chaos.

Fall 99 Leanna Allen's Final Paper on Space and Time.

Fall 99 Louise Anderson's Midterm Paper on Math Anxiety.

Fall 99 Judy Cuturrufo's Midterm Website on Statistics.

Fall 99 William Ho's Midterm Website on the Four Color Theorem. This requires a Flash 4 player or plug-in.

Spring 99 Michelle Beard's Final Paper on the Four Color Theorem.

Spring 99 Michelle Beard's Midterm Web-Page Project on Fibonacci.

Spring 99 Venus DeGuzman's Midterm Web-Page Project on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Fall 98 Michael Lacey's Final Paper on Chaos Theory.

Fall 98 Ed Smith's Midterm Web-Page Project on Mathematical Climate Modeling.

Spring 98 Beverly Jackson's Final Paper on Fermat's Last Theorem.

Fall 97 Victoria Wilson's Midterm Web-Page Project on Fractals.

Fall 97 Chris Anderson's Final Paper on Chaos Theory.

Final Paper on Fermat's Last Theorem-removed at student request.