Math G - Math for Liberal Arts Students - Spring 2009

M W 4:45 - 6:50 pm in MT-14

Homework Assignments and Due Dates

(see greensheet for rules on late homework)
(Homework Assignments with Numbers show up directly on the gradesheet)

Due 5/20/09  Takehome # 2 (handed out in class on Wednesday May 13)
Due 5/20/09  Any remaining late work you want credited towards your final grade.
Due 5/18/09  Extra Credit Video Assignment - download instructions above.
HW#8 Due 5/13/09 
Mindscapes Chapter 7.6 # 1, 2, 10, 23, 25, 26 and Chapter 7.7 # 3, 4, 24.  Write all steps and explanations for full credit.
Due 5/11/09  Completed Final Paper - See Rules and Tips for requirements.
Due 5/4/09  Draft of Final Paper - show me how it's developing in your ideas and words.
HW#7 Due 5/4/09
Mindscapes Chapter 7.1 # 1, 2, 3 and Chapter 7.2 # 1, 3, 5, 8, 9 and Chapter 7.4 # 1, 3, 6, 8.  Write all steps and explanations for full credit.
HW#6 Due 4/27/09
Mindscapes Chapter 3.1 # 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and Chapter 3.2 # 1, 6, 11, 21 and Chapter 3.3 # 1, 4, 5, 10.  Write all steps and explanations for full credit.
Due 4/20/09  Merlot Assignment - Post your reviews online
Get handout in class or download above.
Due 4/15/09  Takehome #1
Get handout in class.  Graded on steps, explanations, accuracy and appearance.  Make sure the writeup is your own work in your own words.
HW Due 4/13/09 
Read Chapter Seven in your textbook.
HW#5 Due 4/8/09
Problems from class handout on Linear Programming. Write all steps and explanations for full credit.
Read Chapters Three and Seven in your textbook.
Midterm Paper and Speech Due Monday April 6 (See rules/tips download for requirements)
Be prepared to give your speech.  Turn in your paper even if you don't speak.
HW#4 Due 3/25/09
Read Chapter Two of your textbook (again)
Mindscapes Chapter 2.6 # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and Chapter 2.7 # 1, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18.  Write all steps and explanations for full credit.
Midterm Draft Due Monday March 23 (2 - 3 pages - show me the ideas developing in your words.  Convince me that it's your work.)
HW Due 3/18/09
Use your algebra resources to review graphs and equations and slope of straight lines.
HW  Due 3/16/09
Extra credit assignment from Karl Ting given in class on 3/7 regarding unsolved problems
Due 3/9/09
Use your algebra source to review algebra fractions (add, subtract, multiply, divide)
Due 3/2/09
Use your algebra source to review fractions (add, subtract, multiply, divide)
and elementary algebra word problems about distance, rate and time.
Book Report  Due  Wednesday February 25
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 rules/tips about papers - above.
HW#3 Due 2/23/09
Read Chapter 2 of your textbook.
Mindscapes Chapter 2.2 # 1, 3 and Chapter 2.3 # 1, 3.  Write all steps and explanations for full credit.
HW#2 Due 2/16/09
Textbook Chapter 1,  Mindscapes # 1, 3, 10  Write all steps and explanations for full credit.
Problems from handout on Sets and Venn Diagrams.
Due  2/9/09
Read the Welcome section and chapter 1 of your textbook.  Be prepared for in class activities.
Use your algebra resources to review/solve the algebra diagnostic questions from Monday's class.
HW#1  Due 2/4/09
Complete the student information sheet (handout in class or download above) including name of class "buddy."
Browse the class website and use a link to send me an email that you found the site.
Locate specific algebra resources that you will use to refresh your algbera skills.
Think about the Governor Zen problem ready for more class discussion.

Surprise In-Class Activities (No Makeup Allowed)

#1  2/2/09  Completion of algebra diagnostic.
#2  2/4/09  Write down the algebra resources that you will use to review for this class. 
Write a paragraph about the thing that was most interesting/surprising about Monday's class.
#3  2/9/09  Write a paragraph on what you have learned about problem solving from three classes and chapter one.
#4  2/18/09  Arithmetic and algebra problems.
#5  2/23/09  Write a paragraph about what's most difficult in class and how you plan to fix it.
#6  3/2/09  Write a paragraph about your "favorite" presentation - what/math/applications/why?
#7  3/7/09  Write 2 - 3 pages on PBS Unsolved problems in math video shown in class.
#8  3/9/09  Venn Diagram Handout.  Solve as a group and then write up your own explanation.
#9  3/16/09  Fraction problems.
#10 3/23/09  Write a summary of the main ideas you have learned about infinity.
#11 3/25/09  What is your plan to maintain/improve your grade?
#12  4/27/09  Hotel Infinity group activity.
#13  5/4/09  Lottery / Fibonacci / Two dice questions.
#14  5/6/09  Transfer and Prerequisite questions.
#15  5/20/09  What did you learn in the class/ what did you not learn?

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:

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 a good additional resource textbook  - "For All Practical Purposes".

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

This Pearson site features interactive algebra software that is used in many sections at Mission College.  You can purchase an individual subscription if you want to use it to review your algebra.  MyMathLab

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.

Fall 08  Jessica Kahlich Midterm paper on Time Travel

Fall 08 Anonymous student Midterm paper on Hypatia

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.