Through Math for America, I am part of an on-going collaboration with the New York Times Learning Network. My latest contribution, a Test Yourself quiz-question, can be found here:
https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/test-yourself-math-april-2-2012/
This question is based on Fred Newman’s world record of 20,371 free throws in 24 hours. How fast was he making those shots?
After having fun exploring rigid and non-rigid frames, I hung one of our indeterminate quadrilaterals up on the board. The next day, we were proving a theorem about orthodiagonal quadrilaterals, and the final step concluded that a particular quadrilateral was actually a rectangle.
I found a cute little spot to finish our proof.
This elicited a few laughs from students who appreciated the irony.
But apparently, some students in a later class did not appreciate it. They felt the need to chime in.
As a general rule I must oppose mathematical graffiti, but it’s hard not to respect their position.
My latest contribution to the New York Times Learning Network is a math lesson built around investigating the indicators analysts use to classify and predict economic recovery.
https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/on-the-road-to-recovery-analyzing-economic-indicators/
By collecting and analyzing data presented in Times infographics and other official sources, students can analyze the various economic indicators to assess the current condition of the U.S. economy.
By comparing and contrasting the various indicators, and connecting these abstract measures with their own personal experiences, students begin to build understanding of the complex task of quantifying economic performance.
This is a short and engaging portrait of John Conway, one of the world’s most recognized mathematicians.
http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2012/03/01/30161/
Conway is decidedly eccentric, which is not uncommon in the world of mathematics. He loves magic, juggling, and games, and has something of a a reputation as an odd chap. But his mathematical contributions are numerous and substantial: Conway’s Game of Life in and of itself is a remarkable mathematical construction, but he is also credited with inventing (or discovering?) surreal numbers. Conway has also contributed to the theory of sphere packing.
The article above, from the Daily Princetonian, is a quick and lively read, a fun portrait of a brilliant and curious man.
