Tentative Syllabus for Math 210

January 2002 Resources:

Date   Morning   Afternoon   Assignments  
Th. 3  
Computer Lab - Intro to Sketchpad  1. DueFriday
  • Read pp.xiii-xv, Sections 1.1 and 1.2
  • Write a 2-3 page "mathematical autobiography"
  • Write: 1.1: 13
 
F. 4  
Computer Lab  2. Due Monday
  • Read: Sections 2.1 and 2.2
  • Write: Explore the proof at the bottom of p. 3 in the case where b is twice the length of a.
  • Write: 1.2: 1-3, 5 (do this one only for a convex pentagon).
  • Journal: What is the difference in the thinking processes required to discover a formula, verify a formula, and use a formula? Describe situations in some non-mathematical field that use each of these processes.
 
 
M. 7 

3. Due Tuesday
  • Read: Sections 3.1 and 3.2
  • Write: 1.1: 10g, 14k; 1.2: 11-13, 14
  • Write: 2.1: 4-22
  • Journal: What kind of thinking processes are required to do the polygon angle exercises in section 1.2. Where outside of mathematics do you use similar thinking processes?
Tu. 8  

4. Due Wednesday
  • Write: Finish Assignment 3 if necessary
  • Journal: Reflect on the the work we did in class this afternoon.
W. 9  

5. Due Thursday
  • Read: Devlin Paper and Nash article
  • Write: 2-3 paragraph Reaction to Devlin Paper and Nash Article
  • Write: Your billiard table explorations as assigned in class
  • Journal: Open reflection on days work, class so far, etc.
Th.10  

6. Due Monday
  • Read: Halmos Paper
  • Write: 2-3 paragraph reaction to Halmos Paper (this and previous one should be typed)
  • Read: Flatland
  • Write: Paper listing answers to Flatland assignment -- you can draw sketches by hand
  • Other: make sure the whole assignment on billiard tables is ready to hand in.
  • Journal: Open reflection on today's work
F.11   Flatland   Flatland   6. Due Monday See above
 
M.14  

7. Due Tuesday
  • Read: Section 3.2
  • Write: Two or three paragraphs summarizing the geometric topics in Donald Duck in MathMagic Land and drawing connections between the film and the things we have studied so far in this class.
  • Write: Section 3.2: 1, 2, 3a, 4a, 5, 7, 8
  • Journal: Reflect on PJ's question about what life would like to a 4-D being.
Tu.15  

8. Due Wednesday
  • Construct a 4-d cube
  • Journal: Reflect on an issue of your choice
W.16 

9. Due Thursday
  • Write: Logical steps to "prove" that construction 7 actually does what it says it does (go as far as you can in 30 minutes)
  • Write: Section 3.2: 6-9 (write steps you used for constructions 7 and 8)
  • Work through Section 3.3: 1-9 (write only 7-9, but you will need to do all of them leading up to 7-9)
  • Journal: Reflect on an issue of your choice
Th.17  

10. Due Monday
  • Write: Section 3.3: 17 (write steps too!)
  • Write: Section 3.4: 4-8, 14, 15
  • Journal: None
F.18   In Class Examination  TBA  10. Due Monday See above
       
M.21  

11. Due Tuesday
  • Write: 3.4: 7, 12, 14, 16, 17
  • Do: Figure out all of the regular polyhedra you can make and notice any characteristics that we might investigate.
  • Journal: Reflect on the star polygon work
Tu.22  

 
W.23  

 
Th.24  

 
F. 25  
   
       
M.28   Presentations  Presentations   
T.29 Presentations  Presentations  Take-home questions out 
W.30   Final Examination     

Disclaimer