You will do a number of presentations in class throughout the semester. With the exception of the final group presentation, each of them should take about 3-5 minutes. With each presentation you are expected to turn in a written version following the guidelines outlined at the bottom of your listing of homework problems. You need to be creative with your presentations and not just read your report. In fact, you will not have adequate time to present all aspects of your report. As part of your presentations, you are highly encouraged to have some type of visual aid. Visual aids could include but are not limited to: posters, objects, dressing in character, power-point presentations, etc. Please be creative and have fun with your presentations!
Ever wonder just what a million of something means? Now you can find out!! Bring a million of something to class. That is, a million copies or instances of one kind of thing, not a million completely different kinds of things.
You must bring the physical items with you to class. (No thumb drives with bytes, cameras with pixels, units of time, measurements of distances, etc.) You must be able to identify and show a single item along with the million items. Make sure there are at least a million of your item. (You do not need to have exactly a million.)
Then, tell the class how you know there are at least a million and show us how you arrived at an estimate for how many you have. (You may not pick the same kind of item as any other student in the class. )
This semester, you will be doing a research project on a famous mathematician (deceased or living). Each student must report on a different mathematician and you cannot choose a mathematician that has been previously discussed in class.
For your report, you must use (and cite properly in your written version) at least two sources. This report is not to be done like a traditional biography. I am not interested in the day-to-day activities of the mathematician. I will only allow one paragraph that deals with birth, death, family members etc… The majority of the report should focus on the unusual aspects of the mathematician. I want to know things they have overcome in their lives, the personal side of the Mathematician. I also want to know about their mathematical contributions.
Here are a few websites to help get you started:
Pick a topic from The Math Book and give a short report on it in class. Your topic must be one that is not covered in class during the semester. Find and use at least one other source on the topic. Cite both sources properly in your written version.
The library has a copy of the book, or you can browse through it before or after class or in my office. (You are also welcome to purchase a copy of the book for your own use.)
