Download - 5th Annual Conference in Mathematics & Statistics Service Teaching, Institute of Technology Carlow, May 24th-25th 2010. 1 Exploring Mathematics using Mathematical.

5th Annual Conference in Mathematics & 5th Annual Conference in Mathematics & Statistics Service Teaching, Institute of Statistics Service Teaching, Institute of

Technology Carlow, May 24th-25th 2010.Technology Carlow, May 24th-25th 2010.

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Exploring Mathematics Exploring Mathematics usingusing

Mathematical TreatsMathematical Treats

Dr. Michael Brennan, Dr. Michael Brennan,

Department of MathematicsDepartment of Mathematics

Cork Institute of TechnologyCork Institute of Technology



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Student questionStudent question

``What exactly is ? ````What exactly is ? ``



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What is ?? 3.14159265358979323846 3.14159265358979323846

oror

RatioRatio of the of the circumferencecircumference to the to the diameterdiameter of a of a circlecircle

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7

355

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Birthday Problem

How large does a group have to be to guarantee a match?

How large does a group have to be so that the chance of a match is greater than 50%



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Birthday Problem

Examples of TreatsExamples of Treats

Definition of PiDefinition of Pi

ProbabilityProbability

Geometric SeriesGeometric Series



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1/4 + 1/16 + 1/64 + 1/256 + · · ·



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Geometric Treats

Sum of Series 0 < r < 1Sum of Series 0 < r < 1



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What is a Mathematical Treat?What is a Mathematical Treat?

DefinitionDefinitionA A Mathematical TreatMathematical Treat is an is an educational resource, e.g. educational resource, e.g.

puzzle,animation,story,image,gamepuzzle,animation,story,image,game that that inspiresinspires and/or adds and/or adds insightinsight into into

a mathematical idea.a mathematical idea.



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Mathematical TreatsMathematical Treats



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Use of Games Use of Games Bloxorz



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More Beginnings & EndingsMore Beginnings & Endings

CPU BlogCPU Blog Psychological Principle Primacy-Recency Psychological Principle Primacy-Recency Dr. Lisa Bullard (Active Learning) LIT2009Dr. Lisa Bullard (Active Learning) LIT2009

Active Learning Active Learning

Find Pi using a Find Pi using a Homemade ObjectHomemade Object

Create a Create a Mobius Strip

Devise Birthday Devise Birthday AnalysisAnalysis

Glass Coin Clock Mug



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Universal Universal Recycle SymbolRecycle Symbol



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Painter’s ParadoxPainter’s Paradox

Gabriels Horn has a Gabriels Horn has a finite volume and finite volume and an infinite surface an infinite surface areaarea



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Useful ResourcesUseful Resources

ColleaguesColleagues MERLOTMERLOT GeogebraGeogebra Wolfram AlphaWolfram Alpha Math WikipediaMath Wikipedia MathWorldMathWorld Maple ApplicationsMaple Applications



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Endings...!Endings...!

Use Sparingly*Use Sparingly* Relevancy/ContextRelevancy/Context Encourage EngagementEncourage Engagement SubjectiveSubjective Reaction/Response Reaction/Response



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