Day 01, MAT115-012, Fall 2004

Introduction to this special flavor of Mat115

Welcome!
4x6 cards: Please fill out the card, indicating
1. Name
2. Year (Freshman, etc.)
3. Major
4. Preferred email address
5. Where you are from
6. Working status (If so, where and how much?)
7. Why you decided to take this course
8. What your math background/experience is
9. Something special about yourself
This course would not exist without our textbook, The Heart of Mathematics. It is absolutely essential that you read it! The authors know how most people feel about mathematics, and want to help!
Another neat thing about our book is that kit that comes with the book. Try the 3-D glasses on the object on page 281.
Your assignment(s):
- (For Wednesday) Read the chapter "Welcome" (pages ix-xii) and Section 1.1; start stories #1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 from Section 1.1.
  You may read Section 1.2 (hints), but do not read 1.3 (solutions)!
- (For Friday) Have a look at the book, and choose THREE sections or topics (other than chapter 1) that you would like to cover. Write a paragraph explaining what interest you about each section. I'll collect these on Friday, and create a schedule from your selections. You may also include topics which are NOT in the book, but which interest you!
The syllabus.
- Class will be organized around discussions of material. You must be prepared to contribute! My role will be to moderate the discussions, and be a resource.
- What's this project all about? Something you love, I hope! A game that you enjoy? Something you've notice in a garden or at the zoo?
The authors claim that our goal is more than just mathematics -- there are "Lessons for life (from our textbook, page 25, 619)" that we should focus on:
1. Just do it.
2. Make mistakes and fail, but never give up.
3. Keep an open mind.
4. Explore the consequences of new ideas.
5. Seek the essential.
6. Understand the issue.
7. Understand simple things deeply.
8. Break a difficult problem into easier ones.
9. Examine issues from several points of view.
10. Look for patterns and similarities.
I want you to think about finding mathematics in your everyday life. For example, one of my favorite poets, Robert Graves, provides us with an introduction to two ideas that we will study in his poem Warning to Children:
- Infinity, and
- Fractals (e.g. coastlines)
Before I knew about Graves, or his poetry, I was thinking along the same lines (Some mathematics from my youth).
Do you have any stories about math from your youths?

Website maintained by Andy Long. Comments appreciated.