Day 01, MAT115-007, Fall 2005

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. Hometown
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 assignments, for Wednesday:
- Read the chapter "Welcome" (pages ix-xii) and Section 1.1; start stories #1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 from Section 1.1.
  You may read Section 1.2 (hints), but do not read 1.3 (solutions)!
- 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 interests you about each section. You may also include topics which are NOT in the book, but which interest you, and which you would like to investigate.
The syllabus.
- Class will be organized around discussions of material. You must be prepared to contribute! My role will be to present and clarify, but moreover 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 28)" 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?
Let's try a little gambling game...about birthdays.
Now, let's play one of the games: "Let's make a Deal!" (Story 7, p. 10).
If time permits, we'll play another of the games: "Rolling around in Vegas" (Story 7, p. 10).

Website maintained by Andy Long. Comments appreciated.