Math Links for Week Ending Apr 19th, 2013

I have been an XKCD fan for years and just found out that the creator has a new blog called What If? (Thanks to Michele Cooper for pointing this out) The premiss of the new blog is to
try to answer weird questions about physics. Some fantasy (How much force could Yoda output?) some based in some sort of reality (What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball travelling at 90% the speed of light?). But some are math based. He apparently puts a new one out every Tuesday. Here are the ones that I think are math based:
SAT Guessing -What if everyone guessed on the SATs. How many perfect scores would there be?
Droppings - If you went outside and lay down on your back with your mouth open, how long would you have to wait until a bird pooped in it?
Pennies - If you carried around a penny in your coin tray, how long would it take for that penny to cost you more than a cent in extra gas?
Twitter - How many unique English tweets are possible?
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U

Sometimes technology can be a problem. Especially when it lets you do calculations that are difficult to check. Here is a story about a widely used economics study that eventually was found to have a flaw in the Excel spreadsheet calculations. Could be a good conversation starter about calculating average. It comes from the NPR radio show Marketplace.
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/excel-mistake-heard-round-world
Curriculum Tags: Gr7, Gr8, MDM4U

Here are a couple of pythagorean proofs that you could use to challenge some of your better kids
http://www.cut-the-knot.org/pythagoras/index.shtml#99
http://www.cut-the-knot.org/pythagoras/index.shtml
Curriculum Tags: Gr8, MPM1D



I kind of like this blog post about functions. Its a relatively simple intro to functions but I like the differer real life examples of functions machines.
http://rationalexpressions.blogspot.ca/2013/03/is-this-function.html
Curriculum Tags: MCF3M, MCR3U





For baseball fans, we know there are a pile of stats that can be used in class out there. Here are some
from Albert Pujols that could be used for linear relations and extrapolation in grade 9
http://www.yummymath.com/2013/albert-pujols-on-pace-2013/
Curriculum Tags: MPM1D, MFM1P




I like the idea of this activity for dealing with surface area of irregular shapes. A prank where you cover an entire room with tin foil. How much would you need?
http://www.yummymath.com/2013/foil-prank/
Curriculum Tags: MPM1D, MFM1P




Web2.0calc is an online scientific calculator that you can embed in your own websites and blogs. Download the widgets here (there are three versions)
Web 2.0 scientific calculator
Curriculum Tags: All

Here is a good activity where students are given choice in dealing with exponentials (in context).
Although it is not always flawless, giving students choices of contexts is a way to help foster some sort of engagement.
http://drawingonmath.blogspot.ca/2013/04/exponentials-in-context.html
Curriculum Tags: MCF3M, MCR3U, MAP4C, MCT4C

Any time there is some talk of using good embedded formative assessment in math class is a good time as well as I am concerned. With references to Dylan Wiliam, this is a good place to start.
http://thescamdog.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/two-by-four/
Curriculum Tags: All

In an Ignite talk, the speaker gives a 5 minute talk with a 20 page slideshow. They are meant to be really inspiring. Here is a link to a playlist with 64 of these talks.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5CDF98F961F9527D
And below is one of my favourites about Wondering and Noticing
Curriculum Tags: All

The first time I saw this animation was in the documentary Supersize Me. Its a great movie for any data management class to see. There are a lot of great displays of data in unique ways and it tells a good story.
Obesity Graph
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U