Math Links for Week Ending, Aug. 16, 2013

I really like Steven Strogatz. The way that he tries to make math attainable to the average person. He really sees the beauty in math and simplifies it. Listen here for an interview where he talks about his book The Joy of X.
Curriculum Tags: All
http://www.npr.org/2013/08/02/207885870/steven-strogatz-the-joy-of-x


Feynman Point Poems are poems that are based on a particular place in the expansion of Pi. There is a place where there is 6 nines in a row. So these poems all have six words that each have 9 letters. Read about them here:
Curriculum Tags: All
http://poetrywithmathematics.blogspot.ca/2013/08/feynman-point-poems.html

 If you are looking for something that gives students reason to do math here is an example from a farmer who used Pythagorean theorem to create some equipment.
Curriculum Tags: Gr8, MFM1P, MPM1D
http://squarerootofnegativeoneteachmath.blogspot.ca/2013/07/unintentional-math-encounters-of-non.html

Snoop dog playing plinko on The Price is Right. Could be used to demonstrate the binomial theorem or even normal distributions.
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXMSbmhcc6A

I thought this YouTube channel is kind of neat. The Way of Zen. All the videos are done without speaking. Just visuals. Take a look at this one with cuisenaire rods showing the geometric version of Pythagorean Theorem.
Curriculum Tags: Gr8, MPM1D, MFM1P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27M-EMRCN_Y

Interesting findings about why girls don't get into STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering and Math). It turns out its because there aren't enough good female role models in those fields. Its kind of cyclical. Listen here
Curriculum Tags: All
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/08/09/210251404/why-arent-more-girls-attracted-to-physics

When ever there is an airline crash people feel that it is unsafe to fly but in reality flying has become safer and safer. I like it also because it is data per million miles flown so it is relative to flying time. Take a look at the data.
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U