Math Links for Week Ending Dec 28, 2012

Possibly one of the best TED talks on data visualization. David McCandless (who calls himself a data journalist) shows simple representations of data that convey a very definite message. None of the vagueness of normal graphs. Check out the stuff on his website too: http://www.davidmccandless.com/
Curriculum tags: MDM4U, Gr7DM, Gr8DM

How much would a gallon cost? Here is a great ratio & proportions activity that looks at what certain things would cost if purchased by the gallon (for example Mio drink mix). Worksheets are included
http://www.mathycathy.com/blog/2012/11/i-am-a-witness-to-perplexity/
Curriculum tags: MPM1D, MFM1P, Gr7PA, Gr8PA

Visual Patterns is a new website launched by Fawn Nguyen (check her own post about it here). The site is for helping students develop algebraic thinking through visual patterns. This should be perfect for the intro to linear growing patterns or linear relations, even non linear growing patterns
http://www.visualpatterns.org/
Curriculum Tags: MPM2d, MFM2P, MPM1D, MFM1P, Gr7PA, Gr8PA

Here is a nice blog post about ideas for using student white boards in class. Need some whiteboards? Check out Spectrum or http://www.dryerase.com/
http://musingmathematically.blogspot.ca/2012/12/my-whiteboarding-framework.html
Curriculum Tags: All

Add to the list another site that students (both math and science) can access for video tutorials and online MC practice questions.
http://www.goorulearning.org/gooru/index.g#!/home
Curriculum Tags: All

Another TED talk, this time about the power of an algorithm. I like the bit about an algorithm that lead to a trench to be dug from NY to Chicago. All to save 3 milliseconds on a transaction. The first graph he shows is also pretty cool.
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U, All
Here is a YouTube video of Keith Devlin (NPR's Math Guy) having a debate about whether math is more of an art or a science. Its long though.
Curriculum Tags: All

XKCD doing what they do. Nice reference to Zeno's Paradox
Curriculum Tags: MCV4U

The media often gets it wrong. Here is a simple place value error. What makes it worse is its right in the headline.
Curriculum Tags: Gr7NS, Gr8NS

Welcome

Rather than do my weekly math posts via email. I thought I would step it up a bit. I will still send out weekly links but now via blog post. And now I will try to also tag links to their appropriate place in the Ontario math curriculum. So you should be able to search the tags for various courses (and maybe even textbook sections).