Math Links for Week Ending Jan 4, 2013

In this activity, students choose a linear equation then graph it. Then they choose a card that says something like "Double the slope" or "The y intercept is divided by 4". They then have to create the new equation and graph the result. Templates for game card and equation cards are included
http://teachingtechie.typepad.com/learning/2012/09/changing-all-those-ms-and-bslinear-practice-can-b-fun.html
Curriculum Tags: MPM1D, MFM2P

A really neat application of Pythagorean Theorem. What is the most efficient way to tie your shoes. Also a new blog that I hadn't seen before: e to the i pi (a nice nod to the Euler equation).
http://kevinbertman.edublogs.org/2011/06/27/shoelaces/
Curriculum Tags: Gr8G, MFM1P, MPM1D

Its a good data set, just not a good topic. Mother Jones Magazine did some research on mass shootings over the last 30 years. They have made all the data available in spreadsheet form ready to download. Easy to analyze in Fathom.
http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/mass-shootings-mother-jones-full-data
Curriculum Tags: MDM4U

Some recommendations for teachers of math to help stop student misconceptions. These would be particularly good for new teachers but worth looking at for all teachers. I like this one "Do not teach right-triangle trigonometry from inside the classroom!" Thanks to Joe Sisco for pointing this post out.
http://untilnextstop.blogspot.ca/2012/12/11-recommendations-to-middle-ish-grades.html
Curriculum Tags: All

According to a German study of over 3500 students, when it comes to improving in math, motivation (not necessarily ability) has the greatest positive effect. Read about it here:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=like-math-thank-your-moti
Curriculum Tags: All

Some nice images showing things that appear random but aren't and vise versa. Which of the images to the right do you think are random?
http://www.empiricalzeal.com/2012/12/21/what-does-randomness-look-like/
Curriculum Tags: Gr7P, Gr8P, MBF3C, MDM4U