MT-A125 Seminar in Mathematics: Infinity, the Fourth Dimension, Primes and Chaos: Mathematical Thinking in the Real World
Homework Assignments
Assigned homework is listed here with most recent homework listed first:
For Wednesday April 27 (you will give brief presentations that day): Creative project on Fractals and/or Chaos is due. This can be any creative work. You must also turn in a 300-word essay explaining your work, how it relates to fractals and/or chaos, and why you chose to create your particular project.
Due Monday April 11: Find online a favorite starting pattern for the Game of Life and also create your own interesting starting pattern. Write a paragraph explaining why you chose these patterns
Due Wednesday March 16, 2004:Write a page or so on each of the two readings on other dimensions:
describe life in Flatland (the inhabitants, their customs, episodes in their history); and
outline the plot of the short story "-- And He Built a Crooked House ---" by Robert A. Heinlein; make connections with our study of the fourth dimension.
For Monday March 21 (you will give brief presentations that day): Creative project on the fourth dimension is due. This can be any creative work. You must also turn in a 300-word essay explaining your work, how it relates to the fourth dimension, and why you chose to create your particular project.
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15; III: 16, 18; IV: 21
Turn in a solution to 8 (due Friday February 25)
Section 4.3
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 6, 7, 8, 13; III: 16, 20; IV: 22; V: one of 23, 25 or 26 (due Wednesday February 23)
Section 4.2
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15; III: 16, 19; IV: 21, 22
Turn in a solution to 10; also color the vertices and show the positions of cameras needed to view the entire gallery (due Monday February 21)
Section 4.1
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15; III: 16, 20; IV: 21, 22
Turn in a group solution to one of 13, 15, 20, 21 (due Friday February 18)
Section 3.3
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14; III: 16, 20; IV: 22
Read the questions about infinity on page 174. Write a 300 word reflection on infinity - what are the most interesting or surprising discoveries of this chapter? (Due Friday February 18)
Section 3.2
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, (16-17), 20, 21, 24; III: 26, 27, 28, 31, 32; IV: 36, 39; V: one of 41, 43 or 44 (due Monday February 13)
Section 3.1
Mindscapes: think about all of I - IV
Section 2.6
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 6, 8, 9, 12, 16; III: 26, 29; IV: 36, 40
Section 2.5
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 6-15; III: 16-18; IV: 22; V: one of 23, 25 or 26 (due Monday February 7)
Section 2.4
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 6, 10, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24; III: 26, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35; IV: 38, 39, 40
Section 2.3
Mindscapes: do all of I, then one of II: 6-10, one of II: 11-15, one of II: 16-20, and one of II:21-25
Turn in a proof that there are an infinite number of primes on Friday January 28
Write a paper of 300 words or more on one of the open problems on primes. Discuss its history and any related interesting information. Be sure to list all sources. First draft due Monday January 31; final draft due Friday February 4.
Section 2.2
Mindscapes: do all of I, then II: 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 18-23; III: 26, 29, 31-33; V: one of 41, 43 or 44 (due Monday January 24)
Turn in Mindscape II: 8 on Wednesday January 26
Section 2.1
Mindscapes: do all of I, choose one from II:6 - 10, one from II:11 - 15, one from III, IV.21, IV.22. Add the following sequences to problem IV.21: (b) OTTFFSSEN... and (c) JFMAMJ...
Section 1.4
Due Wednesday January 19: Write a solution to your favorite puzzle in section 1.4. Explain why you chose this puzzle.
Section 1.1
Work on the stories not discussed in class (omit Story 7). You will takes turns presenting your solutions and ideas.
Due on Friday January 14: Please write a paragraph or two about yourself. What is your major? What is your mathematical background? Why are you taking this class? What are you hoping to get out of this class? How do you intend to ensure a successful experience in this class? Visit the web site for this class - tell me something about it that you like, and something that could be improved. Write anything else you wish.Where is New Zealand?