Requesting Math Help (Vanity)

12/14/07 | self

[murphE]

My 9th grader needs to write a 10 page term paper for her 10th grade honors math class. (Which I find strange). Anyway she is having a difficult time choosing a topic - it cannot be a biography. She was thinking about writing about math used in computer graphics, but she is having a difficult time finding sources that are written anywhere near her level. She needs at least one text as a source - it cannot all be from the internet.

Any of you math teachers, general brainiacs, computer geniuses etc. out there who could offer suggestions on a topic and or sources we'd both be extremely grateful.

Please post any questions or responses to malokitty (that's my girl)

Much thanks in advance,

murph

[murphE]

Ping

[RightWhale]

What about the origin of the zero?

[coloradan]

How Andrew Wiles cracked the Taniyama-Shimura conjecture and therefore proved Fermat’s last theorem.

[ShadowDancer]

She can try using this but tell her to be very careful not to plagerize.

[Clint N. Suhks]

How about Fibonacci Numbers?

[Lil'freeper]

A big field of computer graphics is 3-d modeling and CAD. There are lots of topics there: geometry, boolean logic, wireframe systems, solids, surfaces, etc. Try googling “solid modeling cad math” for some inspiration or starting points.

[The_Reader_David]

A nice mathematical topic on which there are plenty of print sources is mathematical cryptology.

“Invitation to Cryptology” by Barr is a nice book, and has plenty of ideas for more specific topics, as well as setting down the mathematics to understand them.

The breaking of the Enigma cipher is an old stand-by, but a paper on public key encryption would be able to include more actual mathematics (Euler’s extension of Fermat’s Little Theorem, and its use as the basis for RSA encryption).

Of course, as I joke when I teach the subject, if you know the RSA algorithm, you might be classed as a munition and find yourself subject to export control.

[bert]

One wonders why a ninth grader is in a tenth grade honors math class.

[1rudeboy]

10th Grade, huh? Here's the best I can do (for ideas):

Sudoku and Other Diversions [Free Republic].

Don't forget to tell her that it's not considered cheating to find a source using the Internet, then go to a library and source (bibliographically) it through a hardcopy. That's commonly referred-to as "doing your homework."

[1rudeboy]

Here's an interesting mathematically-oriented game (although probably more geometry here, rather):

Planarity.

[BubbaBasher]

I was going to suggest the same thing. The Fabulous Fibonacci Numbers

Here's another good idea: Divine Proportion: Phi In Art, Nature, and Science

[Red_Devil 232]

What about the origin of the zero?

That would be a great topic. She could bring in the Babylonians, Mayans, Hindus ...

By the way, do you know which number divided by zero is not undefined, and why?

Answer Here

[martin_fierro]

Oooh! Haven't had to do one of these in a looong time!

[Onelifetogive]

My 9th grader needs to write a 10 page term paper for her 10th grade honors math class.

Suggestions:

1) The Fibonicci thing indicated in another post.
2) PI - Teachers LOVE PI...
3) "Math in Everyday Life" - Many highschoolers take the attitude of "I'll never use this stuff." (Those people, as adults, are now stuck with bad home loans.) Inability to assess simple Time Value of Money problems causes MANY bad financial decisions. Geometry is very useful in construction, home repairs, and a million other things. Algebra solves many day to day problems. What mix of a and b to make the desired output, etc.

[Billthedrill]

Perhaps you might consider using a simple Excel spreadsheet to demonstrate the magic of compound interest. Say you invested $20 dollars today - what will it be when you are ready for college at, say, 5% annual interest? 10%? What if you compound it monthly? What happens if you let it be until you're 65? Use the graphing function to show how it goes up. Research the current annual rate you could get with a savings account at your local bank and plug that number in. A CD? An average mutual fund?

Prepare to be amazed... ;-)

[Irxfxs]

pi or i (square root of -1) would both be interesting

[Captainpaintball]

What about the origin of the zero?

That would be easy...The zero was created by an Islamic mathematician, and since then, Islam has contributed ZERO to civilized society! Leave the rest of the pages blank...

[Malokitty]

As tempting as that sounds, I have a bad feeling that’s not exactly what my math teacher had in mind.

[Malokitty]

Thank-you all for your help and ideas. I’m am going to look them up and hopefully find an easier topic. I want to do well on this to bring my grade up a bit. Once again, thank you for your assistance.