A group of parents and educators with Grassroots Education Movement (GEMNYC) are responding to the "Waiting for Superman" film with a film of their own. They are the real reformers. As one patent activist says, "Are you waiting for Superman? YOU are the Real Heroes." This is the trailer. The film is expected to be released in late October.
Teachers right here in New York are facing more than just cinematic attacks—Mayor Bloomberg is laying off 4100 teachers and eliminating another 2000 teaching jobs through attrition. The Mayor blames Governor Cuomo, but the story is the same as the one we've heard in Wisconsin and around the country: there's just no money for those greedy union teachers. Our friend Brian Jones and the Grassroots Education Movement have crafted a response to that message in a film, The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting For Superman, and they're premiering it on May 19 in New York City.
On May 12, the teachers and a broad coalition of unions and activist groups are descending on Wall Street to make the point that there's actually plenty of money for schools and other social programs, if only Wall Street kicked in its fair share—or if they hadn't tanked the economy in the first place. Check out the links here for more on the May 12 action and the film premiere. Distributed by Tubemogul.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Battery Wire Magnet Motor
http://trippygifs.com/2011/08/trippy-gifs-battery-wire-magnet-motor/
A motor made only by a copper wire and a neodimium magnet. It uses one AAA battery but it can be done with AA one too.
It's a simple motor, but unfortunately is not an efficient one, the battery drains quickly and heats up.
Warning: Be careful if you try to do this, the copper wire can get very hot and burn your fingers. Be sure that the wire can move freely and not touches battery poles being stuck..
A motor made only by a copper wire and a neodimium magnet. It uses one AAA battery but it can be done with AA one too.
It's a simple motor, but unfortunately is not an efficient one, the battery drains quickly and heats up.
Warning: Be careful if you try to do this, the copper wire can get very hot and burn your fingers. Be sure that the wire can move freely and not touches battery poles being stuck..
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
The Gamow-Stern Elevator Puzzle
"Obvious" is the most dangerous word in mathematics.
But when waiting for a descending elevator on the sixth floor, precisely the opposite effect was observed; the first elevator to pass was almost always "going up"!
To both Gamow and Stern it seemed almost as if there was a conspiracy to make them wait. In a world in which a conspiracy theory is put forth almost every day, in just about any imaginable setting, this is probably what many people would actually believe.
There is, however, a perfectly logical mathematical explanation for what Gamow and Stern observed.
The case of a building with just one elevator is easy to understand. We imagine that the elevator is continually running, going up and down all day long [2], and so it seems reasonable to assume that, if Gamow requested its service at some arbitrary time, then with probability 1/6 it would be below his floor and with probability 5/6 it would be above his floor.
Therefore, with probability 5/6 it would eventually arrive at his floor going down.
For Stern, it would be just the opposite, i.e., the elevator would, with probability 5/6, be going up when it arrived at his floor. This is what Gamow and Stern wrote and, so far so good, But then they blundered.
As Knuth wrote,
When there is more than one elevator, Gamow and Stern say that the "situation will, of course, remain the same." But this is not true! Many a mathematician has fallen into a similar trap, being misled by something which seems self-evident, and nearly every example of faulty reasoning that has been published is accompanied by the phrase "of course" or its equivalent.
Knuth then quickly demonstrates that if there are two independent elevators,
then the first elevator to arrive at Gamow's floor will be going down with probability 13/18, which is not equal to 5/6 = 15/18.
Knuth's calculation with a Monte Carlo simulation.
Knuth then quickly demonstrates that if there are two independent elevators,
then the first elevator to arrive at Gamow's floor will be going down with probability 13/18, which is not equal to 5/6 = 15/18.
Knuth's calculation with a Monte Carlo simulation.
Also, what is the probability that the first-arriving elevator at Gamow's floor is going down in a three-elevator building?
NOTE:
[2]. As Knuth wrote, "Let us assume that we have an "ideal" elevator system, which everyone knows does not exist, but which makes it possible to give a reasonable analysis. We will assume that each elevator goes continually up and down from the bottom floor to the top floor of the building, and back again in a cyclic fashion (independent of the other elevators). At the moment we begin to wait for an elevator on some given floor of the building [floor 2 for Gamow], we may assume that each elevator in the system is at random point in its cycle, and that each will proceeed at the same rate of speed until one [first] reaches our floor."
http://books.google.com/books?id=bmhuaGP3FOEC&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=puzzle+math,+george+gamow&source=bl&ots=blGGS32cbB&sig=pxALIB7SbsmEaFM1e41_kJHwUJE&hl=en&ei=BadhTeGFJoTbgQfCzfjmAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEYQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=puzzle%20math%2C%20george%20gamow&f=false
People who ride elevators are often puzzled by a strange probability.
The elevator paradox first appeared in the book Puzzle-Math by the physicist George Gamow and his friend Marvin Stern. In explaining the paradox with one elevator, Gamow and Stern made a small mistake. They stated that the probabilities "of course remain the same" if there are two or more elevators.
Donald Knuth was the first to realize that this is not true. Writing on "The Gamow-Stern Elevator Problem" in the Journal of Recreational Mathematics (July 1969), Knuth showed that as the number of elevator increases, the probability that the first elevator to stop on any floor is going up approaches 1/2, and the probability it is going down also approaches 1/2.
This situation, in a way, is even more paradoxical than before.
It means that if you wait on a floor near the top and fix your attention
on any given elevator door, the probability is always high that the next time
elevator arrives it will be going up. But the chance that the next elevator
to stop on the floor will be going up, regardless of the shaft it is in,
is a different matter. This probability approaches 1/2 as the number of elevators
approaches infinity. The same is true of down elevators stopping on a floor near the bottom.
We assume, of course, that elevators travel independently of one another,
with constant speeds, and have the same average waiting time on each floor.
If there are just a few elevators, the changes in probability are slight,
but if there are 20 or more, the probability gets very close to 1/2 for all floors
except the top and bottom ones.
NOTE:
[2]. As Knuth wrote, "Let us assume that we have an "ideal" elevator system, which everyone knows does not exist, but which makes it possible to give a reasonable analysis. We will assume that each elevator goes continually up and down from the bottom floor to the top floor of the building, and back again in a cyclic fashion (independent of the other elevators). At the moment we begin to wait for an elevator on some given floor of the building [floor 2 for Gamow], we may assume that each elevator in the system is at random point in its cycle, and that each will proceeed at the same rate of speed until one [first] reaches our floor."
http://books.google.com/books?id=bmhuaGP3FOEC&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=puzzle+math,+george+gamow&source=bl&ots=blGGS32cbB&sig=pxALIB7SbsmEaFM1e41_kJHwUJE&hl=en&ei=BadhTeGFJoTbgQfCzfjmAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEYQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=puzzle%20math%2C%20george%20gamow&f=false
If you have an office on a floor near the top.
The first elevator to stop is going up.
Suppose you work on a floor near the bottom.
It happens a lot.
Suppose you work on a floor near the bottom.
Every day you eat lunch in a restaurant on the top floor.
Whenever you want an elevator, the first one to arrive is usually going down.
Donald Knuth was the first to realize that this is not true. Writing on "The Gamow-Stern Elevator Problem" in the Journal of Recreational Mathematics (July 1969), Knuth showed that as the number of elevator increases, the probability that the first elevator to stop on any floor is going up approaches 1/2, and the probability it is going down also approaches 1/2.
This situation, in a way, is even more paradoxical than before.
It means that if you wait on a floor near the top and fix your attention
on any given elevator door, the probability is always high that the next time
elevator arrives it will be going up. But the chance that the next elevator
to stop on the floor will be going up, regardless of the shaft it is in,
is a different matter. This probability approaches 1/2 as the number of elevators
approaches infinity. The same is true of down elevators stopping on a floor near the bottom.
We assume, of course, that elevators travel independently of one another,
with constant speeds, and have the same average waiting time on each floor.
If there are just a few elevators, the changes in probability are slight,
but if there are 20 or more, the probability gets very close to 1/2 for all floors
except the top and bottom ones.
Source:
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Why Are Finland's Schools Successful?
The country's achievements in education have other nations doing their homework
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/Why-Are-Finlands-Schools-Successful.html
The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World's Most Surprising School System
There is a country where students
start school at a later age
take fewer classes
There is a country where students
enjoy a 3-month summer break
spend less time in school per day
There is a country where students
have barely any homework
are rarely tested
There is a country where teachers
are respected professionals
quickly receive tenure
There is a country where teachers
are rarely evaluated
There is a country where teachers
earn average salaries
have a strong union
There is a country where schools
receive modest funding
develop their own curriculum
There is a country where schools
research & adopt new technologies
There is a country where schools
have no achievement gap
and leave no child behind
This country ranks
at the top of the world
by almost every measure.
Welcome to ... Finland.
When it comes to international results, Finland's schools score consistently at the top.
However, pupils study the fewest number of class hours in the developed world.
The BBC travels to Helsinki to find out the secret of the Finns' education success.
Finland's Ambassador Lintu - Why Finland Schools Succeed
From his speech at the DC Premiere of The Finland Phenomenon: Inside The World's Most Surprising School System
Why Education in Finland Works
AFT President Randi Weingarten visits schools in Finland to learn how they have ascended to the top in student achievement.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/Why-Are-Finlands-Schools-Successful.html
The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World's Most Surprising School System
There is a country where students
start school at a later age
take fewer classes
There is a country where students
enjoy a 3-month summer break
spend less time in school per day
There is a country where students
have barely any homework
are rarely tested
There is a country where teachers
are respected professionals
quickly receive tenure
There is a country where teachers
are rarely evaluated
There is a country where teachers
earn average salaries
have a strong union
There is a country where schools
receive modest funding
develop their own curriculum
There is a country where schools
research & adopt new technologies
There is a country where schools
have no achievement gap
and leave no child behind
This country ranks
at the top of the world
by almost every measure.
Welcome to ... Finland.
When it comes to international results, Finland's schools score consistently at the top.
However, pupils study the fewest number of class hours in the developed world.
The BBC travels to Helsinki to find out the secret of the Finns' education success.
Finland's Ambassador Lintu - Why Finland Schools Succeed
From his speech at the DC Premiere of The Finland Phenomenon: Inside The World's Most Surprising School System
Why Education in Finland Works
AFT President Randi Weingarten visits schools in Finland to learn how they have ascended to the top in student achievement.
Vi Hart on the science and mathematics of sound
What is up with Noises? (The Science and Mathematics of Sound, Frequency, and Pitch)
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Prime Number Clock (in reverse)
This animation shows the composition of integers from 600 to 0 using the prime numbers as the essential 'notes' in the music box.
When a prime number reaches the noon position, the blue line will turn red, and the number N will be divisible by the prime at least once.
When a prime number reaches the noon position, the blue line will turn red, and the number N will be divisible by the prime at least once.
Assignment Discovery: Patterns
Patterns are a series of repeating occurrences and can be found in nature, mathematics, music, textiles and events. Learn more about patterns and the study of patterns by mathematicians in this clip from Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery."
Assignment Discovery: Albert Einstein's Theories
On Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery," after years of turmoil over endless equations Albert Einstein finally proves mathematically that mass and energy curve space and time.
Exploring Time: Virtual Heart
See this mathematical model of the heart which responds to whatever is thrown its way. Learn more on this virtual heart on The Science Channel's "Exploring Time."
Assignment Discovery: Issac Newton Invents Calculus
On Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery," Newton was the first to view celestial bodies as traveling in arches that could be plotted and studied through mathematics, hence Calculus was born.
Assignment Discovery: Infinity
The notion of infinity is the unlimited extent of time, space or quantity. Learn more about the mathematical principle with the Discovery Channel series, "Assignment Discovery."
Assignment Discovery: Science of Probability
Probability is the mathematical study of phenomena that are likely or uncertain. Learn more with this clip from the Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery" and see how probability is used in everyday life.
Assignment Discovery: Instrument Sound waves
This clip from Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery" shows the mathematical differences in tones among different instruments. Learn more in this video.
Hexagonal Kaleiodocycle
Details another way of assembling and flexing a hexagonal kaleidocycle.
Escher kaleidocycle by Doris Schattschneider and Wallace Walker . Download a printable version (with assembly instructions) from
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/kaleidocycle_color.pdf
Escher kaleidocycle by Doris Schattschneider and Wallace Walker . Download a printable version (with assembly instructions) from
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/kaleidocycle_color.pdf
Google doodle Pierre de Fermat
Fermat's Last Theorem states that
x^n + y^n = z^n has no non-zero integer solutions for x, y and z when n > 2
"I have discovered a truly marvelous proof of this theorem, which this doodle is too small to contain."
Pierre de Fermat's birthday celebrated in Google Doodle
The birthday of Pierre de Fermat, the 17th century French lawyer famous for the so-called 'Fermat's Last Theorem' mathematical puzzle, is celebrated in a Google Doodle today.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/google-doodle/8706390/Pierre-de-Fermats-birthday-celebrated-in-Google-Doodle.html
Pierre de Fermat's Last Theorem celebrated in a cheeky Google doodle
Today's Google doodle is apparently too small to contain the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2011/aug/17/pierre-de-fermat-theorem-google-doodle
Google Doodle Celebrates 410th Birthday of Mathematician Pierre de Fermat
Google is celebrating what would have been the 410th birthday of mathematician Pierre de Fermat with a homepage doodle that transforms the company's logo into a complex math problem.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391245,00.asp
Fermat eWorkshop :
Practice Fermat Number 1
http://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/pcf_eWorkshop/FermatPracticeOne.pdf
Practice Fermat Number 2
http://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/pcf_eWorkshop/FermatPracticeTwo.pdf
Practice Fermat Number 3
http://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/pcf_eWorkshop/FermatPracticeThree.pdf
Practice Fermat Number 4
http://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/pcf_eWorkshop/FermatPracticeFour.pdf
Interesting problem (#25): Fermat Test 2010 question
http://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/past_contests/2010/2010FermatContest.pdf
Alex chose positive number, a,b,c,d,e,f, and completely multiplied out the polynomial product
(1-x)^a (1+x)^b (1-x+x^2)^c (1+x^2)^d (1+x+x^2)^e (1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4)^f
After she simplified her result, she discarded any term involving x to any power larger than 6 and was astonished to see that what was left was (1-2x) .If a>d+e+f and b>c+d and e>c,
what value of a did she chose?
a.17, b.19,c.20,d.21,e.23
Solution: See problem #25
http://cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/past_contests/2010/2010FermatSolution.pdf
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Happy birthday Mr. President, here are your numbers
University of Portland professor offers Obama an unusual 50th birthday gift
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/print_story.php?story_id=131234701484234300
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/print_story.php?story_id=131234701484234300
Pick two points uniformly at random on the stick
5. A straight stick is broken at random in two places chosen independently and uniformly along the length of the stick. What is the probability that the pieces can be arranged to form a triangle?
http://www.isds.duke.edu/courses/Fall05/sta104/hw/hw08sol.pdf
Probabilities on the circle
Given three random points on a circle, what is the probability that they lie in the same semicircle?
http://godplaysdice.blogspot.com/2007/10/probabilities-on-circle.html
http://godplaysdice.blogspot.com/2007/10/probabilities-on-circle.html
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Friday, 12 August 2011
Assignment Discovery: Exploration and Math
Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery" takes a look at how early exploration was refined using mathematics.
Understanding: Fractals
Watch this clip from The Learning Channel's "Understanding Beauty" series to take a close-up look at fractals. These fascinating structures are found throughout nature and have heavily influenced art.
Assignment Discovery: The Golden Ratio
On Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery," learn about the algebraic concept of the golden ratio (or golden mean) and how it applies to every day life.
Math in Daily Life
How Is APR Calculated?
APR stands for annual percentage rate, which is often confused with interest rates. Find out the formula for calculating APR with lessons from a math teacher in this free video on math calculations for daily life.
How Is APR Calculated? -- powered by ehow
How to Calculate a Certificate of Deposit
Calculating a CD, or certificate of deposit, can be illustrated by the formula, A equals P times one plus R over 365, all of which is taken to the Nth power. Find out how much a certificate of deposit is worth with lessons from a math teacher in this free video on math calculations for daily life.
How to Calculate a Certificate of Deposit -- powered by ehow
How to Calculate Annual Percentage Yield
Annual percentage yield, or effective annual yield, is a rate that provides a percentage amount of growth. Discover how much an account has grown over a given year with lessons from a math teacher in this free video on math calculations for daily life.
How to Calculate Annual Percentage Yield -- powered by ehow
APR stands for annual percentage rate, which is often confused with interest rates. Find out the formula for calculating APR with lessons from a math teacher in this free video on math calculations for daily life.
How Is APR Calculated? -- powered by ehow
How to Calculate a Certificate of Deposit
Calculating a CD, or certificate of deposit, can be illustrated by the formula, A equals P times one plus R over 365, all of which is taken to the Nth power. Find out how much a certificate of deposit is worth with lessons from a math teacher in this free video on math calculations for daily life.
How to Calculate a Certificate of Deposit -- powered by ehow
How to Calculate Annual Percentage Yield
Annual percentage yield, or effective annual yield, is a rate that provides a percentage amount of growth. Discover how much an account has grown over a given year with lessons from a math teacher in this free video on math calculations for daily life.
How to Calculate Annual Percentage Yield -- powered by ehow
How to Visualize Mathematics
Visualizing mathematics is key to presenting abstract concepts that students have difficulty understanding. Whether you are explaining addition to young students or solving trigonometry problems with high school students, an image of the situation can help children make sense of it, as researchers Jennifer Piggott and Liz Woodham suggest in their article "Thinking Through, and By, Visualising." In addition, by using this technique in the classroom, you can help students develop their own visualizing skills and use them when doing their homework or sitting exams.
Read more:
http://www.ehow.com/how_8486163_visualize-mathematics.html
Read more:
http://www.ehow.com/how_8486163_visualize-mathematics.html
Discrete Mathematics
How to Define Discrete Mathematics
http://www.ehow.com/video_5727150_define-discrete-mathematics.html
Discrete mathematics, or finite mathematics, involves breaking up sets of elements into separate or discontinuous parts. Perform discrete mathematics in the optimum short amount of time with lessons from a math teacher in this free video on math calculations for daily life.
How to Define Discrete Mathematics -- powered by ehow
How to Teach Children Discrete Mathematics
http://www.ehow.com/how_4449025_teach-children-discrete-mathematics.html
How to Define Discrete Mathematics
http://www.ehow.com/how_4423886_define-discrete-mathematics.html
http://www.ehow.com/video_5727150_define-discrete-mathematics.html
Discrete mathematics, or finite mathematics, involves breaking up sets of elements into separate or discontinuous parts. Perform discrete mathematics in the optimum short amount of time with lessons from a math teacher in this free video on math calculations for daily life.
How to Define Discrete Mathematics -- powered by ehow
How to Teach Children Discrete Mathematics
http://www.ehow.com/how_4449025_teach-children-discrete-mathematics.html
How to Define Discrete Mathematics
http://www.ehow.com/how_4423886_define-discrete-mathematics.html
Understanding: Geometry of Life
On TLC's "Understanding," learn how the geometry of life determines more than just the shape of things.
Understanding: Golden Section
Buildings pay tribute to beauty. Learn about the golden section and how it relates art and nature on TLC's "Understanding."
Assignment Discovery: Conditional Probability
This clip from Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery" discusses conditional probability, the effects of one event on another.
Assignment Discovery: Motion
In physics, motion is defined as a change in the position of a body with respect to time. Learn more about motion on Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery."
Assignment Discovery: Percents
Percent means for every 100. So basically it is a fraction where the denominator is always 100. Learn how to calculate percentages on Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery."
Assignment Discovery: Marine Chronometer
John Harrison developed a Marine Chronometer to aid in navigation on ships. Learn more about this helpful device on Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery."
Assignment Discovery: Monty Hall Problem
Learn about the Monty Hall problem in a mathematical equation using conditional probability on Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery."
Understanding: Music and Math
Learn about the relationship between mathematics and music on the Learning Channel's "Understanding."
Sixth-Graders Create Their Own Math Videos!
http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/08/move-over-sal-khan-sixth-graders-create-their-own-math-videos/
We learn best from our peers. And yet, our educational system still depends on us learning from people 20-50 years our senior. Not a bad idea, when people older than us know the subject really well. But, what if students can teach other students? Or even better, what if the students can learn in the process of teaching? Eric Marcos has students show up every day after class (for no extra credit!) to make math videos for their fellow students and the rest of the world. See why and how.
We learn best from our peers. And yet, our educational system still depends on us learning from people 20-50 years our senior. Not a bad idea, when people older than us know the subject really well. But, what if students can teach other students? Or even better, what if the students can learn in the process of teaching? Eric Marcos has students show up every day after class (for no extra credit!) to make math videos for their fellow students and the rest of the world. See why and how.
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Video lecture: What if Current Foundations of Mathematics are Inconsistent?
What if Current Foundations of Mathematics are Inconsistent?
Vladimir Voevodsky, Professor, School of Mathematics
Institute for Advanced Study
September 25, 2010 11:00am
http://video.ias.edu/voevodsky-80th
Assignment Discovery: Pascal's Triangle
Pascal's Triangle was named after Blaise Pascal in the 1600's. In this triangle, the sum of any two adjacent numbers lies just below them. Learn more with this clip from Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery."
Understanding: Math and Nature
The Learning Channel's "Understanding" explains how mathematics often underlie the beauty of nature.
Assignment Discovery: Math Probabilities
Learn about the different mathematical probabilities on Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery."
Assignment Discovery: Solving a Linear Equality
On the Discovery Channel series, "Assignment Discovery," we learn the process of solving a linear inequality. First, we convert the polynomial to slope-intercept form. Then, graph the line, and the solution you find will be on the half-plane.
Assignment Discovery: Probability Possibilities
This clip from "Assignment Discovery" on Discovery Channel discusses the different types of mathematical probabilities using sports as examples. Learn more.
Brainman: Beautiful Pi
Does Daniel really have emotional responses to certain numbers? Learn more about mental conditions in this video.
Brainman: If 6 Was 9
Researchers try to trick Daniel by switching the sizes of numbers he sees in his head. Learn more about mental conditions in this video.
Is Futurist Ray Kurzweil Playing God?
Scientist built a computer avatar to hear his dead father speak again.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Assignment Discovery: Mathematics of an Ocean Wave
Ocean waves have a mathematical relationship. On Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery," learn about the mathematics of an ocean wave.
Assignment Discovery: Natural Mathematics
On Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery," learn about the Fibonacci numbers and how they are used in nature.
Assignment Discovery: Mathematical Proportions
On Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery," mathematical proportions are an equation that show two ratios are equal. This clips discusses proportions in relation to animal extinction.
Assignment Discovery: Mathematical Paradox
A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless may be true. Discovery Channel's "Assignment Discovery" explains how a paradox can be used in math.
Understanding: Mathematical Decisions
On TLC's "Understanding," learn what factors make up a good decision and how mathematical factors can improve the odds of good decision making.
Garth Sundem Foolproof Equations for a Perfect Life
About the video: A short clip from 'Foolproof Equations for a Perfect Life' where Garth Sundem helps some engineering students calculate there chances of meeting a girl outside World of Warcraft.
GS foolproof from Science on Vimeo.
Human beings are endowed with the ability of decision making; they are capable of evaluating and rationally arriving at a decision. While this may have been the conventional wisdom, experts beg to differ. They claim to have proved via experiments that the majority of decisions made by human beings tend to be wrong. They say that decision making is a complex process and a whole host of factors need to be put into consideration before making a right decision. But before you think that everything is lost, researchers may have finally figured out a formula that assists in making the right decisions. As author and mathematician Garth Sundem suggests, there is an analogy between decision making and mathematics and we can solve practical problems using mathematical tools. In this video, one of a five part video series, Garth Sundem offers his services to four computer nerds in order to find them a girl friend and is quite successful at that.
Consider this: every year when the Discovery Channel broadcasts "Shark Week" visits to Florida beaches decline. Presumably, the network's programming makes the waters no less safe (assuming sharks are not, in fact, empowered by cable television). However, after watching a week of kicking legs seen from below, the idea of shark attack is refreshed in our minds and we choose not to offer ourselves as bait.
This phenomenon is known as an availability heuristic — a heuristic being a rule-of-thumb. Our rationality is subverted by easily available sensationalist images.
http://www.science20.com/geek_logik/geek_logik_the_science_of_decisions_and_foolproof_equations_for_a_perfect_life
On Discovery Channel's "Foolproof Equations for a Perfect Life," human decision making is challenged with a card experiment. Subjects choose between two cards and rationalize their choice even when offered the wrong card.
GS foolproof from Science on Vimeo.
Human beings are endowed with the ability of decision making; they are capable of evaluating and rationally arriving at a decision. While this may have been the conventional wisdom, experts beg to differ. They claim to have proved via experiments that the majority of decisions made by human beings tend to be wrong. They say that decision making is a complex process and a whole host of factors need to be put into consideration before making a right decision. But before you think that everything is lost, researchers may have finally figured out a formula that assists in making the right decisions. As author and mathematician Garth Sundem suggests, there is an analogy between decision making and mathematics and we can solve practical problems using mathematical tools. In this video, one of a five part video series, Garth Sundem offers his services to four computer nerds in order to find them a girl friend and is quite successful at that.
Consider this: every year when the Discovery Channel broadcasts "Shark Week" visits to Florida beaches decline. Presumably, the network's programming makes the waters no less safe (assuming sharks are not, in fact, empowered by cable television). However, after watching a week of kicking legs seen from below, the idea of shark attack is refreshed in our minds and we choose not to offer ourselves as bait.
This phenomenon is known as an availability heuristic — a heuristic being a rule-of-thumb. Our rationality is subverted by easily available sensationalist images.
http://www.science20.com/geek_logik/geek_logik_the_science_of_decisions_and_foolproof_equations_for_a_perfect_life
On Discovery Channel's "Foolproof Equations for a Perfect Life," human decision making is challenged with a card experiment. Subjects choose between two cards and rationalize their choice even when offered the wrong card.
Mathematical Infinity and Human Destiny
There are two approaches to mathematical infinity. It can be seen as defining limiting cases that can never be realized or as existing in some philosophical sense. These mathematical approaches parallel approaches to meaning and value that I call absolutist and evolutionary. The absolutist sees ultimate meaning as something that exists most commonly in the form of an all powerful infinite God. The evolutionary sees life and all of a creation as an ever expanding journey with no ultimate or final goal. There is only the journey. There is no destination. This video argues for an evolutionary view in our sense of meaning and values and in our mathematical understanding. There is a deep connection between the two with profound implications for the evolution of consciousness and human destiny. Learn more at
http://www.mtnmath.com/willbe.html
http://www.mtnmath.com/willbe.html
Stuck In Escher’s Staircase
At some point in your life, you are likely to have run into this drawing of an impossible staircase by M.C. Escher (“Ascending and Descending”):
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Geometry Step by Step from the Land of the Incas
http://agutie.homestead.com/files/index.html
Geometry Problems - Index
http://gogeometry.com/problem/index.html
Geometry in the Real World, Dallas, Texas - Slideshow
http://gogeometry.com/math_geometry_online_courses/geometry_in_dallas_tx_real_world_slideshow.html
Congruence, Theorems and Problems - Table of Content
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/congruence_rotation_translation_reflection_index.html
Geometry: Similarity, Ratios, Proportions. Theorems and Problems
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/similarity_ratio_proportion_index.html
Geometry: Areas, Theorems and Problems
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/areas_measurement_index.html
Euclidean geometry
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/index.html
Geometry: Classical Theorems of Euclidean Geometry
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/classical_theorems_index.html
Degrees based on Guide to Online Schools, Interactive Mind Map and News
http://gogeometry.com/education/online_degrees_schools_mind_map.html
Geometry Problems Gallery - Visual Index
http://gogeometry.com/math_geometry_online_courses/design_geometry_problems_visual_gallery_1.html
Software Industry - Table of Content
http://gogeometry.com/software/index.html
Word Cloud Index
http://gogeometry.com/software/word_cloud_software_index.htm
Geometría: Teoremas y Problemas (Spanish-language version, ESL)
http://gogeometry.com/geometria/index.html
Geometry Problems 1-10: Angle, Triangle, Congruence, 20, 30, 45, 60, 80, 120 degrees
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4yJlZR/agutie.homestead.com
Geometry Problems 11-20: Angle, Triangle, Altitude, Median, Congruence, Circle
http://gogeometry.com/math_geometry_online_courses/geometry_problems_11_20.html
Geometry Problems 21-30: Right triangle, Altitude, Incircle and inradius, Congruence, Circle
http://gogeometry.com/math_geometry_online_courses/geometry_problems_21_30.html
Google Products Mind Map Index.
http://www.gogeometry.com/software/google_products_mind_map_index.htm
Word Cloud Software Generator
http://www.gogeometry.com/software/word_cloud_tag_software.html
Google for Educators, Interactive Mind Map
http://gogeometry.com/software/google_for_educators_mind_map.htm
Euclid's Elements Book I, Definitions. Level: High School, SAT Prep, College.
http://www.gogeometry.com/geometry/euclid_elements_book_i_definitions.htm
Geometry Problems - Index
http://gogeometry.com/problem/index.html
Geometry in the Real World, Dallas, Texas - Slideshow
http://gogeometry.com/math_geometry_online_courses/geometry_in_dallas_tx_real_world_slideshow.html
Congruence, Theorems and Problems - Table of Content
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/congruence_rotation_translation_reflection_index.html
Geometry: Similarity, Ratios, Proportions. Theorems and Problems
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/similarity_ratio_proportion_index.html
Geometry: Areas, Theorems and Problems
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/areas_measurement_index.html
Euclidean geometry
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/index.html
Geometry: Classical Theorems of Euclidean Geometry
http://gogeometry.com/geometry/classical_theorems_index.html
Degrees based on Guide to Online Schools, Interactive Mind Map and News
http://gogeometry.com/education/online_degrees_schools_mind_map.html
Geometry Problems Gallery - Visual Index
http://gogeometry.com/math_geometry_online_courses/design_geometry_problems_visual_gallery_1.html
Software Industry - Table of Content
http://gogeometry.com/software/index.html
Word Cloud Index
http://gogeometry.com/software/word_cloud_software_index.htm
Geometría: Teoremas y Problemas (Spanish-language version, ESL)
http://gogeometry.com/geometria/index.html
Geometry Problems 1-10: Angle, Triangle, Congruence, 20, 30, 45, 60, 80, 120 degrees
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4yJlZR/agutie.homestead.com
Geometry Problems 11-20: Angle, Triangle, Altitude, Median, Congruence, Circle
http://gogeometry.com/math_geometry_online_courses/geometry_problems_11_20.html
Geometry Problems 21-30: Right triangle, Altitude, Incircle and inradius, Congruence, Circle
http://gogeometry.com/math_geometry_online_courses/geometry_problems_21_30.html
Google Products Mind Map Index.
http://www.gogeometry.com/software/google_products_mind_map_index.htm
Word Cloud Software Generator
http://www.gogeometry.com/software/word_cloud_tag_software.html
Google for Educators, Interactive Mind Map
http://gogeometry.com/software/google_for_educators_mind_map.htm
Euclid's Elements Book I, Definitions. Level: High School, SAT Prep, College.
http://www.gogeometry.com/geometry/euclid_elements_book_i_definitions.htm
Michael S. Schneider - Ancient Egyptian Mathematics
Michael S. Schneider explains how the Ancient Egyptians (and Chinese) and modern computers multiply and divide
Video Lectures - Cosmo Learning
List of courses: http://www.cosmolearning.com/courses/
Rational Trigonometry
http://www.cosmolearning.com/courses/rational-trigonometry-551/
Algebraic Topology
http://www.cosmolearning.com/courses/algebraic-topology-548/
Vector Calculus
http://www.cosmolearning.com/courses/unsw-vector-calculus-546/
Rational Trigonometry
http://www.cosmolearning.com/courses/rational-trigonometry-551/
Algebraic Topology
http://www.cosmolearning.com/courses/algebraic-topology-548/
Vector Calculus
http://www.cosmolearning.com/courses/unsw-vector-calculus-546/
Monday, 8 August 2011
HUNKIN'S EXPERIMENTS
All the experiments on this page can be made to work except for one trick experiment!
If you think you've found it, contact us and let us know
http://www.hunkinsexperiments.com/default_index.htm
If you think you've found it, contact us and let us know
http://www.hunkinsexperiments.com/default_index.htm
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Math Educational videos & Articles on my other blog (WordPress)
Math-related topics
From the most recent to the oldest ...
My Collection of Favorite Fun Puzzles for All (Part Four)
My Collection of Favorite Fun Puzzles for All (Part Three)
My Collection of Favorite Fun Puzzles for All (Part Two)
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/my-collection-of-favorite-fun-puzzles-for-all-part-two/
My Collection of Favorite Fun Puzzles for All (Part One)
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/my-collection-of-favorite-fun-puzzles-for-all-part-one/
A Math And Photography Student Shows How Awesome Math Is
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/a-math-and-photography-student-shows-how-awesome-math-is/
Can Learning Really Be Fun and Games?
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/can-learning-really-be-fun-and-games/
Japanese children learn super-fast mathematics with abacus
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/japanese-children-learn-super-fast-mathematics-with-abacus/
Joke chess problem
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/joke-chess-problem/
Prof Anton Zeilinger Shows the Double-slit Experiment
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/profantonzeilingershowsthedouble-slitexperim/
Chess: Polish (Sokolsky) opening
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/chess-polish-sokolsky-opening/
Balinese cup trick / candle trick / spinor demonstration
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/balinese-cup-trick-candle-trick-spinor-demonstration/
The surprising math of cities and corporations
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/the-surprising-math-of-cities-and-corporations/
Daniel Tammet: Different ways of knowing
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/daniel-tammet-different-ways-of-knowing/
Short Lectures on the History of Mathematics
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/short-lectures-on-the-history-of-mathematics/
Miss USA 2011 — Should Math Be Taught In Schools?
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/miss-usa-2011-%E2%80%94-should-math-be-taught-in-schools/
What percentage of statistics are actually made up on the spot?
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/what-percentage-of-statistics-are-actually-made-up-on-the-spot/
Robot vs World Champion blitz game
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/robot-vs-world-champion-blitz-game/
Funny Math Problems & Answers
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/funny-math-problems-answers/
Pascal’s Triangle Puzzle
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/pascals-triangle-puzzle/
Existentialism Mathematics
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/existentialism-mathematics/
Chess: Introducing Alexander Alekhine
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/chess-introducing-alexander-alekhine/
Famous chess Games
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/famous-chess-games/
Best Math Jokes
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/best-math-jokes/
Awesome Dice Optical Illusions
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/awesome-dice-optical-illusions/
Top 10 Illusions of 2010
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/top-10-illusions-of-2010/
Top 10 Illusions of 2011
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/top-10-illusions-of-2011/
Pi is wrong! Here comes Tau Day
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/pi-is-wrong-here-comes-tau-day/
A Disney Educational Film (Mathematics)
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/a-disney-educational-film-mathematics/
Useful Tool(s) For Math Students
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/useful-tools-for-math-students/
Stats Behind Global Aging
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/stats-behind-global-aging/
Rudiger Gamm: The human calculator
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/rudiger-gamm-the-human-calculator/
“Dark matter” Explained Through Animation
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/dark-matter-explained-through-animation/
Prime or not Prime?
Archimedes’ Secrets
A Documentary About Ancient Greek Mathematics
Documentary Dangerous Knowledge: Mathematics
Geometry Dimension Documentary For A Wide Audience
Are Mathematicians Creative?
The Tribe of Mathematicians
A Mathematical Mystery Tour (In Popular Terms)
Fermat’s Last Theorem
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/famous-women-mathematicians/
The Black-Scholes Formula : Financial Engineering
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/the-black-scholes-formula-financial-engineering/
Inspire Kids to Take an Interest In Math
What Does “You Can’t Prove A Negative” Mean?
Number Sense For All
A Collection of Interesting Videos About Math For All!
Crank Dat Calculus
From the most recent to the oldest ...
My Collection of Favorite Fun Puzzles for All (Part Four)
My Collection of Favorite Fun Puzzles for All (Part Three)
My Collection of Favorite Fun Puzzles for All (Part Two)
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/my-collection-of-favorite-fun-puzzles-for-all-part-two/
My Collection of Favorite Fun Puzzles for All (Part One)
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/my-collection-of-favorite-fun-puzzles-for-all-part-one/
A Math And Photography Student Shows How Awesome Math Is
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/a-math-and-photography-student-shows-how-awesome-math-is/
Can Learning Really Be Fun and Games?
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/can-learning-really-be-fun-and-games/
Japanese children learn super-fast mathematics with abacus
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/japanese-children-learn-super-fast-mathematics-with-abacus/
Joke chess problem
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/joke-chess-problem/
Prof Anton Zeilinger Shows the Double-slit Experiment
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/profantonzeilingershowsthedouble-slitexperim/
Chess: Polish (Sokolsky) opening
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/chess-polish-sokolsky-opening/
Balinese cup trick / candle trick / spinor demonstration
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/balinese-cup-trick-candle-trick-spinor-demonstration/
The surprising math of cities and corporations
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/the-surprising-math-of-cities-and-corporations/
Daniel Tammet: Different ways of knowing
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/daniel-tammet-different-ways-of-knowing/
Short Lectures on the History of Mathematics
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/short-lectures-on-the-history-of-mathematics/
Miss USA 2011 — Should Math Be Taught In Schools?
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/miss-usa-2011-%E2%80%94-should-math-be-taught-in-schools/
What percentage of statistics are actually made up on the spot?
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/what-percentage-of-statistics-are-actually-made-up-on-the-spot/
Robot vs World Champion blitz game
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/robot-vs-world-champion-blitz-game/
Funny Math Problems & Answers
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/funny-math-problems-answers/
Pascal’s Triangle Puzzle
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/pascals-triangle-puzzle/
Existentialism Mathematics
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/existentialism-mathematics/
Chess: Introducing Alexander Alekhine
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/chess-introducing-alexander-alekhine/
Famous chess Games
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/famous-chess-games/
Best Math Jokes
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/best-math-jokes/
Awesome Dice Optical Illusions
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/awesome-dice-optical-illusions/
Top 10 Illusions of 2010
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/top-10-illusions-of-2010/
Top 10 Illusions of 2011
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/top-10-illusions-of-2011/
Pi is wrong! Here comes Tau Day
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/pi-is-wrong-here-comes-tau-day/
A Disney Educational Film (Mathematics)
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/a-disney-educational-film-mathematics/
Useful Tool(s) For Math Students
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/useful-tools-for-math-students/
Stats Behind Global Aging
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/stats-behind-global-aging/
Rudiger Gamm: The human calculator
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/rudiger-gamm-the-human-calculator/
“Dark matter” Explained Through Animation
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/dark-matter-explained-through-animation/
Prime or not Prime?
Listen to the Riemann Zeta Function
Math, Physics and Chemistry SongsArchimedes’ Secrets
A Documentary About Ancient Greek Mathematics
Documentary Dangerous Knowledge: Mathematics
Geometry Dimension Documentary For A Wide Audience
Are Mathematicians Creative?
The Tribe of Mathematicians
A Mathematical Mystery Tour (In Popular Terms)
Fermat’s Last Theorem
Science & Mathematics in medieval Islam
Famous Women Mathematicianshttp://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/famous-women-mathematicians/
The Black-Scholes Formula : Financial Engineering
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/the-black-scholes-formula-financial-engineering/
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/inspire-kids-to-take-an-interest-in-math/
Playful Thoughts With Richard Feynman’s Puzzles
Playful Thoughts With Richard Feynman’s Puzzles
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/02/26/playful-thoughts-with-richard-feynmans-puzzles/
Let’s Make Financial Literacy A School Subject
Let’s Make Financial Literacy A School Subject
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/what-does-you-cant-prove-a-negative-mean/
The Riemann Hypothesis – A Journey Through The Prime Num3ers
The Riemann Hypothesis – A Journey Through The Prime Num3ers
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/the-riemann-hypothesis-a-journey-through-the-prime-num3ers/
The Solitude of Prime Numbers
The Solitude of Prime Numbers
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/02/05/the-solitude-of-prime-numbers/
Math Dance And Teacher Talent Show
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/math-dance-and-teacher-talent-show/Math Dance And Teacher Talent Show
Number Sense For All
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/number-sense-for-all/
4 Brilliant Mathematicians That Have Profoundly Affected Us
Which Num3er(s) Do You See More Often?4 Brilliant Mathematicians That Have Profoundly Affected Us
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/4-brilliant-mathematicians-that-have-profoundly-affected-us/
Chaos Theory – How Did We Get Here?
Chaos Theory – How Did We Get Here?
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/chaos-theory-how-did-we-get-here/
Teaching Troubled Youth Mathematics – Fantasy Sports!
Teaching Troubled Youth Mathematics – Fantasy Sports!
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/teaching-troubled-youth-mathematics-fantasy-sports/
Puzzles Involving Number 17
Puzzles Involving Number 17
A Collection of Interesting Videos About Math For All!
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/a-collection-of-interesting-videos-about-math-for-all/
Arthur Benjamin’s Formula For Changing Math Education
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/arthur-benjamins-formula-for-changing-math-education/
Too Important To Be Left To ChanceArthur Benjamin’s Formula For Changing Math Education
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/arthur-benjamins-formula-for-changing-math-education/
http://benvitalis.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/too-important-to-be-left-to-chance/
Let’s Talk About Negative Attitudes Towards Maths!
Let’s Start A Numeracy Day!Let’s Talk About Negative Attitudes Towards Maths!
Crank Dat Calculus
How To Perform The Cup And Balls Trick
Party Tricks
Perform The Cup And Balls Trick. Magician Christian Lee will show you how to impress your friends down the pub with this classic cup and balls trick.
| Step 1: You will need | |
| |
Step 2: The trick
The cups and balls trick is one that has confounded audiences for hundreds of years. The cups are laid out in a row upside down. One ball is placed on top of the middle cup. The other cups are then stacked on top. When they are lifted up, there is a ball underneath the stack! It appears that it has penetrated through the base of the cup. Another ball is placed on top, the cups are stacked again and lifted to reveal two balls. This happens one more time so that all three balls end up underneath the middle cup.
Step 3: How it's done
Tear a tissue into four equal sized pieces. Roll each piece up into a ball.
Now line up 3 cups in a row. Place one ball of tissue in the middle cup but don't show anyone. The trick revolves around this hidden ball so no one can know it's there. Keep it a secret.
Line up your cups and the three remaining balls. Turn each of the cups upside down. Be careful when turning over the middle cup not to let the hidden ball fall out, or the trick will be ruined. Turn the cup quickly to avoid this.
Now that you're ready to do the trick with one ball concealed under the middle cup, place one ball on top of the middle cup. Then stack the other two cups over it. Click your fingers and lift up the stack to reveal the ball you hid underneath the middle cup. The audience will think the ball you placed on top of the cup has travelled through the base.
Separate the cups and, again being careful not to reveal the hidden ball, turn them upside down. Put the cup containing the ball in the middle. There are now two balls underneath the middle cup but the audience believes there is only one.
Place the next ball on top of the middle cup, stack the others over it, click your fingers twice and reveal that there are now two balls under the stack. With practice, you should be able to make unstacking the cups without the ball falling out look completely natural.
Place the last ball on top and stack the others once again. Click your fingers three times and show the audience all three balls under cups.
Finally, separate the cups and line them up as they were at the start.Done
Hundreds of years of mystery solved.
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-perform-the-cup-and-balls-trick
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