About…
[21 Nov 2004]
This site is owned and maintained by Murray Bourne (aka “Zac”).
I was a teacher in secondary schools in Australia for some years. I was in Broken Hill (outback Australia) and then Grafton (northern NSW).
I then moved to Japan where I taught mathematics (in English) for 4 years in an interesting program that prepared Japanese students for college courses in the USA. The students would spend one year improving their English, followed by one year doing a typical freshman program, then off they would go to small mid-West colleges. I also taught English while in Japan.
On returning to Australia, I taught in TAFE (Technical and Further Education), Bond University and Griffith University.
I then moved to Singapore where I taught engineering mathematics in a polytechnic. I then did staff training in the same institution.
I’m now a freelance trainer and consultant, still based in Singapore.
My main site is Interactive Mathematics, which is a series of math tutorials enhanced by interactive Flash, java and javascript applets. There are hundreds of testimonials about IntMath from happy readers on this page.
To avoid spammers, I hesitate to put my real e-mail address here 
. If you want to contact me, leave a comment on this post. 
18 Jan 2005 at 5:46 am [Comment permalink]
Hi Zac,
Great website ! I can’t seem to get enough of it and keep coming back for more. Your topics are interesting and diverse. They stimulated my thinking and I enjoyed our discussions. Hope to see more of other topics being posted and others join in our discussions. Cheers!
Regards
KS
7 Dec 2006 at 10:08 pm [Comment permalink]
nullity
8 Dec 2006 at 12:34 pm [Comment permalink]
Vinod’s article is an April Fool’s type piece from BBC:
What is extraordinary to me is the hundreds of people that have commented on the nonsense.
I agree with Matt Milford, who says:
15 Mar 2007 at 3:34 am [Comment permalink]
Hi Zac,
I chanced upon your blog in regards to your entry about SMART Interactive Whiteboards.
Would like to touch base with you on that. Do drop me an email when you read this? Thanks heap!
1 Apr 2007 at 4:05 am [Comment permalink]
Hi Murray,
I just saw your entry at the sgSocialMediaDir wiki (Individual H-N page). Included additional keywords to describe your blog (you can amend them if you think they are not appropriate).
1 Apr 2007 at 8:50 am [Comment permalink]
Fine with me, Ivan – thanks for the better set of keywords! [I edited your comment – by including the link to the wiki.
19 Jun 2007 at 11:05 am [Comment permalink]
I loved your Ten Ways to Beat the Math Blues. I’m going to make it required reading for my high schoolers this year. Thanks!
19 Jun 2007 at 1:58 pm [Comment permalink]
Thanks, Alane – glad you found it useful!
26 Jun 2007 at 3:38 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi!
I’m teaching Geometry for this few weeks. I’ve been wondering how I can get my hands on a pair of giant compasses that I can use and demonstrate on the board in class.
Can you suggest a way for me to buy one locally in Singapore?
Thanks,
Del
27 Jun 2007 at 1:07 am [Comment permalink]
Hi Del. I can see why you had trouble finding a supplier of compasses in Singapore. I’ve just googled like mad and cannot find a supplier.
I expect some of the larger Popular bookstores (like at Jurong East) might have them and Bras Basah Complex has a multitude of related shops and a huge Popular.
The following suppliers (of books, mostly) may know where you can get them:
http://www.jotterbook.com/
http://www.sgbox.com/
If all else fails, you could always contact MOE – they would surely know…?
14 Aug 2007 at 7:40 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Zac,
I have created a tool to write math equations online. If it is not against your principles, could you put a link on it in your blog?
The URL is http://www.texify.com
Thank you,
Andrey
15 Aug 2007 at 2:05 am [Comment permalink]
Hi Andrey – I will review your product when I get a chance. Good luck with it!
25 Feb 2009 at 10:34 pm [Comment permalink]
sir
u r great i am from pakistan,i want to touch with for ever,ur websites and the method help of people is unique,i gain a lot from ur websites,thanksssssss
28 Apr 2009 at 6:37 am [Comment permalink]
I was just reading your blog and thought you may be interested in checking out a new math resource that my nonprofit organization, Facing the Future, has just released.
Real World Math: Engaging Students through Global Issues is a supplementary math text that puts math in an interesting context that relates to students’ lives. The teacher’s guide and corresponding student workbook contain 15 lessons that engage students in learning foundational algebra and geometry through real-world data on global issues such as climate change, population, and financial literacy.
Each lesson in the teacher’s guide includes:
• A complete lesson plan including an activity based ‘hook’ to engage students
• Masters for student lesson handouts
• Masters for practice worksheets
All lessons were inspired, researched, designed, reviewed, and pilot tested by educators in the field.
You can read more about this resource and download sample lessons on our website. If you would like to receive a review a complementary copy of the teacher’s guide, please send me your mailing address.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about this resource or our organization in general.
28 Apr 2009 at 8:23 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Alicia and thanks for the interesting resource!
22 Jun 2009 at 11:34 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Sir,
I was really surprised when I nvigated through your website. Well I have a small work asked by my friend. I have no idea regarding this and I would liek to have your advise and help in order to proceed with this. I’m really curious to get your help!Thanks in advance!
“Please use Microsoft Excel (Solver add in) to Maximize Z = 3X + Y, under
these constraints: 12X + 14Y = 85, 3X + 2Y = 18, 0 = Y = 4, X = 0, Z = 0.”
23 Jun 2009 at 5:27 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Krithika
This is a linear programming problem. You need to add the Solver to Excel and there are plenty of tutorials on the Web how to do that.
Here’s a resource that may help:
http://www.stanford.edu/~ashishg/msande111/notes/excel_solver.pdf
Good luck with it!
31 Mar 2010 at 1:15 pm [Comment permalink]
Hello. First, your site is great (I’ve been following your post through feeds).
Now, I was wondering if I can translate your posts (spanish) about math concepts and uses them in my blog. You will be the author I don’t pretend to use as my ideas or any.
Thank you anyway.
31 Mar 2010 at 2:23 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Max. I have responded by mail. Let me know when you translate a post!
1 Apr 2010 at 8:03 am [Comment permalink]
Hi Zac,
Happy Wednesday! I recently stumbled upon your website and and wanted to spread the word about our free math help resource and see if you can spread the word out! Let me introduce myself, my name is Lisa Kwan and I am the office manager for Brightstorm. Our company recruits teachers and works with them to create high quality, video based streaming solutions for students and teachers. We recently launched an extremely useful online video-based math solution (feel free to check it out at http://www.brightstorm.com/math).
Here’s some more info about our FREE math service:
* Over 2,000 videos covering every topic from Algebra 1 through Calculus
* FREE: Yes, Brightstorm Math is 100% free to any user!
We would love to hear what you think about our product and services! =) Take care and have a great week!
Lisa
lisa@brightstorm.com
29 Apr 2010 at 8:46 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi, Murray–
I am a browser of math sites and your Square-Circle title reminded me of a recent posting on my own blog — here’s the link.
http://poetrywithmathematics.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-poetry-math-and-boxing.html
Enjoy!
JoAnne
2 May 2010 at 11:25 am [Comment permalink]
Thanks for the interesting math poetry, JoAnne.
28 Sep 2010 at 8:37 am [Comment permalink]
Thank you for such a well-developed and insightful website.
I’m doing a similar program in China, and your story inspires me. Bookmarked and visited often, you are!
1 Oct 2010 at 7:45 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi XuDuo. You are welcome and I’m glad you find it useful.
Good luck with your Web endeavors!
7 Feb 2011 at 8:20 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Zac,
I have a blog of puzzles, pls go through the blog.
If you find this interesting, pls provide a link from your site
The URL is http://www.puzzles4you.blogspot.com
Thank you,
13 Feb 2011 at 9:26 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Eldhose. I like your puzzles! I’ve scheduled a Daily Math Tweet about your collection.
Would you mind if I used a few of them for the IntMath Newsletter? Of course, I would give you full credit and would provide a link to your pages.
1 Apr 2011 at 9:03 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Zac! A girl from Singapore here. Your posts are pretty interesting and reflective of local culture from what I’ve read
2 Apr 2011 at 8:32 am [Comment permalink]
Hi “C” – good to make contact with you.
11 Apr 2011 at 7:34 am [Comment permalink]
Thought you might appreciate this.
It’s time for standardized tests across the nation. I’m a geometry teacher and decided to build a sculpture based on this. It’s built out of 80 number 2 pencils and called “Standardized Testing And Reporting” or “STAR” after the California testing program.
Here’s a short blog post on it.
Cory Poole
13 Apr 2011 at 10:05 pm [Comment permalink]
Thanks, Cory – I enjoyed poking around your site. Some very interesting things you’re doing there. I liked your Eschers and the 3D fractals.
17 Jun 2011 at 11:45 am [Comment permalink]
Hi Murray,
I found your blog and like what you write on Maths, education and society. I’m writing to introduce to you and to solicit your thoughts and opinions on Gnowledge (www.gnowledge.com), an education website that benefits Singaporean educators, students and parents.
Gnowledge is free for everyone to use. Tests and exercises can be created by anyone and are categorized by title, subject, grade, school and/or country. Once published, these tests are available for everyone to use and share. Students preparing for exams or who wish improve their knowledge and accelerate their academic progress can search Gnowledge for their desired subject. All test results, scores and answers to every question administered is stored on Gnowledge. Registered users can view their own individual test results any time and the test results of everyone who has taken the tests they’ve created, and these tests and/or results can be shared with others if they choose to do so.
The best example of how Gnowledge is being used and how it transcends language and cultural barriers and education syllabuses is by a French language teacher in Mexico (a Spanish-speaking country). She uses Gnowledge (an English-language website) to produce simple tests and exercises for her students. In two months she has published 37 tests and these tests have been administered to her (and other) students 1,066 times. Scale of this magnitude does not happen in conventional classrooms or schools. Her stats can be independently verified at: http://www.gnowledge.com/saveurfle
I invite you to check out our site, please do let us know your views and opinions. As a token of our appreciation, we would like to send you some souvenirs if you would have them.
Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Aiman Azri
18 Jun 2011 at 12:03 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Aiman. Thanks for your kind comments. I checked out Gnowledge.com. Some quick thoughts (which are meant as helpful things to consider – I hope it doesn’t come across as negative):
(1) I’m not sure how this is evidence of “trailblazers and paradigm shifters in education”. Yes, there is value in giving students a chance to try past exam papers and to get feedback on their responses, but this is not exactly new. Also, it tends to encourage the view that education is all about passing exams. Why not add some social networking aspects? Discussion on the solutions, maybe? A chance to help each other on difficulties, maybe?
(2) I’m wondering if you have copyright clearance on the tests in there. Currently your service is free and you can probably claim “fair use”, but depending on your business model, at some point you’ll want to charge for something and the you may have issues.
(3) The JS interface is smooth, but the key usability issue I experienced was having to click all over the place to move through questions. Why not place the “Forward” and “Back” buttons right next to the “Submit Question” buttons?
All the best with your venture.
6 Jul 2011 at 3:52 am [Comment permalink]
[...] Murray, you have a very impressive story to tell. Not only have you taught math (and other subjects) at a number of different institutions, [...]
5 Mar 2012 at 12:33 am [Comment permalink]
see the new app iFormulas
try for free
6 Oct 2012 at 11:09 pm [Comment permalink]
Hey Zac!!
I have officially retired from my third (Math Teacher/Tutor) career.
I have started Instructional Math Tools, LLC and have a web site: iMathTools.com
What I would like to show you and your readers — is a VIDEO of two new tools that we have just released, that search Apple’s App Store for the right tool for the right job. Please checkout this short highlight video:
http://youtu.be/j4zwECO–iw
Thanks for everything,
Dave.
info@iMathTools.com
7 Oct 2012 at 8:50 am [Comment permalink]
Good luck with your new venture, Dave.
27 Jan 2013 at 4:48 pm [Comment permalink]
Hi Murray, I love your site!
29 Jan 2013 at 6:47 am [Comment permalink]
Here is a tip for your friday movie .
Please see http://www.chaos-math.org
Best regards,
Jos
2 Feb 2013 at 3:29 pm [Comment permalink]
@Jos: Thanks!