# IntMath Newsletter: Free resources, derivative from first principles

By Murray Bourne, 31 Mar 2011

30 Mar 2011

1. Free resource: Study Tips from Cornell University
2. Have your say - how should math education be changed?
3. Free resource: Space Math @ NASA
4. Derivative of square root of sine x by first principles
5. GeoGebra is part of Google Summer of Code 2011
6. Lesson idea for order of operations
7. Final thought – enthusiasm

## 1. Free resource: Study Tips from Cornell University

Suitable for: Students

Work smart! Many students are very inefficient when they study. Here are some good bits of advice.

See all the resources here: Cornell University Study Skills Resources

## 2. Have your say - how should math education be changed?

Suitable for: Students and teachers

Here's an interesting opportunity and something interesting to do over the up-coming summer break.

Elev8ted was "a site for students to upload 2 - 3 minute videos that:

• Inspire others to transform eduation
• Offer new choices for what education could be
• Propose specific actions you or others can take to improve education in your community"

So what are your ideas on how can we improve math education? Students, here's your chance!

Update: Unfortunately, the site no longer exists.

## 3. Free resource: Space Math @ NASA

Suitable for: Students and teachers

So how is math used in the "real world"? Here's an institution for whom math is vital - NASA. There are articles about the recent earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan.

 Do a search on "math" when you get there. You will find topics like:

## 4. Derivative of square root of sine x by first principles

Suitable for: Students of calculus. Several readers asked how to differentiate trigonometric functions from first principles.

 Here's how to find the derivative of √(sin x) from first principles. Derivative of square root of sine x by first principles

## 5. GeoGebra is part of Google Summer of Code 2011

Suitable for: Students

 This is an interesting summer project - write some math-related software for Google! GeoGebra is part of Google Summer of Code 2011

## 6. Lesson idea for order of operations

Suitable for: Teachers

 Here's a motivating way for students to learn order of arithmetic operations. Lesson idea for order of operations

## 7. Final thought – enthusiasm

Charles Kingsley (1819-1875), English clergyman and novelist, had this to say about enthusiasm.

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about. [Charles Kingsley]

Enthusiasm for life, and math, certainly makes me happy!

Until next time, enjoy whatever you learn.

### 11 Comments on “IntMath Newsletter: Free resources, derivative from first principles”

1. muya says:

Good information.
If you would talk about number analysis

2. Peter Evans says:

Thank you NASA, thank you NASA (borrowed from "Dante's Peak). That site is a gold mind,and will be well expored. Thank you Murray Bourne!

Thank you very much sir,you are sending continuously these these articles.Which are precious and very informative for like us.I request you ,it is a time period gap is long,please send more articles in this period.

4. Judy Boyd says:

Judy

5. Murray says:

Thanks a lot, Judy for the input!

6. Rebecca says:

I have been receiving intmath newsletters for about 3 years. I am no longer formally studying math but I often need to refer back to my sixth form notes and your wonderful websites for my university courses.I really appreciate the service you provide. The occasional humour, interesting tidbits, and of course summer job opportunities are all well appreciated. Thank you Murray Bourne. Excellent service.

7. Murray says:

Glad it has been useful for you, Rebecca. All the best for your university studies.

8. Amensis says:

I have been receiving inmath newsletter for some two years. i am a mathematics teacher at high school level but i face some difficulties in some problems.ur in math news letter is helping me . so i asked you to keep on sending the news letter. thank you for your effort in sharig your golden knowlege!

9. Murray says:

Happy to help, Amensis!

10. Benjamin says:

Your mathsis difficult to understand because you could not provide us with the sample and the proceedures on how to solve the problem.

11. Murray says:

Hi Benjamin. Which piece of math do you mean? Most readers find the explanations very easy to follow.

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