In this Newsletter<\/p>\n
1. Pi Day
\n2. Math tips - Functions and Factoring
\n3. Latest poll
\n4. From the math blog<\/p>\n
March 14th was chosen as Pi Day since 3\/14 gives us the first 3 digits of pi (π<\/span> = 3.14159265358979...).<\/p>\n Pi has many real world uses<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Some facts about Pi<\/b><\/p>\n Did you know...?<\/p>\n Here's a trick to impress your friends.<\/strong> You can learn the first 15 digits of pi using the number of letters in each word of the following sentence: <\/p>\n How I need a drink, alcoholic of course, after the heavy lectures involving quantum mechanics.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Happy Pi Day.<\/p>\n a. Functions are not hard, just written badly:<\/b> But if we have a function f<\/i>(x<\/em>)<\/span> and write f<\/i>(b<\/em> + c<\/em>)<\/span>, it does not<\/b> mean fb<\/i> + fc<\/em>.<\/span> <\/p>\n There are more examples about bad math notation and my suggested solution at Towards more meaningful math notation<\/a>. I'd love to hear your comments on what I am proposing there.<\/p>\n b. Factoring trinomials using grouping:<\/b> To factor<\/b> this trinomial means to express it in the form (3x<\/i> − 4)(2x<\/i> + 3).<\/span><\/p>\n A lot of students struggle with this process because of all the possible factors of the numbers involved. For example, 12 has factors 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12. But factoring does not have to be so hard. Check out Factoring Trinomials<\/a> for an easy method involving grouping.<\/p>\n The recent poll on Interactive Mathematics asked readers about their favorite math activity<\/strong>. <\/p>\n It was a surprise to me that the highest number of responses went to doing algebra<\/b> at 39% and the least liked was doing geometry<\/b> at 9%. This is intriguing because most students I know dislike algebra more than anything else in math. Do you have a comment on this? Please go to Algebra is the favorite math activity<\/a> and leave your thoughts.<\/p>\n Latest poll:<\/b> Do you have a computer in your math classroom? Please vote<\/b> on this issue on any page in Interactve Mathematics<\/a>.<\/p>\n a) Friday math movie - Pi Day<\/a> b) Algebra is the favorite math activity<\/a> c) Visual statistics - the madness of consumerism<\/a>\n
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\n2. Math Tips<\/h2>\n
\nMany math concepts are hard because they are written in a confusing way. When we write a<\/i>(b<\/em> + c<\/em>)<\/span> we take it to mean multiply and we get a<\/i>b<\/em> + ac<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nA trinomial is an expression like 6x<\/i>2<\/sup> + x<\/i> − 12.<\/span> <\/p>\n
\n3. Latest Poll<\/h2>\n
\n4. Latest on the Math Blog<\/h2>\n
\nAs today is Pi Day, the featured movie this week is the movie Pi.<\/p>\n
\nWhat is your favorite math activity? Do you agree with these poll results?<\/p>\n
\nHere's a brilliant way to express statistics in visual form. Each vast photograph is a collage of smaller photographs that depict the state of American consumerism.<\/p>\n