Back to school jokes for everyone

Theorem: Every positive integer is interesting. 

Proof: By contradiction, assume that there exists an uninteresting positive integer. Then there must be a smallest uninteresting positive integer. But that's pretty interesting! Therefore a contradiction!

Q: How many mathematicians does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A1: None. It's left to the reader as an exercise.

A2: None. A mathematician can't screw in a light bulb, but he can easily prove the work can be done. 

A3: One. He gives it to four programmers, thereby reducing the problem to the already solved

A4: The answer is intuitively obvious

Top ln(e^10) reasons why e is better than pi:
10) e is easier to spell than pi.
9) pi ~= 3.14 while e ~=2.718281828459045...
8) The character for e can be found on a keyboard, but pi sure can't.
7) Everybody fights for their piece of the pie.
6) ln(pi) is a really nasty number, but ln(e) = 1.
5) e is used in calculus while pi is used in baby geometry.
4) 'e' is the most commonly picked vowel in Wheel of Fortune.
3) e stands for Euler's Number, pi doesn't stand for squat.
2) You don't need to know Greek to be able to use e.
1) You can't confuse e with a food product.

For more jokes and/ or Calculus help visit the following site
 http://calculus.nipissingu.ca/jokes.html

Buffon's Needle and solving crimes

 There is a professor of mathematics working for FBI as a crime analyst in the NUMB3RS show. In an episode he uses a math theory to narrow a number of relevant court cases to only two. 

Next, the mathematician restricts his focus on only one case and states that Pi points to that case. Could Pi, the ratio of a circle's circumference and its diameter, help the crime investigation? 

Yes. Pi is also important in the field of probability. 

“Buffon's Needle is one of the oldest problems in the field of geometrical probability. It was first stated in 1777. It involves dropping a needle on a lined sheet of paper and determining the probability of the needle crossing one of the lines on the page. The remarkable result is that the probability is directly related to the value of pi.”

http://mste.illinois.edu/reese/buffon/buffon.html#intro 

Small Number

Here is the latest adventure of Small Number

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zosG8V9K5A

Did you hear math-related questions? How many? 

Posted with the author's permission. 

For more on Small Number (and my favorite Math Girl) visit Dr. Veselin Jungic website:

http://people.math.sfu.ca/~vjungic/

Cool arithmetic

Sequential Inputs of numbers with 8

1 x 8 + 1 = 9

12 x 8 + 2 = 98

123 x 8 + 3 = 987

1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876

12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765

123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654

1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543

12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432

123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

Percentage?

A summary of research

Everybody Loves Math

A summary of research and  accompanied Power Point presentation

We, teachers are burdened by classes that are too big and have challenging compositions. Additionally, we are overwhelmed by constant changes in curriculum, teaching, and assessment methodology. These are some of the reasons why enhancing learning experiences for advanced learners does not get adequate attention. The presentation and accompanying summary of research should help us focus on the importance of enriched math lessons. Such lessons can enhance learning experiences for advanced learners and at the same time can capture the interest of students not inclined toward math. 

For complete summary and the accompanied Power Point presentation follow side links.  

Math Catcher

Teaching math in the cultural context of the students and teaching basic skills and problem-solving early are proposed strategies for overcoming challenges in teaching mathematics to Aboriginal youth.

Could we use those strategies for overcoming challenges in teaching mathematics to all? 

To learn more please follow the link                             http://mathcatcher.irmacs.sfu.ca/
Math Catcher - Mathematics Through Aboriginal Storytelling.

For more advanced math and cartoon enthusiasts follow the Math Girl link on Dr. Jungic's website.
http://people.math.sfu.ca/~vjungic/MathGirl.html

SFU Professor Makes Math Fun

“SFU professor makes math fun in a Coquitlam school” is an article about Dr. Veselin Jungic from SFU who provided 3 presentations to the Alderson Elementary grade 4/5 classes.

He said, "It seems that one of the issues is to start early to promote math with young people. I'm hoping the first step will create positive math experiences that will carry on into the future."

To read more follow the link:

http://www.tricitynews.com/community/211044081.html

More Love 4 Math

How to tell math jokes:

1^st Start with a cute joke: 

 "Dear Algebra please stop looking for x. She is not coming back and do not ask y"

   2^nd Present a visual joke that requires just a hint.

 Example: 
The square root of -1 is called 
an imaginary number “ i ”

A famous irrational number 
Pi = 3.14… is sometimes 

written by using a Greek letter Pi. 
Keep reading here is a do-not-care-4-math joke              

3^rd    Tell a do-not-care-for-math joke:

4^th Now, try a math joke with a really short prep talk: You have heard about functions? There is a function written as log x.

 A math student is pestered by a classmate who wants to copy his homework assignment. The student hesitates, not only because he thinks it's wrong, but also because he doesn't want to be sanctioned for aiding and abetting.

            His classmate calms him down: "Nobody will be able to trace my homework to you: I'll be changing the names of all the constants and variables: a to b, x to y, and so on."

Not quite convinced, but eager to be left alone, the student hands his completed assignment to the classmate for copying. After the deadline, the student asks: 
"Did you really change the names of all the   variables?"

            
"Sure!" the classmate replies. 

"When you called a function f, I called it g; 

when  you called a variable x, I renamed it to y; and 

when you were writing about the log of  x+1, 

I called it the timber of x+1..."

Have a joke to share? Post a comment.

A Mathematician’s Lament by by Paul Lockhart

A story starts " A musician wakes from a terrible nightmare. In his dream he finds himself in a society where music education has been made mandatory. “We are helping our students become more

competitive in an increasingly sound-filled world.” Educators, school systems, and the state are put in charge of this vital project. Studies are commissioned, committees are formed, and decisions are made— all without the advice or participation of a single working musician or composer." 

Then on the next page the story continues "Meanwhile, on the other side of town, a painter has just awakened from a similar nightmare…"

... it is funny , or maybe it is a sad story depending on what you think about math education.  

Join the movement, follow us on Facebook!

Has the student found x?

And here is the the link for full article:

http://www.maa.org/devlin/lockhartslament.pdf