4.2. April 18, 2002

"A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into theorems."--Paul Erdös

Class Announcements

• #1. Tests are still not graded, as Ms. Lee was ill. She will get those to everyone on Monday.
  
• #2. What did we learn about yesterday? (PAUSE FOR ANSWERS. Go ahead, call on people. It's your job!)
  
• #3. How many people have gotten started on the homework packet? Any questions or hints so far? (PAUSE FOR ANSWERS).
  
• #4. Before we look at new coordinate systems in math, we'll get to play with some coordinate systems that you might not usually see in math class.
  
• #5. Ms. Lee will give you a number. Remember your number! You'll need it to get into your groups and wait for further instructions.
  

I may respond to questions that seem to interest a significant fraction of the class (i.e. more than 2 or 3 people) or that are of general interest. Student-specific difficulties will be deferred until I can speak with the student one-on-one.

Coordinate Systems Potpourri, Part 1

The class will be put into somewhat randomized groups by counting off students. Each group will receive a die, and one of the following: CHESS (or download the RTF file), NINE MEN'S MORRIS (or download the RTF file), PEG SOLITAIRE (or download the RTF file) or MAGIC CYLINDER (or download the RTF file).

The introduction to each handout is the same, mainly concerning administrative details in assembling the groups. The rest of the handouts attempt to introduce various uses of coordinate systems; for example, students will not necessarily be playing complete matches of games under consideration. In CHESS, they will examine algebraic notation using Learn Chess Fast Gift Set (Keene et al., 2001). In NINE MEN'S MORRIS, they will devise their own ways of notating this game using materials from Strategy Games (Sheppard & Wilkinson, 1998); PEG SOLITAIRE is similar, but uses Peg Solitaire (Klutz Press, 1996). In MAGIC CYLINDER, they will investigate the curious properties of "magic cylinder" anamorphisms and their relationship to the coordinate grids provided in The Magic Cylinder Book (Moscovich, 1997).

The necessary resources (book, chessboard, paper, markers and so on) will await the students at the back of the room in the "resource corner."

I will note down the composition of the groups as students begin to organize themselves and circulate around the room to take notes and answer (or non-answer) questions that may come up, as before.

Copyright © 2002 Yoon Ha Lee <requiescat@cityofveils.com>
Last updated on 14 May 2002