Be Aware Math is Everywhere!

‪Unleash Your Fingers‬‏ - Geometry and Music

2011-07-29T08:49:00.000-04:00

I liked this video because it shows how geometrical shapes are synchronized with the beat of the music. Math is everywhere!

‪Unleash Your Fingers‬‏ - YouTube: ""

Why I need to learn math?

2011-02-28T10:13:00.002-05:00

Here is another interesting article that I found in the Internet that provides real-life examples of the importance of learning mathematics. As I have stated many times before, my students often question why they need to learn mathematics if it is not related to their chosen degree major. Unfortunately, these students often use math in many aspects of their lives without being consciously aware that they do. For such reason, I spend my time looking for real-life examples in the Internet, so I can share these examples with my students. I encourage you to read the article below to realize that "Math is Everywhere!"

Enjoy!

Amplify’d from www.adn.com

Math illiteracy affects judgment

INNUMERACY: Life's problems not so tough with better education.

Answers to real-life questions that involve probabilities greatly influence what products we buy, what companies we invest in and how the public's money is spent.

Consider another example of how innumeracy bedevils all of us. I frequently testify in civil lawsuits as an expert economist. What I have often found is a tendency for certain lawyers to count on the fact that not many jurors have enough understanding of numbers and probabilities to make informed decisions on certain matters. These lawyers count on the fact that many jurors are uncomfortable with numbers and statistics and that those jurors will tend to assign a higher probability to the subjective beliefs of credible plaintiffs than they do to conflicting statistical testimony from credible defense experts.

Here is another example. My experience tells me that more than one-half of the adult population judges decisions on the outcome and not on the probability of that decision having been the best, given the information available at the time. Many public-sector decisions must be made even when none of the choices are good. To condemn the decision-maker when a predictably bad outcome happens is a popular pastime frequently engaged in by politicians and camp followers of the opposite party.
Read more at www.adn.com

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The Joy of Stats [Video]

2010-12-31T08:26:00.000-05:00

I often tell my students that learning mathematics will help us understand better the world around us. However, I often fall short of proving this point to my students. Fortunately, I found the video "The Joy of Stats," narrated by Professor Hans Rosling, to help me prove my point about the importance of learning mathematics. Professor Rosling use effective visual and storytelling techniques to persuade the viewers how powerful is learning statistics. Enjoy!

Math is everywhere! Even with the Miami Heat lineup!

2010-12-27T08:16:00.002-05:00

I told you many times that math is everywhere! Even with the Heat! Coach using combination of lineups with his 3 superstars to maximize their talents to get wins. As a Miami Heat fan, math is even more beautiful when applied to one of my favorites basketball team. Go HEAT!

Amplify’d from www.sun-sentinel.com

Spoelstra's new math adds up for LeBron, Wade, Bosh

The Miami Heat's Big Three are winning together to a degree because of how coach Erik Spoelstra has kept them apart.

With 3:26 to play in the first quarter, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh left the court together.

At the start of the second quarter, it was LeBron James who was out, with Wade and Bosh back in. Shortly after James returned, Wade and Bosh went to the bench.

The pattern was the same in the second half, with Wade and Bosh checking out with 2:46 to play in the third quarter and then opening the fourth quarter together while James was on the bench.

"I was just looking for something to break it up," Spoelstra said of the long division when it came to the playing time of his three stars. "I was playing LeBron 14, 15 straight minutes and I didn't want to do that. So I just decided to sit him out after the first-quarter break and to do that, I wanted to keep as many of the other guys on the court as possible.

The approach has allowed each star to have their moments of focus, while also keeping them fresh enough to finish together.

"That is a tough balance, where they can be who they've been for years and been so successful and yet strike a balance," Spoelstra said.

"That's the purpose and the reason for us three coming together, to have that dynamic of if one guy's going great, if other guys are going great," Wade said. "That's why we have different lineups.
Read more at www.sun-sentinel.com

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How a kid see failure when learning mathematics!

2010-12-27T08:05:00.001-05:00

This kid's quote struck me the most in the article: "You shouldn't think you aren't smart if you can't figure something out. Every time you get an answer wrong, you're one step closer to getting it right."

Beautifully stated! I need to help my developmental math students realize the benefits of failure the same way this kid did.

Amplify’d from www.newstimes.com

Bethel boy can solve complex math equations in his head

Quick, what is the square root of 987?

For most people the answer involves finding the nearest calculator.

For 11-year-old Ethan Brown of Bethel, however, the answer

akes just a few seconds of mental effort. Ethan learned how to calculate problems in his mind from "Secrets of Mental Math," a book co-written by Arthur Benjamin, a mathematics professor at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif. Benjamin is known worldwide as a "mathemagician," a man who can mentally multiply enormous numbers.

I can square a two-digit number in my head instantly, a three-digit number in five to 20 seconds, and a four-digit number in two minutes.

Another thing I can do is name the day of the week of anyone's birthday.

I would like to be a math teacher. I want to get kids excited about math. Math is really an interesting topic. Unlike what people may think, it's not just limited to the subjects you are taught in school, like algebra and geometry.
Read more at www.newstimes.com

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Another practical reason to master your math skills

2010-12-08T10:43:00.001-05:00

Every math educator has been asked at some point the following question by at least one of their students: "When I will use this?!?" This question is often difficult to answer because the usefulness of mathematics is a personal matter. Though mathematics is involved in every aspect of our lives, the degree level on how we use mathematics depends on the type of job we do or what tasks or goals we are trying to accomplish. For example, I constantly use mathematics in my career as a math educator, not only in teaching but also in my decision making when designing learning activities.

However, here is an interesting article that can be used as a general answer to the most frequent asked question from math students: to attain a sustainable lifestyle. I encourage you to read the article to gain awareness on how math is essential to increase our chances to live a comfortable lifestyle, a goal shared by most of us. Enjoy the reading!

Amplify’d from www.azcentral.com

Basic math is key to wealth accumulation

It seems people who can handle basic math problems tend to accumulate more wealth than the numerically challenged.

A recent study found that couples who score well on a simple test of "numeracy" - the ability to reason with mathematical concepts - have attained greater wealth, with more money invested in the stock market.

He cited skills such as an ability to multiply, divide and compute percentages, plus a familiarity with interest rates, compounding and present vs. future value.

The study also found that when a less math-proficient spouse is the main financial decision maker, household wealth tends to be lower. Men, incidentally, assume this role more than women, at least within those 50 and older.

Numerical ability appears to be more critical for wealth accumulation than other cognitive skills such as having a good memory.

As noted, the study showed that people who are more comfortable with numbers accumulate more wealth and own more stock investments. In this regard, Smith cited another useful literacy skill: the ability to recognize that the danger of losing money in the stock market lessens over time.
Read more at www.azcentral.com

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Football and Mathematics

2010-11-20T07:37:00.002-05:00

No doubt that football has become the U.S. favorite pastime. People tail gate in the stadiums' parking lot many hours before the start of a game. Many more people are loyal and frantic fans who carry funny signs or dress down when attending the games. Those who do not physically attend are still following the game through their fantasy football teams, betting with friends or online, watching it in sports bars or at home, or just listening the game on the radio in their way to work or home. In other words, football has become ubiquitous!

by jdanvers

But do you know what else is also ubiquitous? Mathematics! Yes, math is everywhere! NBC and Scientific American has created a series of videos and articles about the "Science of Football." I encourage you to visit the following links:

http://www.nbclearn.com/portal/site/learn

http://www.scientificamerican.com/report.cfm?id=science%20of%20football

and watch/read how mathematics plays a major factor in making football U.S. favorite past time. Enjoy!

Amplify’d from www.scientificamerican.com

What Do a Submarine, a Rocket and a Football Have in Common?

Why the prolate spheroid is the shape for success

Baseballs, basketballs and many other sports balls rely on a spherical, uniform design that makes them easy to shoot, throw and hit. A football, however, owes its two-dimensional origin to the ellipse rather than the circle, giving the pigskin its prolate spheroid shape, which has a polar axis that is greater than its equatorial diameter.

This shape makes the football more difficult throw than a spherical ball. But, as a prolate spheroid, a football experiences less drag as it cuts through the air, which explains why you can toss a football farther than a spherical ball such as a basketball or soccer ball that is roughly the same size and weight.

Aircraft, submarines and rockets share the basic design principles as footballs in that their shapes are elongated in an effort to reduce drag.

prolate spheroids cannot match the distance of one class of geometric shape: A flying disc (Frisbee) or ring (Aerobie) not only have slim profiles that reduce drag and rotation that increase stability, but they also create lift, enabling them to carry quite far.Read more at www.scientificamerican.com

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Life is a Gamble!?!

2010-11-15T07:11:00.003-05:00

When I created this blog, the purpose was to help my students gain awareness of how mathematics is essential in many facets of our lives. Interestingly, I have realized that I am also gaining awareness of how I use mathematics seamlessly in my personal life.

My wife and I recently were discussing how to pay our monthly bills with my paycheck, because unfortunately, she did not receive her paycheck from a new job she got recently. We did not know the reasons why she did not receive her paycheck, but we knew that we have to pay the bills of the current month. My wife and I sat in the kitchen table discussing which bills should be paid or not based on many factors, such as late fees, damage to our credit line, and so forth. In a way, we were applying mathematics to our decision process because we were making calculated risks to decide which bills to pay or not.

I encourage you to read the article "Lectures Explore the Math of Decision-Making" because it brought up in me the realization of how many times I make decisions based on calculated risks. I hope you find the article as interesting as I did.

Amplify’d from media.www.elvaq.com

Lecture Explores the Math of Decision-Making

"People take risks at the casino but also in life," said Math Professor Sid Kolpas

As the returns on bets fluctuate, so does the gambler's mood and betting strategy.

How a human gambler responds to gain and loss is not symmetric like it is for Homo œconomicus, an imaginary being Allen dreamed up to demonstrate the rational, predictable decision-maker. "Homo œconomicus has only one desire: to increase his wealth."

Homo œconomicus would never play the lottery because the odds of winning the lottery are about one in 100 million, which is 0.000001 percent.

People tend to overreact to small probability events.

"What I'm interested in personally are the other types of gambles we have to make: who to marry, which house to buy and when to buy it, whether society can afford to ignore global warming."Read more at media.www.elvaq.com

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When will I use this?

2010-09-13T11:34:00.000-04:00

I found this video during the summer but never had the chance to post it in my blog. Hopefully, this video will answer the question that is often asked in my developmental math courses: When will I use this?

The Math Plebian: What is Mathematics? Part 1

2010-09-07T08:10:00.003-04:00

This morning I was checking my Google Alerts in Gmail. One of my alerts was about "Mathematics Education," which contained the link to the following blog post:

The Math Plebian: What is Mathematics? Part 1

What an interesting question! I once asked my developmental math students (college level) the same question and only a handful of them were able to provide a response that was not taken from a dictionary, encyclopedia, or math website. My students were not able to see many of their daily actions or decisions as a form of mathematics. For them, math just happens in the math classroom; in other words, math is just a class or course!

No wonder why they are taking my class, in which they are learning what they should have learned during their schooling years! No wonder why they dislike math or perceive acquiring this knowledge as a waist of their time! For such reason, one of my goals as a math instructor is to create awareness among my students of how math is everywhere! This is why I created this blog.

I want to share examples in which mathematics is a key factor when they think, decide, and do something in their daily lives. For example, I am Fantasy Football enthusiast (check my team this year: http://screencast.com/t/ZjM5MjI2ZD. What do you think about my team? Any suggestions?) and the way I play this game is based on how I analyze the statistics of each player and football team to make my decisions of using a player or team. However, I hardly think playing this game as a way of doing mathematics. I just PLAY the game. This is what I want my students to achieve after they finish taking my developmental math courses: become aware that we do mathematics every day as a seamless human activity.

You don't believe me that math is everywhere?! Just check this out!

2010-08-28T18:24:00.002-04:00

Listen how Phil Mickelson, one of the best professional golf players in the world, use math (statistics & exponential functions) to improve his game and be the best. Amazing! Math is Everywhere!

Take algebra? Why? I'll never use it in real life!

2010-06-26T20:51:00.002-04:00

Take algebra? Why? I'll never use it in real life! | Ocala.com

Here I am again trying to get into the habit of posting in my blog at least once a month. This time, I want to post about an interesting article about algebra that I read today in the Ocala Business Journal (click link above). Coincidentally, I recently had one of my online algebra students questioning why we need letters (i.e. variables) in mathematics. This student could not comprehend the logic for mixing letters with numbers. Unfortunately, my student has not realized that algebra is about describing patterns or processes instead about arithmetic computations.

Here is the response I sent to my student attempting to clarify the reasons for using variables in algebra:

Dear Student,

When solving real-life problems, we are always missing essential information (the reason is called 'a problem'). Several times finding the missing information involves just doing a simple step: add, subtract, multiply, or divide two amounts.

However, there will be times finding the missing information involves several steps and working backwards. In these instances, the most efficient way to solve a real-life problem is setting the problem as an equation and represent the missing information with variables.

The goal of solving equations is to undo (work backwards or 'reverse engineering') the original steps that created the problem. Working backwards a real-life problem is not an intuitive and easy task to do (examples: solving a crime or auditing a business). Solving equations to the unknown value (the variable -- letter), we are training our brains to think backwards in a logical and structured manner.

Therefore, representing the missing information with a variable (letter) and solving the equation that contains it, we are solving the real-life problem in an efficient manner. This is why we need variables in mathematics.

I hope this helps.

I will soon be sending to my student the link of the Ocala Business Journal to enhance and support the basic idea I tried to convey above. Articles from the media often tend to add more credibility to what I am trying to do in my classroom: math awareness.

The cost of innumeracy is too high!

2010-01-15T10:39:00.004-05:00

Many students often question the reasons of why colleges force them to take basic skills mathematics courses and require them to develop acceptable or high proficiency levels (e.g. earn 90% in MATH097). It is not rare occurence to read or listen students claiming they do not need mathematics in their chosen career path or to make a living. Another instance is when students shut down opportunities to appreciate the value of learning mathematics due to their fears (math anxiety), beliefs (e.g. "boys are better in math than girls"), and attitudes (self-talk down) about mathematics that are based on unfortunate past experiences.

The consequences of all of these disabling students' behaviors about learning and appreciating mathematics are too costly and disempowering. Unfortunately, students do not realize this until is too late. If you are one of my students, I encourage you to read the article (click the link below) "Why nerds must rescue the American economy: Lack of math skills contributes to consumers getting ripped off" to become aware of the importance of being math literate to survive and flourish in today's society.

clipped from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34827516/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets//

Why nerds must rescue the American economy

Lack of math skills contributes to consumers getting ripped
off

Higher mathematics is the backbone of science. Practical math is the glue that
keeps society together and keeps an economy functioning.

Consumers who can’t calculate tips have no chance in a car salesman's back room
or a mortgage broker's office.

Only 42 percent of adults were able to
pick out two items on a menu, add them, and calculate a tip.
Only one in five people could reliably
calculate mortgage interest.
One in five were unable to calculate a
weekly salary when told an hourly pay rate.

Consumers who can’t do math make bad choices, raising the cost of goods for
everyone else.

Innumerates hate math and are sometimes proud of that fact.

In fact, unlike other failings which are often hidden, Mathematical illiteracy
is often flaunted.

People who don’t understand numbers are prone to making terrible risk
assessments.

"I don't use fractions in my daily life" ... Really?!

2009-11-24T07:54:00.004-05:00

by Leo Reynolds

In a recent discussion about fractions in one of my online math courses, a student claimed s/he does not use fractions in her/his daily life but only in math courses. This student's response was a precious "teaching moment" to promote math awareness of how math is embedded in our lives. Below, you will find my reply to this student's post:

Thank you for your response, though I may have to respectfully disagree with
your assessment that you do not use fractions in your daily life. We are
constantly working with portions or making decisions out of a set of choices
in our daily lives, which is the same as working with fractions. Here are a
few examples:

-- When pouring milk, juice, or soda in a cup, we are using a portion (fraction!) of the milk, juice, or soda available in the container.
-- When we receive our paycheck, a part (fraction!) of our money is used to pay the bills.
-- When we stop at an intersection and decide to make a left turn, your decision
(fraction!) was based on 4 posibilities: go straight, turn left, turn right, or go back (U-turn).
-- When we go shopping and take advantage of the sale of 25% off (fraction!) on every item.
-- When we type our name in the computer, we only use a few keys (fraction!) of the
keyboard.
-- When we have a headache, we take 1 or 2 Tylenol tablets (fraction!) out of the bottle.

These are only a few examples. There will be many more in this discussion, which I hope it will help you gain awareness that we all use fractions (and math!) every day in our lives.

I hope this helps.

Help me add more examples to this list, so I can share them with my students.

No "Wiggle" in Rowing!

2009-11-24T07:45:00.004-05:00

I recently read this interesting article of how math was used to solve an issue that rowing athletes often need to overcome during races: "the wiggling boat." Once again, Math is in places that you least expect! Read this interesting article from "Technology Review" by clicking the link below. Enjoy!

clipped from http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24437/?a=f

Mathematician Solves Rowing Boat "Wiggle" Problem

A mathematician has discovered two entirely new arrangements of rowers in a racing eight in which the rowing forces cancel to make the boat wiggle-free.

The placement of the rowers, the "rig" of the boat, obviously has consequences for the motion of the boat. The question is how best to arrange an even number of crew members in a coxless racing boat in a way that minimizes or eliminates wiggle.

The traditional way of rigging a boat places rowers alternately pulling oars on each side of the boat. "The traditional rig appears symmetrical and simple in ways that might tempt you into thinking it is in every sense optimal. However, this is not the case," says Barrow who goes on to show that the balance of forces in this rig as the oars are pulled through the water always produces a wiggle.

What's the betting that that we'll see at least one of the new rigs at the 2012 Olympics in London?

Financial Mathematics

2009-10-14T08:02:00.003-04:00

I always find interesting when business major students claim they do not need to learn algebra or any mathematics course for their career because it only involves basic arithmetic. Well, I hope they read this interesting article from Plus Magazine about "Financial Mathematics." Click the link below to read the full article.

clipped from plus.maths.org

What is financial mathematics?

I was drawn into financial maths not because I was interested in finance, but
because I was interested in making good decisions in the face of uncertainty.

Cardano, famously, commented that knowing that the chance of a fair dice coming
up with a six is one in six is of no use to the gambler since probability does
not predict the future. But it is of interest if you are trying to establish
whether a gamble is fair or not; it helps in making good decisions.

Financial mathematicians investigate markets on the basis of a simple premise;
when you price an asset it should be impossible to make money without the risk
of losing money, and by symmetry, it should be impossible to lose money without
the chance of making money.

Financial mathematics needs to tell not only what people ought to do, but
also what people actually do.

Banks need high level maths skills because that is how the bank makes
money.

The Story of Mathematics (Video)

2009-10-10T06:43:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the people I follow on Twitter, I found this awesome video about mathematics. If you are one of those students who constantly question the reasons for learning mathematics, then renting the documentary "The Story of Mathematics" (see previews below) from your favorite video store will be worth each penny! Enjoy!

Watch The Story of Maths Part 1 in Educational View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Watch the story of maths part 2 of 4 The Genius of the East in Educational & How-To View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Algorithms - Logical Thinking

2009-08-18T20:44:00.001-04:00

In the article below, you will find out how learning mathematics is important to develop the ability of working effectively and efficiently. When learning mathematics, you are learning to think in a logical manner, which will allow you to solve problems using step-by-step processes known as algorithms. Complex real-life problems can only be solved if individuals know how to apply algorithms to vast amount of data with the aid of computers, which are then analyzed and interpreted to make informed decisions. I encourage you to read the article below and learn more how mathematics play an important role in decision-making.

clipped from smartdatacollective.com

Your Friend the Algorithm

With exponential trends of data growth and computational power colliding, the
world is literally drowning in data. There’s too much data, and not enough
analysis.

Fortunately, companies are using technology to capture and integrate data and
sophisticated mathematical procedures to analyze data and make better
decisions—decisions that ultimately improve the customer experience.

An article from The Economist, “href="http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9795140"
target=_blank>Business by the Numbers”, highlights how companies are using
algorithms to make book recommendations, choose optimum delivery routes for
packages and even route calls to agents that can best diagnose a particular
problem.

Algorithms help tackle complicated challenges—especially necessary as companies
race to take care of their “best” and/or most profitable customers. I am
sure you will agree that our world is becoming more—not less—complex. As data
volumes and decision options increase, algorithms and the systems that run them
take on added importance.

Shoelaces and Math

2009-08-17T21:40:00.002-04:00

by jesse.millan

I found this interesting article of how we use math when tying our shoes. Another example how math is an integral part of our lives, even in the simplest tasks such as tying our shoes. Once again, Math is Everywhere!

clipped from news.nationalgeographic.com

Tying Shoes: Math May Make Case for How We Lace

Math-phobes of the world, take heart! You might not have realized it, but you've been acing at least one math problem each morning since the day you gave up Velcro.

"Tying shoelaces is a simple, familiar example of a geometrical optimization problem," said Ian Stewart, a professor of mathematics at the University of Warwick in England.

clipped from news.nationalgeographic.com

"We learn nothing of practical value about shoelaces that couldn't be found by
experiment—but we learn some interesting things about how to tackle other
problems of a similar kind, and those are often of practical value."

The bows that people make while tying shoelaces have nothing to do with making
the knot stronger, and serve only to make the knot easier to untie.

clipped from news.nationalgeographic.com

The ideal lacing should create uniform tension along the length of the lace.

For Today's Graduate, Just One Word: Statistics!

2009-08-06T04:03:00.002-04:00

Interesting article! Learning mathematics, in particular statistics, is essential in times where everything is measured or quantified. We need people capable of analyzing data to identify trends and make accurate predictions. Click the link below to learn more about how learning statistics could lead you to a lucrative career.

clipped from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/technology/06stats.html?_r=1

For Today’s Graduate, Just One Word: Statistics

“People think of field archaeology as Indiana Jones, but much of what you
really do is data analysis,” she said.

“We’re rapidly entering a world where everything can be monitored and measured,”
said Erik Brynjolfsson, an economist and director of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology’s Center for Digital Business. “But the big problem
is going to be the ability of humans to use, analyze and make sense of the
data.”

The new breed of statisticians tackle that problem. They use powerful computers
and sophisticated mathematical models to hunt for meaningful patterns and
insights in vast troves of data.

Computing and numerical skills, experts say, matter far more than degrees. So
the new data sleuths come from backgrounds like economics, computer science and
mathematics.

The data surge is elevating a profession that traditionally tackled less visible
and less lucrative work, like figuring out life expectancy rates for insurance
companies.

How Algebra is going to help me be or become ...?

2009-08-02T13:07:00.004-04:00

Today, a student asked one of the typical questions that students ask in a developmental math course: "How Algebra is going to help me be or become ...?" Unfortunately, today this question irked my normal coolness and patience with students. Why students continue having a narrowed mind about knowledge in general? Why they consider course content as useless when they cannot find an immediate application of this content to their lives? Why shut down the unlimited ramifications of what they are learning to focus it only to the present they live in?

As you can see, I was annoyed by the question since I cannot comprehend how students invest so much in a college education to just come out the same way they got in: with a narrowed mind attitude. I thought the purpose of earning a college education is to come out a better person than when we got in. Anyway, here is my response to my student's discussion post:

Students,

Learning Algebra will help you in the following way:

(1) To earn a college degree since it is part of your degree plan. The college degree diploma will open many opportunities that you may have never expected. Once you earn your degree, employers will see this as a person who is persistent, hard worker, self-disciplined and capable of overcoming whatever challenges s/he may face. Isn't this what you experienced in this course?

(2) To make you think in a structured, logical and critical manner. This is what Algebra is all about! When difficult situations arise in your life, you will methodically think and reflect how to solve it instead of just making wild guesses or reactive decisions that most likely you will regret at a later time.

(3) To develop the habit of working smarter, not harder. I am certain there have been times in your life that you are responsible for completing a task that is tedious and repetitive, and you wonder if there is a better way to do it. The ability of analyzing if there is a pattern on what you do and find a better-efficient way of doing it is what Algebra is all about.

In my humble opinion, and with all due respect, it is time to stop seeing Algebra as a manipulation of variables, such as x + y = z, and start realizing that Algebra is about understanding how the world around you works, so you can take control and make it better. Isn't this why you are pursuing a college degree?

Math Court!

2009-07-30T20:55:00.002-04:00

Today, a student told me she 'hates math.' My response to her was 'At some point, everyone use math in some way or another in their lives.' She responded back to me with 'I'm going to be a lawyer, so I only need to know the basics: add, subtract, multiply and divide.' Interestingly, too many students majoring in Criminal Justice have the same belief as the previous student: 'They don't need math to enforce the law.' Here is a humorous video showing an example of how mathematics play an important role also in the field of law and order.

The Secret of Productivity

2009-07-03T12:58:00.002-04:00

Another reason to learn mathematics. Just watch the video and find out. The ramifications for learning mathematics are unknown to most of us. Complicated problems in real-life are often solved by applying mathematical concepts that for many of us at first seem to be useless. The examples in this video just prove it. Great quote in the video: 'The secret of productivity is...the work done by dead people (mathematicians).'

Do you know what doing mathematics mean?

2009-06-25T20:50:00.003-04:00

by Garrettc

Unfortunately, many students believe that mathematics is what they only do in the math classroom instead of the processes they naturally use in their daily lives to make decisions and/or choices. The article below (click the link for full article) shows 9 basic mental abilities we all have and it represents doing mathematics. We are mathematical beings by nature!

clipped from http://www.maa.org/devlin/devlin_04_05.html

doing mathematics makes use of nine basic mental
abilities

1. Number sense

Child psychologists have
demonstrated conclusively that we are all born with
number sense

2. Numerical ability

The Sumerians are the first people we know of who
used abstract numbers

3. Spatial-reasoning ability

ability to recognize shapes and to judge
distances

4. A sense of cause and effect. Much of
mathematics depends on "if this, then that"
reasoning, an abstract form of thinking about
causes and their effects.

5. The ability to construct and follow a causal
chain of facts or events. A mathematical proof
is a highly abstract version of a causal chain of
facts.

6. Algorithmic ability. This is an abstract version
of the fifth ability on this list.

7. The ability to handle abstraction

8. Logical-reasoning ability

9. Relational-reasoning ability

Much of mathematics deals
with relationships among abstract objects

My students showing how geomtery is everywhere!

2009-06-25T07:44:00.004-04:00

The videos below were created by students in my Geometry for Educators course (i.e. MAT 165) at St. Thomas University. The purpose of the assignment was to promote awareness among students on how geometry is embedded in those things they like most to do. To many, doing this project made the course content relevant and meaningful. Enjoy a sample of my students' videos.

The ramifications of learning mathematics

2009-06-25T07:34:00.002-04:00

Question often asked by students: 'Why I need to learn mathematics?' You never know the ramifications for using such knowledge. Just check how the basic concept of a math game is making an impact in the field of medical genetics. Click the link below to read the article.

clipped from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090624153112.htm

DNA Sudoku: Logic Of 'Sudoku' Math Puzzle Used To Vastly Enhance
Genome-sequencing Capability

A math-based game that has taken the world by storm with its ability to delight
and puzzle may now be poised to revolutionize the fast-changing world of genome
sequencing and the field of medical genetics, suggests a new report by a team of
scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). The report will be published
as the cover story in the July 1st issue of the journal Genome
Research.

Combining a 2,000-year-old Chinese math theorem with concepts from
cryptology, the CSHL scientists have devised "DNA Sudoku." The strategy allows
tens of thousands of DNA samples to be combined, and their sequences – the order
in which the letters of the DNA alphabet (A, T, G, and C) line up in the genome
– to be determined all at once.

"In theory, it is possible to use the Sudoku method to sequence more than a
hundred thousand DNA samples," says CSHL Professor Gregory Hannon, Ph.D.

The price of lacking quantitative skills

2009-05-18T20:32:00.003-04:00

by Telstar Logistics

The price of not acquiring quantitative skills (which are developed in math courses) could be cost prohibitive. Recently, I watched the news a report on how people are getting into financial troubles when purchasing a new car. The problem is that more people are taking car loans in which they owe a lot more than the real value of the car. This is called an upside-down loan. People are making decisions of buying a new car based on no-down payment deals and longer terms to payback the loan to allegedly save a few bucks. Unfortunately, if they would have done the math, they would have realized they are not saving at all! Click the link below to read an article about the incresed trend of upside-down loans.

clipped from http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20030728a1.asp

In a hole with an upside-down auto loan

"Upside down" means owing more on a car than it's worth. When a dealer knocks
down the value of your used car even further, the financial hole you're in gets
that much deeper.

"It's an alarming statistic that 40 percent of consumers are upside down."

How could this happen? It's easy. Just combine a low down payment or no down
payment with an auto loan with a longer term -- say five, six, even seven years.
Toss in the rapid depreciation that hits every new car in the first couple of
years and presto, you're upside down on your auto loan. Try to trade in your car
and you'll find yourself awash in negative equity.

Some folks make matters worse by rolling the old car's remaining debt into a new
loan. They're forced to pay interest and make payments on a car they don't even
own anymore. And tacking the extra debt on their new auto loan puts them upside
down all over again.

STOP! The traffic light is turning red!

2009-05-11T08:08:00.001-04:00

There are so many people driving vehicles on the streets but you rarely see chaotic events due to traffic. Why? Mathematics play an important role controlling traffic lights by helping traffic controllers optimizing the signal changes of traffic lights. Click the link below to learn more about this interesting application of mathematics and traffic lights.

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk

Welcome to the red light district

There's nothing more frustrating than sitting at a red light, watching
smiling drivers on the other side of the road speed past.

HOW ARE TRAFFIC LIGHTS CONTROLLED?

The first uses data collected on traffic flow in a certain area to calculate
timings for the lights, running the red lights to a strict timetable.

The other method is a little more hi-tech.

Coiled under the tarmac at junctions and crossroads across the UK, are loops
of cable which act as metal detectors as cars pass over them.

This information is passed to a central computer, which uses complex
algorithms to calculate the optimal time each light should spend on each colour,
ideally creating a smooth flow of traffic throughout the network.

Mathematical algorithms, and futuristic operations centres can only get you so
far.

"There is no way of getting down to a neat mathematical formula.

Remarkable Coincidences...Hmmm!

2009-05-10T19:32:00.003-04:00

Have you experienced remarkable coincidences in your daily life? Maybe these were not remarkable after all. Watch the video below to learn how probability explains logically how typical or common are many events in our lives that we may have considered as remarkable coincidences.

Down You Go!

2009-05-10T19:20:00.005-04:00

Down You go
Originally uploaded by Flashheart HP

Things around our lives are more than what meets the eye. If you oberve carefully, the simple staircase above is more mathematical than what you think. Compare the spiral staircase to the mathematical spiral. Can you see the resemblance? Learn more about this spiral and others by visiting the site 'Visual Dictionary of Special Plane Curves.'

Searching for Information in the Internet?!

2009-05-01T07:59:00.002-04:00

Most of us are always looking for information in the Internet and we use popular search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, etc. However, there will be a new search engine starting May 2009 that will interpret your questions. Is this search engine will be more powerful than Google? I'm not sure yet but I believe it will be! How is this possible? ... it uses Mathematics! Click the link below to learn more about this new search engine.

clipped from blog.wolfram.com

Fifty years ago, when computers were young, people assumed that they’d
quickly be able to handle all these kinds of things.
And that one would be able to ask a computer any factual question, and have
it compute the answer.
But it didn’t work out that way. Computers have been able to do many
remarkable and unexpected things. But not that.

But armed with Mathematica and NKS I realized there’s another way:
explicitly implement methods and models, as algorithms, and explicitly curate
all data so that it is immediately computable.

All one needs to be able to do is to take questions people ask in natural
language, and represent them in a precise form that fits into the computations
one can do.

I wasn’t at all sure it was going to work. But I’m happy to say that with a mixture of many clever algorithms and heuristics, lots of linguistic discovery and linguistic curation, and what probably amount to some serious theoretical breakthroughs, we’re actually managing to make it work.

Fast and Furious!

2009-04-29T15:00:00.002-04:00

by The Freewheeling Daredevil

Have you seen the movie 'Fast and Furious?' Are you a Nascar or Indy fan? Many people enjoy watching or driving very fast cars. There is a thrill for speed that is difficult to describe. I encourage you to click the link below to discover how mathematics is applied in every aspect of racing cars.

clipped from http://www.mathworksheetscenter.com/mathtips/autoracingmath.html

The Math Used in Professional Auto Racing

The math used in professional auto racing covers virtually every mathematical
concept taught in school today. The successful professional racing teams use
every mathematical advantage they can to win.

Along with the cars, drivers have their own mathematical statistics to calculate
and define their level of performance in numbers.

Everything that a professional driver does on the race course is measured to
compare where improvements are not needed.

When the tires are removed during a pit stop, the depth of the remaining tread
is measured to determine how the car is handling.

Another use of math in professional auto racing is to using electronic timing as
cars go up and down the pits, so they do not speed.

Math is everywhere in professional auto racing.

Baseball Predictions!

2009-04-28T08:07:00.001-04:00

by penner42

Recently, one of my students (an avid Marlin fan and knowing that I am also a baseball fan) asked me which teams were making the playoffs this year. Making the clarification that is too early to make such predictions, I chose the following teams: Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers, and Cardinals from the National League and Blue Jays, Indians, Athletics and Red Sox (this hurts since I am a Yankees' fan!). However, my predictions were based on gut instincts, but if I would have read professor Bruce Bukiet's mathematical model to make baseball predictions, I probably would feel more confident about my predictions. His mathematical model to make baseball predictions have been pretty much accurate every year. Predicting certain events or behaviors based on particular data is one of the most practical applications for learning mathematics. Learn more about Bukiet's mathematical model by clicking the science daily web site link below.

clipped from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090402143742.htm

Tight Races In Major League Baseball's Eastern Divisions, Mathematician Predicts

The National League (NL) should see another very tight race in the Eastern
Division as has occurred in recent years.

Bukiet, an associate professor of mathematical sciences and associate dean of
the College of Science and Liberal Arts at NJIT, once again provides the number
of games each Major League Baseball team should win in 2009 based on the
mathematical model he developed in 2000.

His model computes the probability of a team winning a game against another team
with given hitters, bench, starting pitcher, relievers and home field advantage.

Bukiet, an avid Mets fan, has used this mathematical model to determine whether
it is worthwhile to wager on games during the baseball season.

These picks have produced positive results for six of the eight years he has
posted them.

Do you know that every time you dance, you are doing math?

2009-04-27T14:45:00.003-04:00

by dan_clements

Dancing is moving your body at the rythm of the music. Rythm involves patterns and patterns is MATHEMATICS! Check the link below to learn how mathematics is an integral component of dancing. Next time you are dancing, remember that you are also doing mathematics!

clipped from http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0503-do_the_math_dance.htm

Do The Math Dance
Mathematicians And
Choreographers Use Dance To Teach Mathematics

Combining math and dance concepts allows people to experience a physical
sensation of the often abstract concepts of math.

"Many math-phobic adults and children -- young people -- are put off by math
because they are given symbols before they have a real solid experience on which
to base it on,"

"Well, for many people, having a kinesthetic experience of an abstract idea is
extremely helpful in understanding what that abstract is,"

WHAT IS MATHDANCE? Mathematical problem-solving is usually
involved in the creation of the dances, and sometimes leads to new mathematics
as well. In many cases the choreographic ideas easily translate to classroom
activities usable in college math classes.

Mathematics in juggling? REALLY?!!!

2009-04-27T14:31:00.002-04:00

by Malenkov in Exile

Watch the video (click the website link below) of how mathematics can help a juggler improve his/her routines and do better tricks. Juggling involves patterns and mathematics can help jugglers identifying new patterns for improving their show routines. Fun...huh! What do you think?

clipped from www.sciencedaily.com

Simulation Software Derives New Tricks from Math

Even old jugglers can learn new tricks from mathematics. Several computer
algorithms are able to simulate the combinatorial patterns of juggling and
generate new ones that even experienced jugglers had never thought of.

"It's a nice combination of abstract form and pattern and physical activity, but
really it's a just a very pure form of play,"

Now, computer programs apply mathematics to help jugglers form new patterns.

The program assigns a number to each throw. A one is when the juggler passes the
ball directly to his other side.

Mathematical models of juggling give performers a better understanding of the
science behind their tricks, and help them develop new juggling routines.

Any mathematical model for juggling must incorporate both ball motion and hand
motion.

Math and Computer Animations

2009-03-17T20:45:00.002-04:00

Many students, who like computers, often do not appreciate how mathematics make computer programming possible. The logical structure require in programming computers is an application of mathematics. Access this interesting article from Science Daily web site to learn how mathematics is an integral part of computer programming.

clipped from http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0503-math_in_the_movies.htm

Math In The Movies
Mathematicians To Thank
For Great Graphics

Most students in high school dread their math classes and wonder when they
will ever use the information in "real life." Now, with so much work being done
on computers, the algebra and trigonometry learned in high school is actually
being put to good use.

Tony DeRose, a computer scientist at Pixar Animation Studios, realized his love
of mathematics could transfer into a real world, real interesting job by
bringing the pretend world of animation to life. He told DBIS, "Without
mathematics, we wouldn't have these visually rich environments, and visually
rich characters."

How exactly do the high school math classes help with the animation?
Trigonometry helps rotate and move characters, algebra creates the special
effects that make images shine and sparkle and calculus helps light up a scene.

What you can do with mathematics?!

2009-03-17T20:14:00.003-04:00

Just watch the commercial of IBM to answer this frequent asked question. Bottom line: learning mathematics means to work smarter not harder!

Guess What? Math is the Best Job for 2009!

2009-01-16T21:37:00.001-05:00

If you are avoiding taking math courses during your college studies, you might need to reconsider your decision. The top 3 best jobs for 2009 are directly related with your mathematical ability. If you look carefully the top 20 best jobs for 2009, more than half of the jobs in the list are closely related with mathematics. In the 21st century, employers are searching for individuals who have the ability to think critically and mathematics is one way to develop this ability. Therefore, do not close the doors of opportunity because of your fears, anxieties, or dislikes for doing mathematics. Go to http://www.careercast.com/jobs/content/JobsRated_Top200Jobs to learn about the best and worst jobs for 2009.

clipped from cbs4.com

Best And Worst Jobs For 2009

If you're looking to start a new career in 2009, you may want to brush up on
your math skills.

Data for the study, taken from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the
Census Bureau along with various trade studies, was compiled by Les Krantz,
author of "Jobs Rated Almanac."

He found that careers involving math fared the best based for working
environment, growth potential and pay.

The Best Jobs

Mathematician
Actuary
Statistician
Biologist
Software Engineer
Computer Systems Analyst
Historian
Sociologist
Industrial Designer
Accountant
Economist
Philosopher
Physicist
Parole Officer
Meteorologist
Medical Laboratory Technician
Paralegal Assistant
Computer Programmer
Motion Picture Editor
Astronomer

Video - Why Math?

2009-01-07T20:41:00.003-05:00

Here is an interesting video that I found in YouTube web site, which it was created by Chris Ramey. The video explains how math is everywhere and can give you the power to change the world. Enjoy!

Do you always believe other people's claim?

2008-12-29T13:36:00.002-05:00

We often have to make decisions based on what other people state or claim. However, how do you know if their statement or claim is a solid and valid argument? For example, we all enjoy going out for dinner with family and friends. When you pick up and look at the restaurant's menu, you notice there is a significant automatic charge for service that will be included in your bill. You question this charge with the owner of the restaurant, who tells you the charge is due to the trend in which large parties often pay less in tips than small parties. Would you take as a fact what the owner claimed?

Mathematics is a useful tool to prove or disprove someone's claim. The excerpts clipped to this post came from an interesting article from Plus Magazine web site (i.e. Issue 49), which explains how Statistics is used to make sense of all the information we receive from different sources. I encourage you to read the article and become aware how mathematics can help you make informed decisions.

clipped from plus.maths.org

We live in a world full of information and it's a statistician's job to
make sense of it. This article explores ways of analysing data and shows how
they can be applied to anything from investigating diners' tipping behaviour to
understanding climate change and genetics.

Have you recently sat down in a lovely restaurant, picked up the menu, and read
"12.5% discretionary service charge will be added to your bill"? In the UK this
is now a common occurrence. In the USA the extra service charge is often made
dependent on the size of your party: if you're more than six people, the charge
will be added automatically. So what is the connection between party size and
service charge?

One reason for this fairly recent change in procedures is that restaurant owners
and workers collect data on their diners, and it has been discovered that larger
dining parties tend to tip less.

The model says that the tip rate decreases by a little under 1% for each
additional diner in the party.

Almost Fooled on Black Friday!

2008-12-13T08:15:00.023-05:00

People take the opportunity to do most of their Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving Day, which the media and retailers call "Black Friday, since almost everything on sale have considerable discounts. People arrive way before the stores are open, waiting in line for hours to be the first ones buying the best or most popular items at bargain prices and before it sold out. My wife was one of those early shoppers, leaving at 4 a.m. to the mall.

During Black Friday, people should be very careful not being tricked when purchasing items they may think are at bargain prices. The shopping hype or frenzy of such day could easily distract people for using their critical thinking skills or skepticism when something looks too good to be true. This is exactly what happened with my wife when she tried to buy a nice golf shirt as my Christmas gift. The regular price of the golf shirt was $32 but with a 25% discount, which my wife thought to be good deal even though she did not know the exact amount she was going to pay for the golf shirt.

Like many people, my wife had always questioned the reasons for learning mathematics other than the basics, even though she did fairly well in math courses during her schooling years and college. She was one of those students who did not see any practical reasons for learning advance math topics, such as Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, etc. since she was not going to be a scientist, engineer, or any career that involves mathematics. My wife was one of those students who believed that Algebra made simple problems too complicated. In summary, she was not fully aware of the usefulness of learning mathematics for her daily life activities.

However, it was the experience she gained in the mathematics courses that helped her develop the ability to make sense of numbers. And it was this ability that helped her decide not buying my Christmas gift when the cashier notified it was $30 for the purchase. Probably, many people would have paid the $30 for the golf shirt due to their excitment of being part of big event such as Black Friday, in which the belief is that all purchases are the best bargains. Fortunately, my wife did not get caught in the hype of Black Friday and she questioned the purchasing amount for the golf shirt. The cashier explained the purchase amount was a good bargain even after the discount and sales tax were applied to the purchase.

For a few seconds, my wife hesitated to follow her common sense or number sense since after all, she wanted to give me a gift. However, she told the cashier to cancel the purchase since she was convinced the purchase amount was too high for an item that was a 25% off and a sales tax of 7%. In the way back home, my wife was regretting her decision for not buying my gift. When she got home, she immediately asked me if her decision was correct or not since she did not remember how to calculate the discount of 25% and the sales tax of 7%. I showed her the computations: 25% of $32 is $8, so the sale price should have been $24. The sales tax of $24 is $1.68 (7% of 24), so the purchase amount should have been $25.68. My wife felt relief about her decision! My wife's common sense about numbers was something she developed from taking math courses. A great benefit indeed for learning mathematics!

Aha! Cops need math too!

2008-12-03T18:24:00.014-05:00

In the episode "Falling" of season 19 of Law & Order, detective Lupo said "Who needs math?, I told my teachers. I'm gonna be a cop." Detective Lupo was studying financial reports to find out a possible motive to solve a murder case. He was having difficulties understanding the mathematics involved in the financial reports and he was regreting the fact that he did not pay careful attention in math classes during his schooling years.

Why I find interesting this scene of Law & Order? Well, this scene demonstrates the typical attitude many students show when learning mathematics. Many students quickly become desinterested learning mathematics if they cannot find an immediate practical use or real-life application for what they are learning. Unfortunately, not every math concept or skill has a practical or real-life application. In many instances, there will be math concepts and skills that are only necessary to grasp more complex or advance math concepts.

There are also those students who often assume there are certain careers (e.g. law enforcement) that do not require mathematical knowledge to perform and excel. However, students who can develop their mathematical skills will also be developing their ability to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. To my knowledge, there are always problems or issues to solve in every career or job, and employers are always looking for those who can solve these problems and issues. Let's not forget that life is also full of challenges that we need to overcome, and those with the critical thinking and problem solving skills are usually the ones who struggle the least overcoming the challenges. They work smarter not harder!

We should avoid minimizing the critical role that mathematics play in our lives solely based on if we can apply it in real-life or not. It is not always possible to forsee the ramifications and uses of the math knowledge we acquire. Today, it may seem useless to learn about a particular math concept or skill, but tomorrow, that same concept or skill could be the difference for becoming successful or not in whatever endeavors we pursue. Therefore, we should view learning mathematics as an important exercise to become better critical thinkers and problem solvers. Otherwise, we will probably regret (the same way as detective Lupo did in the Law & Order episode) for our poor decisions to minimize the role mathematics play in our lives.

Why we need to learn this?!

2008-11-20T18:39:00.009-05:00

Recently, one of my students in my basic skills math courses (college level) asked the question that most math instructors dread answering, "Mr. Diaz, why do I need to learn this?" I have been asked this question so many times before, but I always had the impression that my responses were not convincing enough for my students to see the importance of learning mathematics. My usual responses were "You need a solid foundation to succeed in the higher level math courses" or "What you are learning may not make sense or seem useless right now but at some point you will need it for your career." However, I decided to use the socratic method and an analogy this time around to convince my student about the importance of learning math. For the sake of making easier to follow the discussion that happened in my class, I will call "Z" for the student who questioned the purpose for learning math and "B" for another student who took interest in taking part of the discussion. Here is the dialogue that took place in my classroom.

"Z" asked at loud, "Mr. Diaz, let's be real, why do I need to learn all this Algebra?!"
Mr. Diaz responded, "Well, let me answer your question with another question. What you prefer to be, an intelligent or ignorant person?"
"Z" answered back but with a not convincing tone, "You're right, I prefer to be considered an intelligent person."
Mr. Diaz then said, "Z, when people want to join the Marines, Air Force, Navy or the Army, what are they required to do first?"
"Z" said, "Well, they teach them how to shoot."
Mr. Diaz replied, "Before they are taught how to use a weapon, what these people have to experience first?"
"Z" said, " Oh! They go to basic training."
Mr. Diaz asked "Why they need to go basic training? To use a weapon, they do not need to do push ups, pull ups, running a mile, and so forth!"
"Z" was perplexed with my question and was not able to give an answer when "B," another student, shouted "They go to basic training to build up muscles and become fit for battle!!"
Mr. Diaz excited said "Exactly!!! For the same reason, you are taking this class. Your are building up the muscle you have in your head...the brain!," while pointing his index finger to his head.
Mr. Diaz added "You are training your brain to think and problem solve. You are training to work smarter, not harder."
The discussion ended with "Z" smiling at me and acknowledging that I had a good point that he could not argue anymore. "Z" continue doing his math work.

What do you think?

Have you ever experienced math anxiety?

2008-10-04T18:40:00.013-04:00

According to the site Platonic Realms, math anxiety is "a feeling of intense frustration or helplessness about one's ability to do math." From my experience as a math instructor, I have seen many students feeling incapable of doing mathematics, no matter what they try to overcome it (e.g. studying more hours, tutoring, interactive course materials, etc.). It is unfortunate seeing undergraduate students who cannot finish degree requirements due to their math anxieties. I often cannot believe how students allow their fears and dislikes about math hinder the pursuit of their goals and dreams.

One of the possible causes for math anxiety is unpleasant learning experiences students had during their schooling years. Another cause is the disabling belief that learning math is only for the "natutally gifted person." Math anxiety also often occurs with those students who wants to learn and do math in a quick fashion. Students lacking basic skills usually show signs of math anxiety.

I will like to ask my readers to post a comment by answering the following questions: Do you like learning and doing mathematics? Why or why not? Have you ever felt math anxiety? If you did, how you handled it? Can you pinpoint when these anxieties started? If you did not, what are the reasons for not experiencing math anxiety? Do you have any suggestions for those who experience math anxiety?

Students talking about fractions!

2008-10-01T07:41:00.033-04:00

One of my goals this year is to use journals (at least 3 or 4) in my developmental math courses to encourage students discuss mathematical ideas. Students usually do not see the reason for writing in developmental math courses. However, writing math journals helps students to pause for a moment from their hectic math studies (there is a lot to cover in these courses!), reflect what they have learned so far, and find out how math connects with their lives. If students write about math then they are becoming aware of its existence in their daily routines. Using thoughtful and provoking math prompts, students use their personal experiences, values, emotions, and knowledge to complete the prompts. The goal of the math journals is to view mathematics as a natural part of our lives, the same way is reading and writing.

Using the power of the Internet and Web 2.0 tools to increase students' interest and motivation for writing, I recently scheduled the first math journal in my developmental math courses using a discussion forum from a Facebook group (i.e. Learning about Mathematics and How and Where to apply it?), which was created by a math faculty member of St. Thomas University. Students responded to the math prompt "Fractions should be scrapped?!" which it came from an interesting article I read in the USA Today web site. This article immediately caught my attention since it mentioned how a math professor has been suggesting a delay in teaching fractions at the elementary level and to focus instead on teaching decimals. As a math developmental math educator, I found this suggestion absurd since I see everyday how many of my students struggle understanding math concepts that involves fractions (e.g. rates, proportions, percents, slope, etc.).

However, I recognized this article was an excellent opportunity to talk about mathematics with my developmental math students. I thought "why not ask my students if they agree or not with the professor in the article since they are the ones who often have difficulties working with fractions?" Their input about this topic may help me gain a different perspective from the article. Therefore, I decided to assign the first math journal about this article. I honestly was expecting the majority of my students being in favor of the professor's suggestion in the article. However, it was amazing to find out how most of my students did not agree with the professor's suggestion. My students may not like working with fractions but they clearly see how vital is learning fractions early in their schooling years. Many students commented how they regret not learning well this concept earlier since it is now hindering their opportunities for pursuing their academic and career goals.

I invite my readers to join the Facebook group Learning about Mathematics and How and Where to apply it? and read my students' posts. In addition, the moderator of this group invites anyone to take part of the discussions in the group. As I stated previously, the goal is to start talking about mathematics and gain awareness of its usefulness and practicability in our lives. Join us!

I am Blogging Again!

2008-09-30T18:36:00.027-04:00

Hello World! Here I am trying for the second time to create and maintain a blog. I created my first blog in Yahoo 360, in which I have posted a few reflections about my experiences as a math educator using technology in my practice. I do not post often there due to time constraints (I have a heavy teaching course load!) but I will continue the blog as a self-reflection exercise of my teaching practice.

However, this blog will have a different purpose than my first blog. I created Be Aware Math is Everywhere! blog as part of a doctoral assignment in one of my specialization courses (i.e. LTM 5005 The Connected Classroom: Curriculum Development and Technology) at Northcentral University. In every doctoral course, I apply the course assignments in my classroom practice to achieve my pursuit of becoming a better educator (That is why I am pursuing the Ed.D.: to become a practitioner-researcher and improve my practice!). For some time, I have been pondering the use of Web 2.0 tools to enhance teaching and learning in my classroom and this assignment provided a great opportunity for trying blogs in my practice.

As a developmental math instructor, I often encounter students who question the reasons for learning mathematics and they request examples of practical real-life applications of the math concepts and skills they are learning in class. Unfortunately, many students believe learning mathematics is just for the sake of meeting degree requirements and not for personal gain. They are missing the bigger picture that mathematics could help them understand a world where numbers are used to quantify and explain every human endeavor and natural event that occurs. These students are giving away their power of understanding and making informed decisions due to misconceptions, inexperience, or reluctance for appreciating the true power of mathematics.

For such reason, I created this blog to promote awareness among my developmental math students of how mathematics is used daily in their lives. To accomplish this goal, I need to make connections of the mathematical concepts and skills my students learn in class with their everyday life experiences. My intentions are to find real-life examples where mathematics play a vital role and explain it in layman terms to my students. From my experience, students find learning mathematics meaningful and useful when is related or connected with their lives. By making connections, students will realize that they have been doing mathematics often in their lives but were not conciously aware it was mathematics.

I am hoping that somehow this blog will generate discussion of the reasons for learning mathematics among my students and visitors. Talking about mathematics is the only way to create awareness of how mathematics is deeply integrated in our lives. Be Aware, Math is Everywhere!

Be Aware Math is Everywhere!

‪Unleash Your Fingers‬‏ - Geometry and Music

Why I need to learn math?

Math illiteracy affects judgment

The Joy of Stats [Video]

Math is everywhere! Even with the Miami Heat lineup!

Spoelstra's new math adds up for LeBron, Wade, Bosh

How a kid see failure when learning mathematics!

Bethel boy can solve complex math equations in his head

Another practical reason to master your math skills

Basic math is key to wealth accumulation

Football and Mathematics

What Do a Submarine, a Rocket and a Football Have in Common?

Life is a Gamble!?!

Lecture Explores the Math of Decision-Making

When will I use this?

The Math Plebian: What is Mathematics? Part 1

You don't believe me that math is everywhere?! Just check this out!

Take algebra? Why? I'll never use it in real life!

The cost of innumeracy is too high!

Why nerds must rescue the American economy

Lack of math skills contributes to consumers getting rippedoff

"I don't use fractions in my daily life" ... Really?!

No "Wiggle" in Rowing!

Financial Mathematics

The Story of Mathematics (Video)

Algorithms - Logical Thinking

Your Friend the Algorithm

Shoelaces and Math

Tying Shoes: Math May Make Case for How We Lace

For Today's Graduate, Just One Word: Statistics!

For Today’s Graduate, Just One Word: Statistics

How Algebra is going to help me be or become ...?

Math Court!

The Secret of Productivity

Do you know what doing mathematics mean?

My students showing how geomtery is everywhere!

The ramifications of learning mathematics

The price of lacking quantitative skills

In a hole with an upside-down auto loan

STOP! The traffic light is turning red!

Remarkable Coincidences...Hmmm!

Down You Go!

Searching for Information in the Internet?!

Fast and Furious!

Baseball Predictions!

Do you know that every time you dance, you are doing math?

Mathematics in juggling? REALLY?!!!

Math and Computer Animations

What you can do with mathematics?!

Guess What? Math is the Best Job for 2009!

Best And Worst Jobs For 2009

Video - Why Math?

Do you always believe other people's claim?

Almost Fooled on Black Friday!

Aha! Cops need math too!

Why we need to learn this?!

Have you ever experienced math anxiety?

Students talking about fractions!

I am Blogging Again!

Lack of math skills contributes to consumers getting ripped
off