Math 264: Multivariable Calculus
Spring 2020
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Participation: Reading/Reflections [Top Contents]
Due 10/2: Bell curve ...
Due 10/9: Covid, exponential growth, and logistic growth
Due 10/16: The math of fair elections
Due 10/23: None - Professional Day
Due 10/30: Loans and annuities ...
Due 11/6: Election debrief
Due 11/13: Why convergence/divergence matters
Due 11/20: Plato's Allegory of the Cave
Due 11/27: None - Thanksgiving Holiday
Due 12/4: Digging deeper
Due 12/11: Reflections and advice
Discussion Questions [Top Contents]
Questions for 9/29: Intro survey
1.) General Questions:
2.) Tech Questions: Do you have good and consistent
internet access? Do you have consistent access to a
computer that you can use for this class?
3.) 2020 questions: Are you and your family safe (COVID/health)?
Are you stable economically? How are you feeling about the
racial unrest in America?
4.) Class/school: What (if
anything) is the best/worst part about school moving fully
online? What (if anything) may I do as your instructor to
support you at this time?
5.)
What is the Slack number I sent you? Background: While I
use email/Canvas, I like to use the app Slack to communicate
with students. In particular, it is a good place for you
to connect with eachother. You should have received an
invite to my Slack workplace "Highline College." Once in,
you should join four channels: General, random,
homework-assessment, and calculus-iv-fall-20. If you
missed the email, follow this link:
https://join.slack.com/t/highline-college-hq/shared_invite/zt-hmzy48dy-T9zAp8lCbXlx7oiSjYs0mg
6.)
Please print the course calendar.
Take a selfie of yourself with the calendar and submit the
picture as part of this reflection:-).
Questions for 10/2: Intro to the Bell curve: Stephanie Glen and eHowEducation
1.) Google search to find the formula for the normal
distribution curve. What do the variables represent?
2.) Stephanie Glen explains the emperical rule. Using this
concept, what would be the probability that a student gets an A
on the SAT?
3.) According to eHowEducation, what would P(x<a)=0.4 mean in
words? What is the unknown?
Questions for 10/9: Two videos on math and COVID-19: Numberphile and 3Blue1Brown
1.) What are the three models discussed in the videos?
2.) According to 3Blue1Brown,
what number/stat should we be watching to know if things might
be getting better? Please explain.
3.) According to Numberphile, how has the role of mathematicians
changed since the start of the pandemic? How (if at all)
has your view changed?
Questions for 10/16: Math and running a fair election: PBS Infinite Series
1.) What is a preference ballot? Give an example of how
you might use one in your every day life?
2.) The video shows that different methods for counting lead to
different election winners. What does tell you about fair
elections?
3.) Thinking beyond the video, in the US, there are lots of
arguments about whether we should use the popular vote or the
electoral college to determine our President. What is one
strength/weakness for using each method?
None - Professional Day
Questions for 10/30: Geometric series are the basis for the math of loans and annuities. But you can do the calculations quickly using your calculator. Andy Borne explains how.
1.) In example 3, how much total interest would you pay over the
life of the loan?
2.) In example 4, how much credit card interest would you pay
even with the higher payment?
3.) Andy makes a big deal out of being debt free. What are
your views on debt and what is your strategy for building
financial wealth for you/your family?
Questions for 11/6: Election debrief
Some care about the election heavily and others don't.
That's okay. Some see red (Republican), others are blue
(Democrat), and still others are independent. That's okay
as well. These questions are meant as a starting place.
If you don't like them, I will accept a full page on the
election taking any approach you desire provided it is your own
work:-).
1.) What are a couple things you have learned as a
result of this election?
2.)
The counting of the votes is ongoing. What is something
you like about the way this election (the actual casting and
counting of votes) was conducted and what would you like
changed?
3.)
This election has seemed to reveal a divided America. What
can you do to understand the perspectives of those different
than you?
Questions for 11/13: Article on the history of infinite series
1.) What was the original intent behind the creation/discovery
of infinite series?
2.) What misunderstanding(s) led to the belief that 1/2 =
1+1-1+1-1+ ...?
3.) What did mathematicians do to fill in holes created by their
vagueness and lack of proof?
Questions for 11/20: In understanding the world, some basic philosophical concepts are important. One of these is Plato's Allegory of the cave. Here is a video outling the allegory and then you can read the full work here. Note: The most famous film based upon the Allegory is The Matrix.
1.) In the context of mathematics, who is the prisoner who
escapes the cave? Explain.
2.) Interpreting the allegory
as a mathematician, what are examples of the shadows inside the
cave? What are the ideal objects outside the cave?
3.) How can we free ourselves as mathematicians and scientists
to see the real world? Explain.3.) How can we free ourselves as mathematicians and scientists
to see the real world? Explain.
None - Thanksgiving Holiday
Questions for 12/4: This week you have a chance to explore a little more. You have done reflections on the (a.) the math of COVID, (b.) math of elections, (c.) financial math, (d.) the history of infinite series, and (e.) the philosophy of mathematics.
1.) Which of these topics was most interesting to you?
Please explain.
2.) Do a search and find one article/video to help you learn
more about this topic? What is the name, author, link?
3.) What are two things that you learned in your research that
you did not previously know about the topic?
Questions for 12/11: This week you have a chance to reflect, direct, and encourage a future student. Please write a 1+ page letter to my linear algebra students next quarter that:
1.) Introduces yourself, what you are majoring in, and a bit
about your background.
2.) What were some of the challenges you faced this quarter
(personally or as a student) and how did you make it through?
3.) What advice do you have for being successful in a COVID
class taught by Dusty?
4.) Please end your letter with something to encourage the
reader.