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Which math classes should be included in an undergraduate computer science program?
As part of my job search, I've come into contact with universities that are beginning to offer new majors at their university such as applied mathematics or computer science. A frequent interview question is, "What kind of classes would you require…
Brian Rushton
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5 answers
Extensions beyond Euclidian Geometry for Secondary students
My secondary geometry class is really amazing and is likely going to finish everything I have for the curriculum with a few weeks left in the school year. I was thinking to use these last few weeks to look into some interesting Non-Euclidian…
celeriko
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Teaching background skills together with specific concepts
There are a number of skills needed in maths (I'm teaching undergraduate pure maths) that are not really topics on their own, such as interpreting a definition, taking negation, or giving counter-examples. Part of me thinks that it's useful, while…
Jessica B
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More user-friendly alternatives to Piazza service
I am looking for a free online (Q & A) platform service for using in my math classes which permits the students to ask their questions, and supports Mathjax/Latex like on Mathoverflow/Math.SE/Matheducators and its platform resembles to that of…
Name
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Student Project about Prime Numbers: How to Continue?
I know a talented, enthusiastic, and very very hard-wroking 7th grade student, who began working on a research project about prime numbers a month ago.
He has written numerous Pascal programs to find large prime numbers (using methods such as sieve…
Behzad
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3 answers
Motivating student by showing them where we are heading to
Why is it so uncommon to find material that shows students how everything is connected?
A recurrent question from students is why are polynomial so important? If we shown them how these are related to real functions and to differential equations,…
Quora Feans
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How does a take-home exam differ from a homework assignment?
I've taught several upper-level courses recently, and have considered giving take-home exams to reduce the time pressure in the classroom.
However, their homework already consists of proving various exercises similar to what I would imagine to be on…
Brian Rushton
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9
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3 answers
Lie Theory: significance and relevance to undergraduate education
I have been strongly recommended to read the book Naive Lie Theory. In the introduction one can read: "This naive approach to Lie theory is originally due to von Neumann, and it is now possible to streamline it by using standard results of…
Dal
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Differences between Hardy&Wright and Ireland&Rosen for number theory course
My professor advised us to get either Hardy&Wright or Ireland&Rosen for our introductory number theory course. I would like to ask what are the differences between these textbooks in terms of pedagogical effectiveness; completeness; relevance;…
Dal
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Learning modulo sticking points, or "fluid study" in mathematics
In graduate school I once tried to rapidly learn mathematics by working through a text and collecting (and precisely remembering) where I had been stuck, and what parts of arguments or computations I did not follow. After writing precisely down…
Jon Bannon
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What courses should be a part of a Mathematics Education degree program?
I had asked the title question in an answer here, but it didn't get any recognition, so I'm posing it formally.
The key word in the question is should. In my Mathematics Education degree education, I have had the option to take many content classes,…
Andrew Sanfratello
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6 answers
A basic game to make arguments about
I think a significant start to my development as a mathematician was playing card games (mostly Euchre) with my parents in my youth. After a particular round, my father would tell me, "Well, with your hand, you should have done this. It would have…
Aeryk
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4 answers
Secondary Geometry Curriculum Sequencing?
I am currently student teaching, and the main class that I am focusing on is a secondary geometry class. I am currently following my classroom mentors curriculum sequence which looks something like:
Intro to Geometry (points, lines, planes, shape…
celeriko
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9
votes
6 answers
Helping high school students remember inequalities and division
Background
I sometimes tutor high school students and I have come across various problem types that are best represented by the following two problems.
They are unable to keep track of the correct direction of inequality symbols. That is, if I ask…
recmath
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Selling completeness, extreme value theorem, etc.?
There is a set of related topics in a freshman calc course that includes the completeness axiom for the reals, the intermediate value theorem, extreme value theorem, Rolle's theorem, and mean value theorem.
How can one interest a freshman calc…
user507