Category Archives: Math Minute

#92: 18 Ways NASA Uses Pi

Math Minute, Uncategorized

π Day 2023

Pi is one the most studied numbers in mathematics and on March 14 (or 3/14), we celebrate Pi Day because 3.14 are the first digits of pi.
 Post a comment about something new you learned!

#91: Mythical Mathmathetial Mind Reader

Math Minute

Check out this number game to solve and then challenge yourself to explain your math thinking.

  • Grab scratch paper

  • Set timer for 5 min 

  • Go to The Mind Reader website created by Transum and follow the instructions

          The Mind Reader

  • Record all of your math step by step on your paper

  • Look for patterns

  • Brainstorm on possible reasons why The Mind Reader is able to predict your symbol every time.

  • At the end of the 5 minutes, write a several sentences about how you think this game works. 

lesson adapted from https://www.transum.org/Maths/Investigation/Mind_Reader/ and Yummy math

#90: A Ridiculous Long Way to Find Out the Day of the Week You Were Born

Math Minute

Do you know what day of the week you were born on?  If not, you could…

  1. Ask your parent(s)/guardian(s) if they remember the day of the week.
  2. You could “Google”: What day of the week was May 16, 1975 (that’s my birthday)

OR

You can do this ridiculously long way…which is more fun IMO!

Step 1: Take the last 2 digits of the year in which you were born.

Step 2: Divide that number by 4 and ignore any remainder.

Step 3: Add the day of the month.

Step 4: Add the month’s key value.

  • January and October:Key Value = 1
  • February, March, and November: Key Value = 4
  • April and July: Key Value = 0
  • May: Key Value = 2
  • June: Key Value = 5
  • August: Key Value = 3
  • September and December: Key Value = 6

Step 5: Subtract 1 for January or February of a leap year.

Step 6:

  • Add 0 if the date is in the 1900s
  • Add 6 if the date is in the 2000s
  • Add 4 for the 1700s
  • Add 2 for the 1800s

Step 7:  Add the last 2 digits of the year.

Step 8: Divide by 7 and take the remainder.

  • Remainder 1 is Sunday
  • Remainder 2 is Monday
  • Remainder 3 is Tuesday
  • Remainder 4 is Wednesday
  • Remainder 5 is Thursday
  • Remainder 6 is Friday

Now double-check your work by searching on Google!  Bonus: Create a product that shows your work!  Look below for an example.

#89 Matrices

Math Minute

           

Matrices are rectangular arrangements of rows and columns.

In this mini spark, you will learn about the basics of matrices by watching 2 videos and taking notes.  You can extend your learning by completing the Marvelous Matrices badge!

Step 1: Start by taking out your math notebook.  Put the date at the top and put the title of this mini spark.

Step 2: Watch the 2 videos below and take notes with the new information you learned.

Step 3: Show your notes to your EY Coordinator and/or classroom teacher.

#88: EWeek (Engineer’s Week)

Math Minute, MS Learning Opportunities

Calling all FUTURE ENGINEERS…Every year we celebrate EWeek.

Learn about 5 different types of engineers and solve the types of problems they solve.   https://www.mathcounts.org/resources/engineers-week

Geomatics Engineering

Geomatics engineers collect data and then analyze and interpret it to find solutions  Geomatics engineering plays an important role in construction, transport, communication, mapping and research.

Click here for the problems:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p3tkRCP3-rBDfzT8hB11_lsWcKmyjFwD/view?usp=sharing

Structural Engineering

Structural engineers design and analyze bridges, buildings and even things like concert stages. Environmental factors, what a structure will be used for and what type of weight will be put on it, and how this all might change from day to day before even beginning a design are all things that a structural engineer must consider.

Click here for the problems: https://www.mathcounts.org/resources/eweek-problem-day-tuesday

Systems & Mechanical Engineering

Systems engineers need to ensure individual sub-systems and components of a large project all work together to perform the overall desired function. Mechanical engineering mostly work in HVAC(heating, ventilation and air conditioning).

Click here for the problems: https://www.mathcounts.org/resources/eweek-problem-day-wednesday

Nuclear Engineering

What if you could harness the energy that is released by reactions within atoms?  That’s what nuclear engineering does!  The energy released by reactions within atoms can be used to generate electricity, power transportation systems, and diagnose and treat illnesses.

Click here for the problems:  https://www.mathcounts.org/resources/eweek-problem-day-thursday

#87: Palindrome Week

Math Minute

Some times we have a Palindrome “Week”

December 1-9  in 2021 formed a palindrome when the month is written as 12 and the year is written as 21.  So…

December 1 was 12-1-21
December 2 was 12-2-21
December 3 was 12-3-21
12-11-21 and 12-22-21 were also palindrome dates in Dec. 2021.
The date reads the same forward as it does backwards.  This doesn’t happen often!

To earn this mini-spark,

  • Check out these palindromes for kids: https://kids.kiddle.co/Palindrome pay special attention to any words that are new to you and phrases that are palindromes. These items should all be included in your final note taking page.
  • Watch the video about palindromes https://youtu.be/1QC20PBvunI and pause the video as needed to record any new words/phrases that are palindromes.
  • Share your work with your teacher and/or EY Coordinators to earn this mini spark.

Where can you find 🅿🅰🅻🅸🅽🅳🆁🅾🅼🅴🆂?

Leave a comment and/or send a picture of a palindrome you discovered.

#86 Football Roster Math

Math Minute

There is a plethora of data when it comes to sports!  Whether you’re looking at individual player stats, team rankings, or just want to see the breakdown of a particular game…MATH IS EVERYWHERE IN SPORTS!

This Mini Spark has you looking at the 21-22 Westside High School Football JV and Varsity Football Roster.  Download and print a copy of the worksheet and roster by clicking the links below.  Or, you can complete the worksheet digitally using Notability or other app on your iPad.

When you’re finished, show your classroom teacher and/or your EY Coordinator.

Worksheet:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dSSsHG7ddQJjY74xtgz45yVjqlMP8f7y/view?usp=sharing

JV Football Roster:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tiADGIRu6cgsIQWIx3BTIM1JCS8ICCLZ/view?usp=sharing

Varsity Football Roster: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lf_44eFFhv-QHSsv-M62mpTL4ZX5z61I/view?usp=sharing

image source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_UGZ5jFqqjw3iY1GJ_4r-Kt7rpuFOiu3hKX7BYZvWJ8/copy

#85 Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD)

Math Minute, Uncategorized

image taken from https://www.mathsisfun.com/data/mean-deviation.html

Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) is how far, on average, all data values are from the middle.

To find the MAD, you can follow 3 easy steps:

  1. Find the mean of the values
  2. Find the distance of each value from that mean (subtract the mean from each value, ignore minus signs which is also the absolute value)
  3. Then find the mean of those distances

For this Math Mini Spark, you’ll be finding the MAD on a spreadsheet.  Follow the steps below.

Step 1:  Make a Copy of this Spreadsheet by clicking the link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ndcgCZ1EeVcKausxtkmBkONVfCeilbQNE6ukdUCWYk8/copy

Step 2:  Watch the video below and complete the steps shown in the video on your own spreadsheet.

Video: https://youtu.be/nGG2xq1COwE

NOTE:  This mini-spark can be used as 1 spreadsheet lesson for the Spreadsheet Superstar Badge.

#84 Doodling in Math Class

Math Minute

What?  Did that say DOODLING?  Yes!

Have fun learning about math while doodling from one of my favorite mathematicians/doodlers…Vi Hart!
Don’t forget to share your doodles with your teacher and/or EY Coordinator.  Maybe you could even organize a math doodle contest for your classroom/school!

#83 The Luhn Algorithm

Math Minute

The Luhn algorithm or Luhn formula, also known as the modulus 10″ or “mod 10” algorithm, was developed in the 1960s as a method of validating identification numbers.  Number communication accuracy can be using this formula

Take time to explore:

Read this article about the formula and how it is used in real life to catch errors when shopping online.  Research the creator Peter Luhn and make a timeline about his life.

In this video you will learn how to use the Luhn Algorithm. Make the table on paper as you watch.

Math challenge presented by CEMC math POTWC-20-NN-PA-21-P . Print it out, read the page and look at the different strategy that they present to you. Try to figure out the last challenge. Answer key for challenge. You can use this to check you work.