Two Grand Question

(You are not required to write a new post about this.)

I hope the field trip is an eye-opening experience. The Two Grand Question is doable than some other questions. I enourage you to try it. Let me know you did it before Tuesday and you win two small chocolates from Mr. Cheng!

Here is the question:
3 identical circles with radius r are touching (tangent) each other and inscribed in a larger circle as shown. What is the radius of the large circle in terms of r?


To solve this question, you need to use:
1) symmetry to draw triangles to help you find large radius
2) sin 30 degree = 1/2 = opp/hyp
3) Pythagorean Theorem

Math Field Trip Oct 21, 2010

"Who Wants to Be a Mathematician?"

I hope you have a wonderful experience with our first ever Math field trip! You are going to write a reflection about the experience. Here is The Assignment:

1) Write 10 new things you've learned about mathematics

2) What have you learned from The Talk?

3) How does The Workshop help you in future math learning?

Enjoy blogging. Save your posting from time to time.

Hyperframe - Shockwave game

Here is my highest score. Now is your turn! Go here:

http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/hyperframe.jsp

What does it mean to be good in math?

Pick top 3 qualities from the list below you think are most important in math learning. Explain.

Qualities for good math?
- hard working (diligent)
- patience
- think outside the box
- never give up - perseverence
- go Kumon (practice, repetition)
- basic math skills
- intelligence
- focus
- optimistic
- confidence
- good memory
- don't afraid to ask alot of questions
- willing to learn
- be able to think abstractly
- quick thinking
- follow through
- team work
- always double check your work
- humble

Mar 5 and Spring Break

As of Mar 5, you have added another posting about the 2006 Math Contest, the one given to you in the last two classes before spring break.

Over the spring break:
1) Complete all the postings. I will be commenting on your posting and give you a mark. Let me know if you make any changes after I assigned a mark.
2) To keep your brain running, work on the Practice Unit Test package I gave you before the break. They are good Prov. Exam. type of questions. Do the "Arithmetic Sequence" and "Radical/Exponents" section. The "Table and Sequence" section is no longer required by the exam, but you can do it anyway.

Hope you have a great Spring Break.

2010 Canadian Math Contests

We did it! Let's reflect on your experience. How do you feel? Did the pressure help you focused or make you anxious? How is your performance throughout the 60 minutes period (at the beginning, in the middle, near the end)? Do you guess any questions? How do you feel after you are done? When we went over the question? I hope you enjoy the challenge.

After you reflected on your experience, pick 1 question and talk about it.

Here are the answers for the contests (official):

Grade 10 Cayley
===============
1D 2C 3A 4E 5B 6E 7D 8B 9C 10B
11A 12E 13D 14C 15C 16B 17D 18E 19A 20C
21A 22C 23B 24A 25D

Grade 9 Pascal
===============
1D 2C 3C 4A 5C 6E 7B 8E 9B 10E
11E 12C 13B 14B 15D 16B 17A 18C 19A 20B
21D 22D 23A 24C 25E

Solving Radical Expression

For this posting, I want you to explain how to solve rational expression with negative or fractional exponent. If you don't have Word 2007 Equation Editor, just explain how to do it. I did the first one for you as an example. You can pick either the second or third.



1) I resolve the negative exponent x^-2 by flipping it to the top
2) Distribute the exponent 3/2 to all components
3) 3/2 means cube and then square root, so 16^(3/2)=64, 25^(3/2)=125
4) for the x term, power on power, so I multiply 3 with 3/2 to get 9/2
5) write x as a radical and simplify
Done!