Miscellaneous
Quadratic Graphing and Stretching
Hello mathematicians, puzzlers, and other curious people! This video is inspired by a question I received on Wyzant about applying some constant factor to one function, making a related function go through a particular point. If you\’d like to learn more about scaling quadratic and other functions, a related technique, more complicated because the numbers…
Vertex Formula Proof Video
Hello mathematicians, puzzlers, and other curious people! A student finished up unexpectedly quickly today, so I had some time for the ongoing project of trying out software (and ways of using it) to make better videos. Here are the latest results! Update: After watching this video, are you wondering about the vertex form of a…
The Abstract Algebra of Direct Proportions
Hello mathematicians, puzzlers, and other curious people! This post previously appeared in the Mathematical Musings free class on Teachable, currently available in the Teachable archive. In a previous MMusing, I mentioned a rabbit trail upon the occasion of using the word \”group\” about functions in the form f(x)=kx, called direct proportions. I didn\’t run down…
Snowflake
Hello mathematicians, puzzlers, and other curious people! As a test of a new streaming program I just livestreamed the process of making an animated Koch snowflake in GeoGebra. Right now because it took so long I\’m not planning to EVER do that again so here it is in the archives for you to enjoy if…
Cornucopia with GeoGebra
Hello mathematicians, puzzlers, and other curious people! This video shows one way you can use GeoGebra to make spiral shapes that might be helpful if you\’re doing seasonal art like a cornucopia. Believe it or not, the Pythagorean Theorem (a^2 + b^2 = c^2) is also involved because we\’re using right triangles to make sure…
Fun Friday Update and Prep List for October 4
Hello mathematicians, puzzlers, and other curious people! The Day Job eating my lunch is the closest I have to an excuse for how late this is going out on top of missing last week. What I do have is a plan for making Fun Fridays sustainable. No more Tacos \’n\’ Tangents until further notice. Please…
Fractal Tree Art
This week\’s combination of math and creativity was a lot of fun! We\’re getting a group gallery going at this post on Facebook. Next week\’s Fun Friday prep list is coming soon — keep an eye out for it!
Prealgebra Beta Update
Hello mathematicians, puzzlers, and other curious people! It\’s Thursday afternoon, between teaching at The Day Job and meeting with tutoring clients, and I\’m thinking about next week. On Monday at 11 Central Time (less than four days from now, where does the time go?) I\’ll be at the public library in Nacogdoches with students in…
Fun Friday Prep List for September 20
Elementary Problem of the Week Anna, Brian, Carly, Daniel, Emily, and Fred run a race. How many possible finishing orders are there? Secondary Problem of the Week Watch the video at https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2348888942095361&id=100009228333147 and either prove that this trick always works or find a counterexample. Math Crafts and Projects This week\’s project only requires your preferred…
Fun Friday Prep List for September 6
I promise I didn\’t forget about this!!! But, I did have a bit of trouble finding time to sit down and find problems. Elementary Problem of the Week How far away is the nearest star other than the sun, using units and comparisons you are familiar with? Secondary Problem of the Week You and your…