Monday, July 18, 2011

Mathematics Teaching

For the countless kids who sit through math class and wonder about the usefulness of algebra, geometry or calculus.Historically most "appealing" jobs haven't required mathematics ; rather, at most, only an ability to use calculators (old) and computers, internet (new). As a result, most kids see math as a giant bag of forgettable information used only to challenge them academically.In the wake of the Japanese earthquake or with all the recent flooding in parts of Canada, having effective evacuation plans are prepared by modelling..mathematical modelling is nothing new. The ancient Egyptians used geometry to model the world as they knew it and to predict when the Nile River would flood. At the height of the H1N1, or swine flu, outbreak in 2009, researchers from Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital used air traffic pattern data to accurately predict how the virus would spread around the world.it's important that the mathematics community showcase the role we are playing and use this to excite kids and the public on the power of mathematics.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Shonak Patel..

Shonak Patel...who Sees math in everything around him.He thinks world is designed in patterns, hence entire universe, constructed in mathematics.Diagnosed at age 6 with Asperger’s Syndrome, Shonak has difficulty processing sensory stimulation, struggles with communication and often appears lost in his own world.He solved a difficult problem in the team round of the American Regions Math League answering the question: Find the smallest positive integer that has exactly 11 pairs of digits that form a prime number (in their original order).