Math Curmudgeon
@mathcurmudgeon.bsky.social
~40 years teaching HS math, physics & computer science. #iteachmath
He/Him/Sir/Mr. M
Alaxandr
Combat Archer, Northern Army
SCA: Society for Creative Aachronism
"Þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg."
"That passed; this too shall pass."
He/Him/Sir/Mr. M
Alaxandr
Combat Archer, Northern Army
SCA: Society for Creative Aachronism
"Þæs ofereode, þisses swa mæg."
"That passed; this too shall pass."
Yeah, but ...
Someone's gotta do it and no one's beating down the door of the school to take over.
Someone's gotta do it and no one's beating down the door of the school to take over.
November 8, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Yeah, but ...
Someone's gotta do it and no one's beating down the door of the school to take over.
Someone's gotta do it and no one's beating down the door of the school to take over.
details in alt text.
November 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
details in alt text.
I like that we can do this with math and other subjects, even the headline!
November 5, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I like that we can do this with math and other subjects, even the headline!
Hope they don't try that in Vermont.
June 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Hope they don't try that in Vermont.
Desmos activity dashboard lets the teacher see where each kid is and what they’ve entered. Also has pacing and other tools.
I like it for exploration. If you can find an activity, it’s great. Making one from scratch is time consuming.
Here’s a teacher-built one:
student.desmos.com/join/h7ufmq
I like it for exploration. If you can find an activity, it’s great. Making one from scratch is time consuming.
Here’s a teacher-built one:
student.desmos.com/join/h7ufmq
Loading Activity...
student.desmos.com
June 6, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Desmos activity dashboard lets the teacher see where each kid is and what they’ve entered. Also has pacing and other tools.
I like it for exploration. If you can find an activity, it’s great. Making one from scratch is time consuming.
Here’s a teacher-built one:
student.desmos.com/join/h7ufmq
I like it for exploration. If you can find an activity, it’s great. Making one from scratch is time consuming.
Here’s a teacher-built one:
student.desmos.com/join/h7ufmq
Reading some of the other replies, I think I may have gone about slightly differently. I found (a1+an), which gave me the middle term and the value of n. Took a few minutes to back up and realize the final answer.
Nice one!
Nice one!
May 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reading some of the other replies, I think I may have gone about slightly differently. I found (a1+an), which gave me the middle term and the value of n. Took a few minutes to back up and realize the final answer.
Nice one!
Nice one!
At the point where the derivative equals the slope between the two end points. IVT in Real World!
May 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
At the point where the derivative equals the slope between the two end points. IVT in Real World!
5000, epsilon<0.0001
Done for now.
285 14.8518109
4100 14.8519014
1777 28.5009300
4961 28.5010049
2075 57.7293104
4997 57.7293283
4703 175.8511277
2170 175.8511567
4848 296.0611490
828 296.0612136
4859 305.1067136
661 305.1068079
Done for now.
285 14.8518109
4100 14.8519014
1777 28.5009300
4961 28.5010049
2075 57.7293104
4997 57.7293283
4703 175.8511277
2170 175.8511567
4848 296.0611490
828 296.0612136
4859 305.1067136
661 305.1068079
May 17, 2025 at 9:17 PM
5000, epsilon<0.0001
Done for now.
285 14.8518109
4100 14.8519014
1777 28.5009300
4961 28.5010049
2075 57.7293104
4997 57.7293283
4703 175.8511277
2170 175.8511567
4848 296.0611490
828 296.0612136
4859 305.1067136
661 305.1068079
Done for now.
285 14.8518109
4100 14.8519014
1777 28.5009300
4961 28.5010049
2075 57.7293104
4997 57.7293283
4703 175.8511277
2170 175.8511567
4848 296.0611490
828 296.0612136
4859 305.1067136
661 305.1068079
413 48.43071
295 48.43082
732 99.16957
912 99.17009
156 232.95813
1191 232.95874
Nothing within 0.0001 up to the first 1500.
295 48.43082
732 99.16957
912 99.17009
156 232.95813
1191 232.95874
Nothing within 0.0001 up to the first 1500.
May 17, 2025 at 8:58 PM
413 48.43071
295 48.43082
732 99.16957
912 99.17009
156 232.95813
1191 232.95874
Nothing within 0.0001 up to the first 1500.
295 48.43082
732 99.16957
912 99.17009
156 232.95813
1191 232.95874
Nothing within 0.0001 up to the first 1500.
Up to the 1500th triangle and none are within 0.0001
413 48.43071
295 48.43082
732 99.16957
912 99.17009
156 232.95813
1191 232.95874
I'm beginning to think that, maybe, subtracting irrational numbers isn't going to be near 0.
413 48.43071
295 48.43082
732 99.16957
912 99.17009
156 232.95813
1191 232.95874
I'm beginning to think that, maybe, subtracting irrational numbers isn't going to be near 0.
May 17, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Up to the 1500th triangle and none are within 0.0001
413 48.43071
295 48.43082
732 99.16957
912 99.17009
156 232.95813
1191 232.95874
I'm beginning to think that, maybe, subtracting irrational numbers isn't going to be near 0.
413 48.43071
295 48.43082
732 99.16957
912 99.17009
156 232.95813
1191 232.95874
I'm beginning to think that, maybe, subtracting irrational numbers isn't going to be near 0.
But … is there a Bundt cake of revolution?
May 13, 2025 at 12:35 AM
But … is there a Bundt cake of revolution?
Volumes by revolution
May 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Volumes by revolution
I began by placing the vertex on the x-axis, which happens at x^2+2x+1.
If we add a positive constant to that, the graph rises and roots are imaginary. Thus, the expression must be >1
If we add a positive constant to that, the graph rises and roots are imaginary. Thus, the expression must be >1
May 9, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I began by placing the vertex on the x-axis, which happens at x^2+2x+1.
If we add a positive constant to that, the graph rises and roots are imaginary. Thus, the expression must be >1
If we add a positive constant to that, the graph rises and roots are imaginary. Thus, the expression must be >1
A lot of those US scientists are fluent in more than just English, not just because many of them are foreign born.
May 6, 2025 at 12:41 AM
A lot of those US scientists are fluent in more than just English, not just because many of them are foreign born.
Why have them vote?
I think they should read what you choose for them to read. It's tough to mentor student teachers that haven't had a consistent background, and it's really difficult to ask them to read books while they're trying to teach classes for the first time.
I think they should read what you choose for them to read. It's tough to mentor student teachers that haven't had a consistent background, and it's really difficult to ask them to read books while they're trying to teach classes for the first time.
May 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Why have them vote?
I think they should read what you choose for them to read. It's tough to mentor student teachers that haven't had a consistent background, and it's really difficult to ask them to read books while they're trying to teach classes for the first time.
I think they should read what you choose for them to read. It's tough to mentor student teachers that haven't had a consistent background, and it's really difficult to ask them to read books while they're trying to teach classes for the first time.
Dan Willingham
Book: Why Children Don't Like School
www.amazon.com/Why-Dont-Stu...
Video: Teaching Content is Teaching Reading
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiP-...
Video: Learning Styles Don't Exist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv9...
Also lots of articles, but these three things are key.
Book: Why Children Don't Like School
www.amazon.com/Why-Dont-Stu...
Video: Teaching Content is Teaching Reading
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiP-...
Video: Learning Styles Don't Exist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv9...
Also lots of articles, but these three things are key.
Learning Styles Don't Exist
YouTube video by Daniel Willingham
www.youtube.com
May 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Dan Willingham
Book: Why Children Don't Like School
www.amazon.com/Why-Dont-Stu...
Video: Teaching Content is Teaching Reading
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiP-...
Video: Learning Styles Don't Exist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv9...
Also lots of articles, but these three things are key.
Book: Why Children Don't Like School
www.amazon.com/Why-Dont-Stu...
Video: Teaching Content is Teaching Reading
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiP-...
Video: Learning Styles Don't Exist
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIv9...
Also lots of articles, but these three things are key.
Anti-intellectualism is a feature of the population as a whole. Some of us are trying to fight that, but it can be exhausting when you are dealing with every type of person and student.
May 3, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Anti-intellectualism is a feature of the population as a whole. Some of us are trying to fight that, but it can be exhausting when you are dealing with every type of person and student.