Hood College Materials
Writing Assessment (Word doc)
Group Guidelines (Word doc)
Group Check List (Word doc)
Calc I Exams (Word docs)
Projects (Word docs)
- Bouncing a Ball
A data-gathering activity that leads to basic mathematical modeling. Often used on the first day of class, sometimes in conjunction with Timing a Pendulum. Relates to sections 1.1 and 1.2.
- Timing a Pendulum
A data gathering activity that leads to a discussion of mathematical modeling. Often used on the first day of class, sometimes in conjunction with Bouncing a Ball. Relates to sections 1.1 and 1.2.
- Pedometer
A data-gathering activity that leads to basic mathematical modeling. Often used on the first day of class (instead of Bouncing a Ball and Timing a Pendulum). Relates to sections 1.1 & 1.2.
- Speed and Acceleration
Uses very basic ideas about rates of change. Often used before the beginning of Chapter 2. Leads to our first formal group report.
- Fruit Flies
Students model the growth of a fruit fly colony. This project involves exponential functions; should be used before section 2.4. Leads to our second formal group report.
- Steady State
Involves solving IVPs which are stated in word problems. Can be used any time after Chapter 3 (and often is used much later).
- Refraction
Leads students through an analysis of the refraction of light. Should be used after section 4.5, where reflection is analyzed. This project is somewhat algebra-intensive. (NB: A version of this is Project 2 in Chapter 4 of the text.)
- Mass of a Bar (Calc II)
- Centers of Mass (Calc II)
- Tables of Integrals (Calc II)
Labs (mostly browser-readableHTML exports from Mathcad)
- Introduction to Mathcad
A Mathcad worksheet that teaches students a few of the features of Mathcad, namely the ones we will be using first. Students do not turn this in; instead, they do a follow-up assignment (Word doc).
- Functions Defined by Data
Used as the students’ introduction to mathematical modeling on Mathcad. Can be used at any time after the students have been introduced to Mathcad. Relates to section 1.2.
- Writing Lab Reports in Word (Word doc)
An introduction to writing about math in Word and using the Equation Editor. Also covers importing graphs from Mathcad. Refers to Functions Defined by Data. We do this after starting the Speed and Acceleration project, once students are ready to start writing.
- Interest
A monetary introduction to exponential functions (and recursive formulas). Relates to section 2.4, and can be used to introduce that section.
- Winplot Introduction (Word doc)
Students meet Winplot for the first time. We do this anytime prior to Section 2.5. May need frequent editing as Winplot is updated frequently.
- Limpop
Introduces the logistic model of population growth. Uses Euler’s method in the slope-equals-rise-over-run guise. Refers back to the Fruit Fly project. We do this after section 3.2, but it doesn’t really relate to section 3.2; having covered section 3.1 may be helpful.
- Temperature Collection Lab (Word doc)
Temperature Lab Data Analysis (Word doc)
Temperature Lab Write-up Instructions (Word doc)
A data-gathering activity that allows students to see how water heats up and cools down. Requires LoggerPro (or comparable equipment). Relates to section 3.2; we do this activity before starting section 3.2.
- Newton
Introduces Newton’s method for approximating zeros of functions. Relates to (or replaces) section 4.3.
- Raindrops
Reviews Galileo’s model of falling bodies without air resistance and introduces Stokes’ Law for falling bodies with air resistance. Relates to section 5.1.
- More Rain
Introduces the student to the velocity-squared model of falling bodies with air resistance. Relates to section 5.1, and follow Raindrops.
- Trigonometric Functions
Leads students to conjecture the derivatives of sine, cosine and tangent. Relates to section 5.3 (which we omit).
- A Discrete Price Model
Material not yet in 2nd edition - to be added as project in Ch. 5
- Hong Kong Flu
Introduces the S-I-R model of epidemics. Needs to be introduced in class. Relevant material is not currently in the online text.
Reading questions — not all of these are used every year. (Reading sources listed below)
- Calculus I
(Word files)
- Calculus II
(Word files)
Sources for the readings
- Readings for Calculus, Underwood Dudley (ed.), MAA
- The Mathematical Universe, William Dunham, Wiley
- The Education of T. C. Mits, L. R. Lieber, Paul Dry Books
- Selected web sites
- "Thinking about Learning, Learning about Thinking" by D. A. Smith
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Revised 6/25/09