Mathematics influence
our daily life to a surprising degree. In many cases, the impact math has on our lives is so subtle that we rarely notice or identify it.
If we think of mathematics in the broader sense--that of relationships,
proportions and functions--we begin to see its influence all around us. For example, every time we pull into a parking space, we make quick geometric calculations on the fly, steering our car to avoid other cars and
park in the properly designated spot.
If something happens that makes us angry, we use proportion to determine how much anger to exhibit. In fact, when someone gets very angry about a seemingly small thing, we say
that they have "blown the whole issue out of proportion."
Assignment: Math Journal
Keeping track of the various interactions involving math on a daily basis can be a very surprising experience.
For this
assignment, please keep a "Math Journal" to track the number and variety of sets, logic, statistics, probability, measurements, and math functions you encounter within a given time frame.
Your journal should take the form of short, descriptive entries that include:
- A description of the encounter
- The mathematical principles involved
- How the encounter or instance was resolved
Example Journal Entry: On Thursday, June 29, I was asked to create a list of delinquent accounts for our accounts receivable department. In order to develop the list, I had to determine the standards for
"delinquent," then prepare a list of customers (a set) who met that standard. I determined that our policy considers any customer without a payment for 60 days to be "delinquent." So I sorted the customer list
(statistics) to find those who were 60 days or more behind. I found that 13 of our 260 accounts were delinquent (5%). I was surprised to find that customers who opened their accounts with our new online application form
were over 30% more likely to be delinquent than those who submitted a paper form (probability).
Journal Requirements:
- Feel free to choose a format with which you are comfortable, then stick with that format
- Keep your math journal over a time span not shorter than one week
- Submit your journal as a flowing narrative in one of the accepted file formats
