Something Funny...

And now for something completely different!

Brought to you from the deep dark recesses of youtube:  Hint: Stick with it and you'll hear Thrift Shop.

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How to Think Big

Thinking about Infinity.

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This Game is Amazing!

Kerbal Space Program 101

Many of the concepts needed for rocketry require Calculus and Trigonometry, which both require a basic understanding of mathematics concepts in order to be clear. A strong understanding of ratios is also very important.

Context Matters

Alien Mathematics

Aliens living on stars probably wouldn't be able to do geometry or draw triangles.  Counting would be difficult for them as well.

Advanced Mathematics: Uses of Calculus

Another answer to the "When are we going to use math?" question.  Calculus provides mathematics answers to questions sometimes we didn't even know we were asking.  http://www.dummies.com/how-to/education-languages/math/Calculus/Practical-Applications.html has a whole list of problems that are answered with Calculus mathematics.

Sure, anecdotal or observational information could be substituted for the mathematics, but the mathematics will stay constant even when situations change.  For instance, calculus finds maximums and minimums very quickly, and thus will define the dimensions of a box based on the total area of a sheet of cardboard, through relating volume to surface area.

In this case, the math is faster and less expensive in time and materials than simply building boxes until you come to the maximum.  Thus, in order to understand this application, you must understand calculus and how surface area would confine volume, since both are related to the dimensions of the shape involved (rectangles).  So this is one example of how the math we learn in middle school relates to the math learned later in life.

Future Mathematics: Fractals

One thing my students tend to ask me, is "Mr. V? Where is math in our lives?"  Sometimes that answer has clear ties to what we're learning in class, but other times the mathematics are more advanced.  Fractals are a great example of advanced mathematics with current application.  Some examples follow:

Urban Planning:

http://www.nature.com/srep/2012/120724/srep00527/full/srep00527.html

Natural Patterns:

http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2008/09/07/17-amazing-examples-of-fractals-in-nature/

Chemistry/Physics:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/superconductor-fractals/

Art

http://www.oneness4all.com/?cat=44

Crop Circles

http://www.cropcircleconnector.com/Bert/3dfractals.html

3D Graphics

http://www.profantasy.com/products/ft.asp

http://specialeffectsmoviesebook.blogspot.com/2013/02/1-fractals-in-special-effects.html

Technology

http://classes.yale.edu/fractals/panorama/ManuFractals/FractalAntennas/FractalAntennas.html

Sound and Music

http://www.tursiops.cc/fm/