TIME 2000

November 2008 Volume 7, Issue 1

Editors-in-Chief: Alexandria Kubic (T-9) & Sung Yan Chiu (T-9) T I M E 2 0 0 0 N e w s l e t t e r Advisor: Naomi Weinman

Inside this issue: Book Review: Kiss My Math! Author: Danica McKellar By: Alexandria Kubic (T-9) find math boring. She includes Inter- Kiss My Math! 1 “Kiss My Math” is a book to explain such concepts as integers, esting examples that relate to math. written by Danica McKellar, who was negative numbers, order of operations For examples, she has personality an actress in and (PEMDAS), Calculator Corner 1&2 quizzes, quotes and testimonials from . Besides being an absolute value, teens and famous celebrities, polls actress, Danica McKellar is a gradu- inequalities, 2 taken by students with questions such My Cyberchase Summer ate of U.C.L.A. with a Bachelors of mean, median, as “What do you (as a guy) really think Science in Mathematics. As an un- and mode, about smart girls?” and stories written Bill Clinton Visits QC 3 dergraduate, she was one of very few distributive by girls who have overcome their students who published a proof. The and commuta- struggles in math and have become proof, written by her and two other tive properties, 3 fabulous, successful women in the My TIME Life students was called “Percolation and working with work force. There’s also a Math Test Gibbs states multiplicity for ferro- variables, word Survival Guide and Danica’s Diary Hall of Fame 3 magnetic Ashkin-Teller models on problems, e x - ponents, func- which tell personal stories that Danica Z2”. tions, graphing, has experienced that may help the Math In The Media, 4 Danica has written two and solving middle school students. Sudoku, Number Occur- books focusing on helping middle equations with variables. After an Lastly, Danica explains the ances, Math Jokes, Math school students learn math. In Au- explanation of the topics, Danica pro- importance of math with regard to Websites gust 2007, her first book, Math vides multiple examples with answers money. Students who excel in math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle and a few questions without answers and science are more likely to earn School Math without Losing Your that can be looked up on their web- scholarships if they pursue them in Mind Or Breaking A Nail, was re- site. Danica acknowledges that if college. And look at TIME 2000! Congratulations leased. Due to the success of that students don’t get a good grasp of Perfect example! book, a sequel was released on Au- To: these topics now, it will cause more gust 5th, 2008, named Kiss My trouble for them later. Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who’s • Michelle Yacoub for being This book is most useful as For additional information, and Boss. inducted into the Golden a supplemental text in pre-algebra. It answers to the examples in the Kiss My Math is an excel- Key International Honor can also be used as a reference or book, visit kissmymath.com. lent book that is targeted to teenage Society. resource to help with questions or girls. The author uses things such as review for an upcoming test. • Sabrina Colon (T-9) and breath mints, pandas, popularity, Danica McKellar’s approach Deepak Joseph (T-6) on spas, and other real-life “girly things” their marriage July 1, is to make sure that students don’t 2008. • May Wong (T-5) on her Calculator Corner ►Star marriage to Luis Herrera By: Alex Kubic (T-9) and Sung Yan Chiu (T-9) on July 13, 2008. Fish Turn to Page 2 to find out how to make YOUR Calculator • Kendal Jones (T-6) on her display these cool designs using MATH! marriage to Andre Askins on July 19, 2008. ▼Flower ▼The North Star ▼Butterfly • Dr. Artzt for being inducted into the Long Island Mathematics Education Hall of Fame. • Jouleni Cruz and Michelle Yacoub for their induction into the Presidential Achievers Honor Roll.

THE NORTH STAR Calculator Corner ! (Continued) MODE: Normal, Float, Radian, Func, Con- When trying to create the calculator pic- nected, Simul, Real, FullV tures shown on page 1, pay close atten- STARFISH nd tion to the MODE. To highlight a setting in 2 [ZOOM] Highlight “Axes Off” MODE: Normal, Float, Radian, Pol, Y= :\Y1 = 1/X the MODE window on your calculator, sim- Connected, Sequential, Real, Full ply click [ENTER] when the MODE you :\Y2 = 2/X nd would like to select is highlighted. 2 [ZOOM] Highlight “Axes Off” :\Y3 = 3/X If you have any trouble understanding how Y= : \r1 = 10 cos( sin( θ e :\Y4 = 4/X to make these pictures or if they don’t :\Y5 = 5/X look exactly like the ones pictured, visit OR :\Y6 = -1/X the website listed below or e-mail us! Y= : \r1 = -10 cos( sin( θ e :\Y7 = -2/X ZOOM: ZStandard (6) :\Y8 = -3/X Alex: [email protected] :\Y9 = -4/X Sung: [email protected] :\Y0 = -5/X ZOOM: ZStandard (6) http://www.geocities. FLOWER BUTTERFLY MODE: Normal, Float, Radian, Pol, com/graphingart/ MODE: Normal, Float, Radian, Pol, Con- Connected, Sequential, Real, Full nected, Sequential, Real, Full 2nd [ZOOM] Highlight “Axes Off” TI83_Plus_ 2nd [ZOOM] Highlight “Axes Off” Y= : \r1 = 10 cos(θ e Y= : \r1 = 10sin(cos(tan(θ \r2 = -10 cos(θ e Animals.html ZOOM: ZStandard (6) ZOOM: ZStandard (6)

My Cyberchase Summer: An Internship with the Cyberchase Production Team By: Maria Leon (T-9) dreamt of, including the detail that goes themes is a math game show in Cyberspace This summer, I interned with the into the production of educational called “Lucky Star” in which characters can production team of Cyberchase, a televi- shows, the many drafts a single episode compete to be the day’s highest scorer. There sion show with a mystery twist and the must go through before it can be aired, will also be a real online game that parallels goal of inspiring interest in mathematics the many ways in which outreach pro- the format of the animated game show but for children ages 8 – 11. This animated grams are implemented to help kids here the participants are kids! For this game, show is about three kids and their side- learn and truly enjoy math, and the coop- approximately two hundred math questions kick, collectively known as the Cyber- eration between the writers and produc- were needed. This is where my knowledge of squad. They use math skills and brain- ers and the mathematics content advi- mathematics came in. They liked the sample power to prevent the villainous Hacker sors (which includes our own Dr. Curcio!). questions I wrote so much that they paid me from taking over Cyberspace, the colorful I gained a lot from the intern- to write the rest. I’m most excited that the world they live in which is filled with differ- ship in general, as well. I greatly im- questions I wrote will actually be used, which ent cybersites and interesting characters. proved my computer skills as I was re- means I can be the high scorer since I know Going into my internship, I ex- quired to do a lot of organizing, research- all the answers already! All kidding aside, pected to learn more about the show and, ing, and filing on the computer. My com- please check out the Cyberchase Website, hopefully, get a few teaching ideas to add munication and writing skills also got although the game show project is not fin- to my portfolio, such as how to use the better since I had to cooperate with su- ished yet. There, you will find the show’s media to teach math effectively. What I got pervisors and other interns on several schedule, useful recourses for teachers, as out of my internship was something radi- projects, many of which involved writing well as online math games. cally different from what I expected—it was and proofreading drafts of scripts and This internship might sound like a lot all that and much more! other documents. of work, especially since it’s during the sum- Even though I was excited, I was One of my most memorable mer, a time for relaxing and having fun. But, really intimidated on my first day. Every- projects was proofreading the drafts of let me tell you, it made my summer very spe- thing that could possibly go wrong seemed math activity kits before they were sent cial and it was lots of fun! It was truly an to do so. First, my supervisor asked me to to the designer. I was personally asked amazing learning experience for me. By the open up a computer program but I couldn’t to do this because of my background in way, if you’re still wondering whether I was find it even though it was right there. Then, mathematics and they needed someone able to get a few teaching ideas, my answer is all of a sudden, I couldn’t type anything that could catch the mathematical mis- a resounding YES! because I accidentally knocked out the takes. In this part of my internship, my wire connecting the keyboard to the com- knowledge of math from the TIME 2000 puter. On top of that, I got lost trying to get Program really came in handy! to the mailroom. I was lucky, though, be- My favorite part of the whole Figure This Out! cause the Cyberchase production team is experience, though I enjoyed the intern- Neither of two different positive filled with very nice people. They under- ship in its entirety, was my final project. I integers is a perfect square, but their stood my mistakes and helped me tremen- was asked to write math questions for a dously throughout my entire internship. new feature on the Cyberchase website. product is. What is the least possible I learned a lot from the staff at Cyberchase is developing short episodes value of this product?

Cyberchase about things I hadn’t even to be broadcast online and one of the

2x8=16 2x8=16 Answer:

2

Overall, the event went well. It was interesting to hear President Clinton speak and

Bill Clinton Visits QC! listen to his opinion on what is going on in the By: Sarah Hofer (T-8) cation, the economy and our foreign pol- world right now. He urged the audience to vote On Thursday, October 23, 2008, a icy, highlighting his view that Senator for the Democratic Party on all levels and there week and a half before the November elec- Barack Obama is the “best choice” for was, of course, a lot of Obama cheering. tion, former President Bill Clinton came to America’s next President. Queens College to support Queens Repre- Before President Clinton began sentative. Anthony Weiner’s bid for Mayor to speak, other politicians took the stage. and to discuss the importance of voting in New York City Council Member Jim Ge- the upcoming presidential election. The narro spoke about his bid for the New event was held in the Student Union Ball- York State Senate. Council Member David room and it was free and open to the pub- Weprin and his brother, New York State lic. The event started at 7:30PM, but Clin- Assembly Member Mark Weprin, also ton did not begin to talk until 9. Although it spoke. Both are up for re-election this was an event intended for students, not November. A handful of other local De- every student who showed up to see Presi- mocrats also spoke, ending with Con- dent Clinton was allowed in. Only about gressman Anthony Weiner, who sponsored twenty students at a time were permitted the event and introduced President Clin- inside, and those of whom hadn’t gained ton. Weiner made sure to express his entrance by 8:30 were asked to leave. opinion on why Americans should vote for President Clinton spoke about the Barack Obama. He explained that different crises and issues affecting the Obama’s selection for cabinet members country that the next president will have to will surround him with substantial brain deal with. He spoke about healthcare, edu- power and talent. ▲Former President Bill Clinton

My TIME Life: Learning from Dr. Kramer TIME 2000 All-Star By: Akina BingBing Li (T-9) Kramer. For instance, when a piece of chalk suddenly broke while he was writing, Enters the Doctor Kenneth Kramer is a mathematics he looked so pained as he said, “Oh no, professor at Queens College who often my most beautiful chalk!” Once, when he Hall of Fame! teaches TIME 2000 classes. His research successfully discovered the answer by Professor Alice Artzt, work is in algebraic number theory and showing us how to use the calculator, he Director of the TIME 2000 Pro- arithmetic geometry. Most TIME 2000 stu- was so excited that he tap danced in front gram and Secondary Mathemat- dents will have him as their professor for of the room as if he had won a gold medal ics Education at Queens College, M333, Algebraic Structures. in the Olympics. While we were impressed was inducted into the Long Is- The first time that I heard of Dr. by watching his great act, he never forgot land Mathematics Education Kramer was at the TIME 2000 senior to complement his show with, “I hope one Hall of Fame (LIMEHF), on Thurs- graduation party last year. His name was day I grow up, but not yet…” It is great ▲Dr. Alice Artzt day, November 13, 2008. deeply branded in my memory because he when a really intelligent professor shows The LIMEHF was created in 2006, to was nominated by the TIME 2000 pupils as his human side! bestow an honor of the highest order upon those the strictest professor in the program. His Even though people warned me Long Island educators who have made extraordi- reputation evoked one word--- SCARY! that Dr. Kramer was extremely intimidat- nary contributions to mathematics and/or mathe- However, when the time came ing, we laughed in his class all the time. matics education. This year, Professor Artzt joins a that I had to take Math 223, Differential Moreover, Dr. Kramer uses many beautiful distinguished group of such educators being hon- Equations, with Dr. Kramer, I was so English phrases. As a person who learned ored: Dr. Joyce Bernstein (East Williston Schools, Dr. Sheldon Gordon (retired, Suffolk County Com- pleased to find out that he was an excel- English as a second language, I personally munity College), Richard Kalman (Mathematical lent teacher who was very interesting and admire his speaking skills more than his Olympiads), and the late Lance Modell (West personable. His lessons are very detailed math knowledge. His vocabulary is marvel- Hempstead Schools). ous and extensive; his philosophy is and logical and he often stopped for ques- “Being inducted into the Long Island unique and penetrating. I wish that one tions--if you “dared” to ask one (to quote Mathematics Education Hall of Fame has deep day this class would be turned into a Writ- Dr. Kramer). Math 223 required a very meaning for me. I believe that as an educator, strong background of advanced calculus ing Intensive Course, so that students one’s effectiveness is measured by the success of which encapsulated the material from could learn more advanced mathematics his or her students. For over twenty years, many Math 151, Math 152, and Math 201 as along with proficient English from him. of the graduates from our mathematics education well as Math 231. Dr. Kramer always re- program have become high-quality mathematics viewed the old theorems from pre-requisite If you are inter- teachers, chair people and leaders throughout courses before he introduced a new sub- ested in hearing more of Long Island. Their success is a reflection of the ject. However, when he suddenly needed Dr. Kramer’s humorous excellent preparation they have received at someone to “help” him solve the problems, phrases or need help Queens College which is a result of the fine work it was the scariest moment because he with Math 223, you are of the faculty and staff with whom I work on a daily would randomly call upon a student and welcome to e-mail me at basis. Therefore, although my name is on this that was enough to give me a heart attack. [email protected]. award, the honor is really shared by my dedicated, A friendly reminder: Make sure that you hard working, talented colleagues and students at have finished all the homework before you Queens College,” said Dr. Artzt. walk into Dr. Kramer’s class. TIME 2000 is particularly proud of Pro- Nevertheless, a sense of humor is Dr. Kenneth Kramer ▲ fessor Artzt’s outstanding achievement and recog- another significant characteristic of Dr. nition! 3

Math In The Media TIME 2000 Newsletter Find the math fallacy in this Cheeburger Cheeburger menu:

Our Web Address http://time2000.qc.cuny.edu

If you would like to write an article, contact us via e-mail!

14 A cuboctahedron is a solid with 14 sides. It has six squares and eight equilateral triangles. (6 + 8 = 14)

The first four digits of the square root of 2 are 1.414.

The number 9 raised to the 14th power has 14 digits. (Also, 9 + 1 + 4 = 14)

14 is the number of days in a fortnight, a word derived from an Old English term meaning fourteen nights, which is a phrase with 14 letters.

Challenge: Where can YOU find the number 14?

Test your mind! Try the puzzle! Math Ed Web Sites http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ Wolfram MathWorld http://www.algebrahelp.com/ Sudoku Algebra Help The objective of the game is to fill all the http://spaceplace.nasa.gov blank squares with the correct numbers. NASA There are three very simple constraints to http://www.mathwords.com/ follow. In a 9 by 9 square Sudoku game: Math Dictionary Every row of 9 numbers must include http://woodgears.ca/eyeball/ all digits 1 to 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must in- Fun Site clude all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection marked in the TIME for Math Jokes Of The Month 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 to 9. (1) Teacher: “Does anyone know what 7 times 6 is?” Student: “It’s 42!” Teacher: “Very good! Does anyone know what 6 times 7 is?” Same Stu- dent: “It’s 24!”

(2) What did the zero say to the eight?

(3) Teacher: “What is 3k+k ?” Students: “4000!” (4) What do you get if you divide the circumference of a jack-o-lantern by its diameter?

(5) Why do Mathematicians rarely go to the beach?

(6) Why do Mathematicians confuse Halloween and Christmas?

to get a tan from. (6) Because Oct 31 = Dec 25 25 Dec = 31 Oct Because (6) from. tan a get to

Answers: Answers: Because they have sine and cosine cosine and sine have they Because (5) Pi Pumpkin (4) Belt Nice (2)

4