Zoom Room 
Jamboard 
Textbook 
Lectures 
Drive 
Calculator 
|
Welcome
Zoom Room
Jamboard
Textbook
Lectures
Drive
Calculator
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sapere aude! Have the courage to use your own understanding.
- Kant
Welcome to a fun website stuffed full of resources to help you enjoy math. Here is a very quick tour of the menus.
The very top menu organizes the places I go to elsewhere online when teaching math classes or leading high school math club explorations. The top menu has links to this page, my Zoom room, my online whiteboard, an online textbook, lecture archives, and an online calculator. This is a handy collection of tools, but not the reason you are here.
Next is a row of three small menus that organize this website.
| Skill Topics | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
First are the skill topics. If you wish, hover over the icons to see their titles, or start exploring them immediately.
Foundational math skills are divided into three topics. We start with the art of shapeshifting: everything we can do that changes a single number. Then we look at mad science: everything we can do that involves combining numbers together. Finally we consider justice: doing the same thing to both sides of an equation. After you have learned these math topics your brain will naturally recategorize them as skills about fractions, ratios, percentages, graphing, and measurement. But it is much easier to learn these topics in the order I present them.
The fourth skill topic is typicality: what do we mean by a typical or representative value for a group of measurements, how do different types of averages work, and how likely are to have typical things happen?
The last icon in the skills menu links to a lengthy discussion of study skills.
| Application Topics | |||
|
|
|
|
Next are the application topics that make math practical in daily life. The first icon in this group leads you to explore math with fun games and playgrounds.
The other three icons in this group are where to learn about health decisions, personal finance decisions, business decisions, and some science stuff. These applications are used in the Lane Community College classes named Math 25, Math 52, and Math 105.
| Resources | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
Last are some resources to help students be successful. Discover what it means to be good at math. Visit our classroom library to explore its books, videos, podcasts, and apps. See resources available at Lane Community College. Look at my class syllabus. Check off your progress with earning achievements.
Have fun exploring the website! Try clicking on things. Use Ctrl-F to search for text.
This section is for my Fall term students taking Math 52.
For the sake of simplicity we will try to follow the official textbook one chapter per week. This textbook has lots of clearly explained example problems and good homework problems.
We will use this website to fill in what the textbook lacks: group activities, interesting readings, extension topics, and help with how to picture and think about most of the math topics.
This week, in addition to getting introduced to each other and to the course, we discuss the first textbook chapter, Review of Fractions.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
| Week 1, Monday | website tour |  |
 |
|
| Week 1, Monday | order of topics | |
|
|
| Week 1, Monday | rounding, divisibility rules |  |
|
|
| Week 1, Wednesday | fraction × and ÷ | |
|
|
| Week 1, Thursday | fraction + and − | |
|
|
How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §1.1 (page 24) # 1 to 65 every other odd
Textbook §1.2 (page 33) # 67 to 105 odd
Textbook §1.3 (page 42) # 107 to 141 odd
4. Reflect. Read the first section of the study skills page about time management.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §1.1 # 31, 41, 51, §1.2 # 69, 75, 79, 105, and §1.3 # 133, 135, 141. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Write a start of term reflection.
Share in class what you learned from Dr. Chu's videos about studying.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
Instructor's notes to himself: the textbook never teaches reducing, and its example of least common denominator in 1.25 needs explanation. The website could use pictures for representational fluency of fractions and mixed numbers.
This week, in addition to making decisions about syllabus and grading, we discuss the second textbook chapter, Decimal Review.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
| Week 2, Monday | about homework and grading | |
|
|
| Week 2, Monday | more decimals, then ratio and rate | |
|
|
| Study Session, Wednesday | reducing a fraction that has decimals | |
|
|
How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §2.1 (page 49) # 1 to 29 odd
Textbook §2.2 (page 52) # 31 to 51 odd
Textbook §2.3 (page 56) # 53 to 61 odd
Textbook §2.4 (page 67) # 63 to 145 odd
4. Reflect. Read the first section of the study skills page about doings.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §2.1 # 19, 29, §2.2 # 51, §2.3 # 59, 61, and §2.4 # 71, 75, 87, 111, 129. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting rounding and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting fraction format and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting ratio format and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
Instructor's notes: the textbook does not use decimal point scoots until section 6.4 with metric unit conversions, and the website lacks writing ratios that include a variable amount.
This week we work from two textbook chapters.
The textbook's third chapter is Operations with Integers. The two key subtopics are order of operations, and negative numbers.
The textbook's fourth chapter is a mish-mash of stuff named Formulas and Equations. This week we will talk about plugging numbers into equations, and also solving one-step equations. The rest of chapter four we do next week.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
| Week 2, Monday | announcements | |
|
|
| Week 2, Monday | PEMDAS, terms, negatives, temperature, one-step equations | |
|
|
How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §3.1 (page 77) # 1 to 15 odd
Textbook §3.2 (page 86) # 17 to 39 odd
Textbook §3.3 (page 98) # 41 to 91 odd
Textbook §3.4 (page 107) # 93 to 139 odd
Textbook §3.5 (page 111) # 141 to 151 odd
Textbook §4.1 (page 118) # 1 to 11 odd
Textbook §4.2 (page 122) # 13 to 33 odd
4. Reflect. Read the first section of the study skills page about mindset.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §3.1 # 7, §3.2 # 37, §3.3 # 75, 77, §3.4 # 131, 139, §3.5 # 141, §4.1 # 1, and §4.2 # 13, 29. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Justice fractions and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Health metabolism and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
Instructor's notes: the website has little with integers aside from flushing out common background knowledge and avoiding common algebraic mistakes from assuming variables are positive— it should be in Mad Science more thoroughly; the book does no arithmetic with negative numbers after Chapter 3 but uses negative numbers in 4.7 for the coordinate plane, in 8.1/8.4 for exponents of scientific notation, and in 8.4 for the pH formula
This week we finish the textbook's fourth chapter. It is a mish-mash of stuff named Formulas and Equations. Last week we went over plugging numbers into equations, and also solving one-step equations. Now we finish up with proportions, variation, and some graphing.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
| Week 4, Monday | proportions | |
|
|
| Study Session, Wednesday |
homework questions | |
How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §4.4 (page 131) # 45 to 63 odd
Textbook §4.5 (page 136) # 65 to 91 odd
Textbook §4.6 (page 141) # 93 to 99 odd
Textbook §4.7 (page 147) # 101 and 103
4. Reflect. Read the being a mather page about the "big picture" of mathematics.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §4.4 # 47, 63, §4.5 # 67, 73, 89, 91, §4.6 # 93, 95, 99, and §4.7 # 101. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Justice ratios and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
This week we cover the textbook's fifth chapter, Percents.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
| Week 5, Monday | percentages | |
|
|
| Study Session, Wednesday |
Chapter 5 # 83, 88, and 125 | |
|
|
| Study Session, Thursday |
Chapter 5 # 129 | |
|
|
How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §5.1 (page 155) # 1 to 45 odd
Textbook §5.2 (page 167) # 47 to 95 odd
Textbook §5.3 (page 174) # 97 to 123 odd
Textbook §5.4 (page 180) # 125 and 129
4. Reflect. Read the class library page books, and decide which book interests you most. (No need to actually obtain or read the book.)
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §5.1 # 9, 21, §5.2 # 59, 69, 75, 83, 91, §5.3 # 121, and §5.4 # 125, 129. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting percent format and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Mad Science percentages and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Justice percentages and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Only if you wish, do the website's ten exercises about calories and food and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
In week 6 our actual midterm tested your notes. More practice midterms are here. Check our Google Drive for your classmates' shared work.
This week we discuss the textbook's sixth chapter, Units of Measurement. The most important subtopic is a process named unit analysis.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
| Week 7, Monday | unit analysis, SI measurement scoots |
|
|
|
| Study Session, Wednesday |
Three methods for Mad Science ratios #1 |
|
|
|
| Study Session, Friday |
Mad Science ratios #3, 5, 8, 9, 10 |
|
|
|
How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §6.1 (page 185) # 1 to 8 all
Textbook §6.2 (page 190) # 9 to 13 odd
Textbook §6.3 (page 193) # 15 to 24 all
Textbook §6.4 (page 198) # 25 to 41 odd
Textbook §6.5 (page 201) # 43 to 53 odd
Textbook §6.6 (page 205) # 55 to 61 all, 63 to 73 odd
4. Reflect. Read the playgrounds page and pick which playground would interest you most if one was required. Because this is a remote term, no playgrounds are actually required.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §6.2 # 9, 11, 13, §6.4 # 27, 29, 41, and §6.5 # 43, 45, 47, 51. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's ten exercises for Mad Science ratios and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
Do the website's ten exercises for Shapeshifting measurement and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
This week we discuss the textbook's seventh chapter, More Applications of Dimensional Analysis. We continue using that process.
Since the seventh chapter introduces molarity, we also do the last two parts of textbook's eigth chapter, Scientific Notation, Logarithms, and pH because those topics flow together.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
| Week 8, Monday | announcements, survey | |
|
|
| Week 8, Monday | textbook chapters 7 and 8 | |
|
|
| Quick Video, Tuesday |
overview of textbook homework | |
|
|
| Quick Video, Wednesday |
Mad Science measurement #4 | |
|
|
How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §7.1 (page 216) # 1 to 31 odd
Textbook §7.2 (page 222) # 33 to 49 odd
Textbook §7.3 (page 226) # 51 to 63 odd
Textbook §7.4 (page 229) # 65 to 71 odd
Textbook §8.3 (page 247) # 43 to 55 odd
Textbook §8.4 (page 250) # 57 to 61 odd
4. Reflect. Look carefully at the achievements and plan how to finish the term with the grade you want.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Read the angry chemist and be ready to talk about his "test yourself" questions.
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §7.1 # 9, 21, §7.2 # 35, §7.3 # 51, 53, 57, 63, §7.4 # 65, §8.3 # 47, and §8.4 # 61. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Do the website's middle of the term survey.
Consider meeting briefly with your instructor to get your achievements checked off.
If you wish, do the website's ten exercises for Mad Science measurement and e-mail the code at the bottom of the turn-in page. (Only the first four problems really fit our class.)
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Woo hoo!
This week we finish the textbook. We have only two sectinos left in the last chapter Scientific Notation, Logarithms, and pH.
Here are links to our Monday class jamboard and videos, as well as study sessions during the week:
| Week 9, Monday | announcements, gathering data | |
|
|
| Week 9, Monday | accuracy and reliability, measurements vs. results |
|
|
|
| Textbook Section 8.2 | homework problems | |
|
|
How do this week's textbook sections fit with the website topics?
This Week's To Do List
1. Smile. Attend the Zoom sessions with your camera on as much as possible. If you are ever absent, watch the archived videos of the lessons, ask questions, and check in by either using office hours or submitting a video of you doing that math work taught that class.
2. Connect. Connect with classmates outside of class by attending a study group.
3. Study. Read our textbook and website. Review and improve your notes. Maybe watch class videos or the videos after each website subtopic. Practice with odd-numbered textbook problems and randomly generated website exercises.
Self-Guided Homework
Textbook §8.1 (page 237) # 1 to 31 odd
Textbook §8.2 (page 244) # 33 to 41 odd
Start using practice finals.
4. Reflect. Reread the advice about using practice tests.
5. Assess. Turn in all the graded work.
Graded Work
Neatly write step-by-step answers for textbook §8.1 # 3, 5, 9, 11, 25 §8.2 # 33, 35, 37, 39, 41. E-mail a photograph of your paper.
Use the Race to a Trillion game and the error propagation playground. Send a note with at least one thing you learned from them.
Ponder if your upcoming holiday conversations include our topics: math skills, group dynamics, curiosity, data reliability, error propagation.
6. Explore. Explore this website.
7. Celebrate. Tell your instructor about any achievements you have completed, so those get checked off.
The practice final page creates a new version each time you reload the page.
The specific version of the practice final we used during our last class is here, with a jamboard and video for requested problems.
I like to think of mathematicians as forming a nation of our own without distinctions of geographical origin, race, creed, sex, age or even time...all dedicated to the most beautiful of the arts and sciences.
- Julia Robinson
The acronym OER stands for Open Educational Resources. Different OER materials have different rules for how they may be shared, copied, or modified.
I am slightly protective of my explanations of math concepts. These explanations are written for a specific audience. It is easy for a paraphrase to unknowingly explain math concepts badly. In some places my written explanations unexplicitly take into consideration my accompanying lecture style. For those reasons, I ask that other educators please contact me before modifying my math concept explanations. However, you may share or copy my math concept explanations verbatim as much as you wish if you provide attribution with a mention of this website.
This website uses some public domain images. For example, the this page has images of a heart-shaped library shelf and a Lego minifig.
Everything else (all my diagrams, math problems, study tips, etc.) uses the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. This means you cannot use my work to earn money, but otherwise you may share, copy, or modify that stuff without asking permission if you provide attribution with a mention of this website.
I am always excited to hear by e-mail how my work is helping other educators!
Are looking for the missing 105 stuff?