Math Explorer’s Club (Grades 8–12)

With support from the National Science Foundation, graduate students have developed a collection of more than 40 mathematics modules that cover a wide variety of topics accessible to middle- and high-school students. During spring 2013 we will implement two of these modules at Cornell in what we call the “Math Explorer’s Club.”

When and Where

Six Saturday morning sessions, 10 AM – 12:15 PM
February 2 and 16, March 2 and 9, April 13 and 20, 2013
Cornell University, Malott Hall, room 532
Previous offerings: Fall 2012

If you’re willing to help us advertise, please use one of our posters (color, black/white). Please sign up below if you plan to participate.

Goal

Introduce new mathematical concepts and problem solving strategies to grades 8-12 students who will, in turn, communicate their new knowledge in public forums (i.e., through posters and/or presentations).

What to Expect

Interactive lessons in a cooperative and supportive learning environment = lots of fun!
(See recent coverage in the Cornell Chronicle.)

Module 1 — Graph Theory (Spring 2013)

Margarita Amchislavska and Kristen Pueschel will lead this module. Margarita is a fifth-year mathematics graduate student. She is working with Professor Tim Riley on her dissertation in the area of geometric group theory. Margarita was born in Odessa, Ukraine and moved to the United States when she was 14 years old. In her free time, she enjoys figure skating and playing tennis. Kristen Pueschel is a third-year mathematics graduate student. She is also working with Professor Tim Riley in the area of geometric group theory. Kristen likes to cook, read, and bother her pet hamster, Chumley.

In this module we will introduce graphs from the mathematical point of view. Each lesson will focus on a different application of graph theory in solving real world problems.

Lesson 1: Introduction to graphs
Lesson 2: Graph coloring: friends and strangers problem
Lesson 3: Finding shortest paths in a graph
Lesson 4: Flows and connectivity: optimal transportation of goods
Lesson 5: Random walks on graphs

Module 2 — Billiards and Puzzles (Spring 2013)

Hung Tran and My Huynh will lead this module. Hung originated from Vietnam and completed his undergraduate double degree in mathematics and economics at Berea College in a rural but beautiful Appalachian mountain in Kentucky. Currently, he is working with Professor Xiaodong Cao on geometric analysis, particularly the Ricci flow. Outside of school, he plays various sports including (but not limited to) tennis, ping-pong, badminton, soccer and chess. My Huynh is a first-year mathematics graduate student. He completed his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Arizona State University. He is also originally from Vietnam. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and soccer.

In this module we will explore some of the mathematics behind billiards, one of the most popular games around the world. It turns out that various features of the game depend largely on the shape of the table, which theoretically can be rectangular, square, circular, elliptical, or some other shape. We will also investigate some puzzles related to billiards, with simple rules but unusual and beautiful solutions!

Lesson 1: Rectangular table
Lesson 2: Circular/Elliptical table
Lesson 3: Triangular table
Lesson 4: Puzzle 1
Lesson 5: Puzzle 2

Detailed Schedule for Spring 2013

Snacks will be provided during breaks!

Optional Presentation at Sciencenter

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Last modified: February 8, 2013