Scientific Computing
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math
Teaching & Learning Math & Science with Technology
Graphing Calculators, Numerical Methods, Computer Algebra Systems & Linux Clusters
Why Shadowfax? Our cluster is so fast that we named it after the Lord Of The Rings character!
Website once known as CalcPage.tripod.com (1988 – 2008)
Chapter 11 was all about solving 2x2 and 3x3 systems of equations using matrices! First we worked with augmented matrices and Guass-Jordan Elimination. Then we used discriminants and Cramer's Rule. Finally we worked with Inverse Matrices. We even talked about Linear Programming and the graet John Nash!
XTRA CREDIT FILKS RUBRIC (1 video = up to 5 bonus points):
1) Use a recognizable tune.
2) Karaoke entire song changing up the words (about STEAM).
3) You are Singing, Dancing or Playing an instrument.
4) You upload your video to YouTube and provide the url.
5) YouTube Description includes the lyrics.
XTRA CREDIT ARTICLES RUBRIC (up to 5 articles = 1 bonus point each):
Week01 went off without a hitch! I think we had a pretty smooth introductory week for our first week of the July session of MAT225 Multivariable Calculus. We had great fun using SAGE as our 3D Grapher and Computer Algebra System instead of a graphing calculator!
"Introductory?" I hear you ask? Well, yes, it was introductory as in the topics should have been mostly review: 2D Vectors, Dot Products, 3D Vectors, Cross Products, Matrices and some Elementary Calculus (see filks below). We also looked at some 3D Graphs and Traces.
Our first test went well. A few students had trouble but they can catch up if they go to the Math Center regularly. I also drop the lowest grade, so there's room to improve!
Welcome to my Summer Session II (July) MAT225 Multivariable Calculus aka Calc III class at Nassau Community College! I'm devoting the month of June to getting organized to teach this class. This is a bear of a course to teach in 5 weeks, so we have to get ready!
To that end, I just wrote my syllabus and set up my Edmodo page for this course and sent a mass email to all my students with the Edmodo class code. What about Elementary Calculus? Well, I find that students taking this course tend to be a little rusty on concepts from Calculus I & Calculus II especially if they took those courses a while ago. Since Calculus III extends many concepts from Elementary Calculus (MAT122+MAT123 or AP Calclus AB+BC) to higher dimensions, I suppose that a little review is in order. So, at least for the first week or two, we will start each class with a short review of an important topic from Elementary Calculus (Limits & The Difference Quotient, Product Rule and Quotient Rule, Chain Rule, etc). We will meet for 3 hours per night, 4 nights per week for 5 weeks straight from Monday 7/2/2018 to Thursday 8/2/2018. The first week is different in that we are off Wednesday for The 4th Of July. So, that week will have a Friday class meeting instead. The first 3 days of each week will be devoted to new material. The fourth day will be reserved for review and testing. What follows is a summary of the first few posts I sent to my students on Edmodo:
FYI #2) TI83/84 are fine for Elementary Calculus but we need more powerful tech: 3D Grapher and Computer Algebra System. I've used graphing calculators such as the TI89/92 line as well as the TI nSpire CX CAS but even these devices are limited. So, we will primarily be using SageCell in class.
(Ti84C)
FYI #3) Since we will be using SageCell in class, I encourage you to bring a WiFi enabled Laptop or Tablet to follow along. Make sure you know how to login to Student WiFi at NCC.
(SAGE Banner)
FYI #4) You may use the graphing calculator of your choice for basic calculations (algebra, trigonometry, preCalculus, Elementary Calculus) but you will want to use SageCell for Multivariable Calculus. SageCell is based on FLOSS. So I use FLOSS every day, do you? FLOSS stands for Free Linux Open Source Software. Paramount among these software packages is Python. We will be learning Math Pythonically! SageCell is free to use online so you can access it in class and at home. There's a commercial version of SAGE called CoCalc if you prefer, but it costs $5 per month per user....
(Sample SageCell)
FYI #5) I will record ScreenCasts in class using MP4 format whenever I cover a new topic. I will also be saving notes from class in PDF format. Please check here after each class so I can share these materials with you. I use Edmodo, YouTube and BlogSpot to share stuff from class.
(Screencast-O-Matic)
FYI #6) Our room, B218, is a large lecture hall that spans 2 stories of the B Cluster. The A/C is pumped in from the roof of the building and is very strong. Cool air tends to pool in the lower level of the room, please dress warmly.
(Kindle Fire HDX Tablet)
FYI #7) So, if I'm not using the MarkerBoards/WhiteBoards in B218, we'll need an IWB (Interactive WhiteBoard aka SmartBoard), right? Nope, we don't have a SmartBoard, but I will mirror (with TeamViewer or SplashTop app) my PC Desktop to my NotePro 12.2 and write on my Tablet as if it were a SmartBoard!
(My Desktop - B218 Front)
FYI #8) B218 also has a PC Media Center/Podium with multiple PC Projectors and HDTVs so you can see everything I do on my PC. I will be doing everything on my PC so you won't miss a thing if you sit in the upper level or if you miss class (aka on the ScreenCast).
Chapter 9 was all about Vector and Polar Notation. First we talked about Complex Number arithmetic on the Complex Plane depicting Complex Numbers as Vectors with a Direction (theta=arctan(y/x)) and Magnitude (r=sqrt(x^2+y^2)). We also converted from Polar to Cartesian forms (x=r*cos(theta), y=r*sin(theta)). We played around with CIS(theta) notation, DeMoivre's Theorem and even touched on Euler's Trig Identity! Then we extended our understanding of Complex Vectors to Vector Sums, Vector Differences and Dilating a Vector by a Scalar. Finally we talked about the differences and applications of the Scalar Dot Product and the Vector Cross Product. We even talked about Orthogonality and the Triple Scalar Product!
Chapter 8 was all about Applications Of Trigonometry. First we solved Right Triangle using Pythagoras and SOHCAHTOA. Then we solved nonRight Triangles using the Laws Of Sines and Cosines. We even calculated triangular areas using Heron's Formula! We found that Law Of Cosines is great for SSS and SAS problems. Other cases used the Law Of Sines. Watch out for that Ambiguous Case! We had fun applying our advanced trigonometry to real world data and word problems. We even tackled Harmonic Motion and Sinusoidal Regression!
