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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY ?

SPRING SEMESTER 2008?

COURSE OUTLINE

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EDUC 212-3?

D100 ?

Mathematical Experience II: Shape and Space

STUDENTS WHO HAVE CREDIT FOR MATH 151, MATH 154, OR MATH 157

NEED SPECIAL PERMISSION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COURSE

CONTACT DR. PETER LILJIEDAHL EMAIL: LILJEDAHLSFU.CA

PERMISSION

TUESDAY 9:30-1:20 PM

INSTRUCTOR: P. LILJEDAHL

AQ2122

OFFICE: EDB 8662

TELEPHONE: 778-782-5643

Course description:

This course explores a variety of mathematical topics in order to increase the

mathematical literacy of Liberal Arts students in general, and to increase their capabilities

for quantitative reasoning and deductive argumentation in particular. Our focus is on the

issues of aesthetics and utility of mathematical experience, emphasizing the human

experience in learning and doing mathematics.

Though the course content comes from mathematics, the approach is a

pedagogical one, which draws on the knowledge and practices from education rather than

applying the lecture/tutorial format most commonly seen in undergraduate mathematics

courses. Students will engage in problem solving, investigate conjectures, and develop

connections among mathematical topics.

The mathematical content chosen for these courses is flexible and in other settings

may be considered as "enrichment". However, in-depth exploration of these topics

provides an engaging opportunity to revisit and strengthen more basic concepts that lie at

the heart of geometry. Topics include:

• The Golden Rectangle

• Platonic Solids and Euler's Formula

• Pythagoras

• Möbius Band and the Klein Bottle

• Fractals

• Knots and Not-Knots

• Symmetry

• Transformations and Tiling

Course requirements:

• Active participation

• Weekly homework

• Midterm exam

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Problem solving journal

Collaborative project

Final exam

Text:

Burger, E. B.

and Starbird, M. (2005).

The Heart of Mathematics - Second Edition.

Key

College Publishing.

STUDENTS WHO HAVE CREDIT FOR MATH 151, MATH 154, OR MATH 157