Magnificent Mistakes in Mathematics

Magnificent Mistakes in Mathematics
Author: Alfred S. Posamentier
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Total Pages: 298
Release: 2013-08-13
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1616147482

Two veteran math educators demonstrate how some "magnificent mistakes" had profound consequences for our understanding of mathematics' key concepts. In the nineteenth century, English mathematician William Shanks spent fifteen years calculating the value of pi, setting a record for the number of decimal places. Later, his calculation was reproduced using large wooden numerals to decorate the cupola of a hall in the Palais de la Découverte in Paris. However, in 1946, with the aid of a mechanical desk calculator that ran for seventy hours, it was discovered that there was a mistake in the 528th decimal place. Today, supercomputers have determined the value of pi to trillions of decimal places. This is just one of the amusing and intriguing stories about mistakes in mathematics in this layperson's guide to mathematical principles. In another example, the authors show that when we "prove" that every triangle is isosceles, we are violating a concept not even known to Euclid - that of "betweenness." And if we disregard the time-honored Pythagorean theorem, this is a misuse of the concept of infinity. Even using correct procedures can sometimes lead to absurd - but enlightening - results. Requiring no more than high-school-level math competency, this playful excursion through the nuances of math will give you a better grasp of this fundamental, all-important science.

Common Mistakes in Teaching Elementary Math—And How to Avoid Them

Common Mistakes in Teaching Elementary Math—And How to Avoid Them
Author: Fuchang Liu
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 236
Release: 2017-03-27
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1315511754

Learn the most effective ways to teach elementary math, no matter how much experience you have with the subject. In this book, Fuchang Liu takes you through many common mistakes in math instruction and explains the misunderstandings behind them. He points out practices that should be avoided, helping you to adjust your lessons so that all students can achieve success. You’ll discover how to... - Increase your confidence with core math principles and reasoning - Set your students on the path toward eventually developing more complex math skills - Improve student achievement by approaching problems in logical yet creative ways - Overcome common challenges faced by students and teachers - Teach problem solving for different learning styles Every chapter reconsiders well-established ways of teaching all areas of elementary math, from addition and subtraction to statistics and graphs. Helpful examples and tips are scattered throughout the book, offering revisions to the way these topics are often presented in the classroom. Also included are group study ideas for principals and instructional coaches so your school or district can work on the book together. With this practical guide, you’ll be ready to help students truly develop their math understanding.

Children's Errors in Mathematics

Children's Errors in Mathematics
Author: Alice Hansen
Publisher: Learning Matters
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2014-06-23
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1473905532

This practical guide to children’s common errors and misconceptions in mathematics is a popular planning tool for primary trainees. It supports a deeper understanding of the difficulties encountered in mathematical development. This third edition has been updated to link to the new National Curriculum. New for this edition is a chapter on addressing errors misconceptions which explores how errors can best be identified and countered. The text examines misconceptions individually and in each case provides a description of the error alongside an explanation of why the error happens. The text also considers the role of the teacher in understanding and addressing children’s common mathematical misconceptions.

Avoid Silly Mistakes in Mathematics

Avoid Silly Mistakes in Mathematics
Author: Rajesh Sarswat
Publisher: Independently Published
Total Pages: 138
Release: 2017-03-16
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9781520443973

AVOID SILLY MISTAKES IN MATHEMATICS Learning math not only requires strong fundamentals but also a lot of practice, and making mistakes is part of that process. Making errors in math is a good thing, and can help the students to learn and explore math in a better way. However, repeating same mistakes again and again over an extended period will not benefit the students and will be harmful to their confidence. There are different types of silly errors that students make. Students should try to identify these mistakes with the help of techniques explained in this book and after that should make efforts to cut down and rectify these mistakes for getting good grades in schools. The Categories of silly mistakes are: 1. Careless or Casual Silly Mistakes 2. Calculation Errors 3. Conceptual Errors This book is an effort to guide students, teachers, and parents to take necessary measures to improve upon the habit of committing silly mistakes by students. The various techniques mentioned in this book if practiced or taught to students in the correct manner will help them reducing the quantum of stupid mistakes to a minimal and will further improve their confidence. The book also includes a collection of 100 most common silly mistakes committed by students in Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus and other branches of Mathematics across the globe in the age group of 10 to 18 years. After going through the book, students will also be able to learn about some of their misconceptions in Mathematics like: 1. 0 is even or odd? 2. Why 0/0 is not 1? 3. 0 is prime or composite? 4. Volume and Capacity of a container are not same, 5. Perimeter and Circumference of a 2-D figure are not same, 6. Pi is 22/7; still, it is irrational, 7. Why x to the power 0 is 1? 8. Why factorial 0 is 1? 9. What are the factors and multiples of 0? 10. All real numbers are polynomials. and much more ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rajesh Sarswat is presently working in a senior capacity in the Government of India. Despite the pressing bureaucratic compulsions he has to negotiate with on a daily basis, he pursues his keen interest in the field of Mathematics and has done a lot of research on various techniques and concepts on quick Mathematics. This book is the result of his extensive studies in this field for the last 20 years. He qualified in 13 All India Level Competitive Examinations, some of which are the toughest and the most gruesome, along with his research and writing work. His earlier book "Be a Human Calculator" became very popular among students due to the observation based calculation tricks explained in the book. The present book is his fourth book. Apart from writing on mathematical subjects, Rajesh also writes fiction and creative non-fiction. He is also having a passion for teaching mathematics and is a very popular teacher for his innovative and entertaining ways of presenting the subject. Rajesh lives in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India with his wife and son.

Common Mistakes in Teaching Elementary Math—And How to Avoid Them

Common Mistakes in Teaching Elementary Math—And How to Avoid Them
Author: Fuchang Liu
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 158
Release: 2017-03-27
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1315511762

Learn the most effective ways to teach elementary math, no matter how much experience you have with the subject. In this book, Fuchang Liu takes you through many common mistakes in math instruction and explains the misunderstandings behind them. He points out practices that should be avoided, helping you to adjust your lessons so that all students can achieve success. You’ll discover how to... - Increase your confidence with core math principles and reasoning - Set your students on the path toward eventually developing more complex math skills - Improve student achievement by approaching problems in logical yet creative ways - Overcome common challenges faced by students and teachers - Teach problem solving for different learning styles Every chapter reconsiders well-established ways of teaching all areas of elementary math, from addition and subtraction to statistics and graphs. Helpful examples and tips are scattered throughout the book, offering revisions to the way these topics are often presented in the classroom. Also included are group study ideas for principals and instructional coaches so your school or district can work on the book together. With this practical guide, you’ll be ready to help students truly develop their math understanding.

Humble Pi

Humble Pi
Author: Matt Parker
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2021-01-19
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0593084691

#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER AN ADAM SAVAGE BOOK CLUB PICK The book-length answer to anyone who ever put their hand up in math class and asked, “When am I ever going to use this in the real world?” “Fun, informative, and relentlessly entertaining, Humble Pi is a charming and very readable guide to some of humanity's all-time greatest miscalculations—that also gives you permission to feel a little better about some of your own mistakes.” —Ryan North, author of How to Invent Everything Our whole world is built on math, from the code running a website to the equations enabling the design of skyscrapers and bridges. Most of the time this math works quietly behind the scenes . . . until it doesn’t. All sorts of seemingly innocuous mathematical mistakes can have significant consequences. Math is easy to ignore until a misplaced decimal point upends the stock market, a unit conversion error causes a plane to crash, or someone divides by zero and stalls a battleship in the middle of the ocean. Exploring and explaining a litany of glitches, near misses, and mathematical mishaps involving the internet, big data, elections, street signs, lotteries, the Roman Empire, and an Olympic team, Matt Parker uncovers the bizarre ways math trips us up, and what this reveals about its essential place in our world. Getting it wrong has never been more fun.

Error Patterns in Computation

Error Patterns in Computation
Author: Robert B. Ashlock
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2002
Genre: Education
ISBN:

This book is the only one of its kind that instructs teachers to identify typical error patterns, to receive feedback on their diagnosis, and to gain insight regarding why a child may have adopted an incorrect procedure. Revised to link content to the new NCTM Standards, this new edition emphasizes the meaning of operations and using the appropriate method of computation. As in previous editions, it retains its focus on placing paper-and pencil instructional activities within the context of problem solving. Chapter topics cover diagnosing misconceptions and error patterns in computation, providing needed instruction in computation, and helping students who have learned error patterns. For mathematics teachers of special education classes or at the middle school level.

Common Mistakes In Maths

Common Mistakes In Maths
Author: Jan Bucio
Publisher:
Total Pages: 132
Release: 2021-03-04
Genre:
ISBN:

Most of us have experienced the frustration of studying really hard for a math test, only to lose valuable points because of a silly mistake! Whether you plugged in the wrong number, misread the question, or simply made a bubbling mistake on your Scantron, minor errors can cost you big on a test. They can be the difference between an A or a B on a school exam, a 690 or a 750 on the SAT, or acceptance or rejection on an admission test. That's why it's important to stop silly mistakes in their tracks. This book is an effort to guide students, teachers, and parents to take necessary measures to improve upon the habit of committing silly mistakes by students. The various techniques mentioned in this book if practiced or taught to students in the correct manner will help them reducing the quantum of stupid mistakes to a minimal and will further improve their confidence. The book also includes a collection of 100 most common silly mistakes committed by students in Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus and other branches of Mathematics across the globe in the age group of 10 to 18 years. After going through the book, students will also be able to learn about some of their misconceptions in Mathematics like: 0 is even or odd? Why 0/0 is not 1? 0 is prime or composite? Volume and Capacity of a container are not same, Perimeter and Circumference of a 2-D figure are not same, Pi is 22/7; still, it is irrational, Why x to the power 0 is 1? Why factorial 0 is 1? What are the factors and multiples of 0? All real numbers are polynomials.

Guided Math: A Framework for Mathematics Instruction Second Edition

Guided Math: A Framework for Mathematics Instruction Second Edition
Author: Laney Sammons
Publisher: Teacher Created Materials
Total Pages: 378
Release: 2019-03-22
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1642903760

This instructional math framework provides an environment for mathematics that fosters mathematical thinking and understanding while meeting the needs of all students. This updated math resource takes an innovative approach to mathematics instruction and uses the same teaching philosophies for guided reading. Educators will learn how to effectively utilize small-group and whole-group instruction, manipulatives, math warm-ups, and Math Workshop to engage K-12 students in connecting mathematics to their own lives. Maximize the impact of your instruction with ideas for using ongoing assessment and differentiation strategies. This 2nd edition guided math resource written by Laney Sammons provides practical guidance and sample lessons for grade level bands K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Promote a classroom environment of numeracy and mathematical discourse with this essential professional resource for K-12 math teachers!

How Not to Be Wrong

How Not to Be Wrong
Author: Jordan Ellenberg
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 482
Release: 2015-05-26
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0143127535

“Witty, compelling, and just plain fun to read . . ." —Evelyn Lamb, Scientific American The Freakonomics of math—a math-world superstar unveils the hidden beauty and logic of the world and puts its power in our hands The math we learn in school can seem like a dull set of rules, laid down by the ancients and not to be questioned. In How Not to Be Wrong, Jordan Ellenberg shows us how terribly limiting this view is: Math isn’t confined to abstract incidents that never occur in real life, but rather touches everything we do—the whole world is shot through with it. Math allows us to see the hidden structures underneath the messy and chaotic surface of our world. It’s a science of not being wrong, hammered out by centuries of hard work and argument. Armed with the tools of mathematics, we can see through to the true meaning of information we take for granted: How early should you get to the airport? What does “public opinion” really represent? Why do tall parents have shorter children? Who really won Florida in 2000? And how likely are you, really, to develop cancer? How Not to Be Wrong presents the surprising revelations behind all of these questions and many more, using the mathematician’s method of analyzing life and exposing the hard-won insights of the academic community to the layman—minus the jargon. Ellenberg chases mathematical threads through a vast range of time and space, from the everyday to the cosmic, encountering, among other things, baseball, Reaganomics, daring lottery schemes, Voltaire, the replicability crisis in psychology, Italian Renaissance painting, artificial languages, the development of non-Euclidean geometry, the coming obesity apocalypse, Antonin Scalia’s views on crime and punishment, the psychology of slime molds, what Facebook can and can’t figure out about you, and the existence of God. Ellenberg pulls from history as well as from the latest theoretical developments to provide those not trained in math with the knowledge they need. Math, as Ellenberg says, is “an atomic-powered prosthesis that you attach to your common sense, vastly multiplying its reach and strength.” With the tools of mathematics in hand, you can understand the world in a deeper, more meaningful way. How Not to Be Wrong will show you how.