HONR 209X Toys of Mathematics
Tuesday/Thursday, 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Dr. Tzong-Yow Lee, Department of Mathematics
When was the last time you played with a toy of math, be it a Rubik's cube, a tiling puzzle, a set of mirrors, or a dodecahedron? In this course, we shall open our minds to appreciate the math behind toys, and also learn to make toys out of beautiful math. Students will be exposed to a collection of toy/math topics. Each will later choose three topics as the subject of his/her term project. The expository lectures/demonstrations will be given by the instructor, or invited experts.
The formal assignments will include three term projects on three different topics, and a take-home final exam. A term project normally involves the work to make/demonstrate toys, and write/lecture on the relevant math theory. Each participant will also be given opportunities to lead informal discussions to help him/her organize and solicit useful ideas.
Only high school math background will be assumed. The course is likely to be
more enjoyable to those who like puzzles. Toys will be made, and their math
content discussed, based on sources such as, but not restricted to, the following:
Patrick Bossert, You Can Do the Cube
Elwyn R. Berlekamp, John H. Conway, and Richard K. Guy, Winning Ways For Your
Mathematical Plays
Greg N. Frederickson, Dissections: Plane and Fancy
Martin Gardner, Mathematics, Magic, and Mystery
D.G. Hoffman, Packing Problems and Inequalities
Cyril Isenberg, The Science of Soap Films and Soap Bubbles
CORE--not yet approved. Applied for Math and Formal Reasoning. Check Testudo.
