Spread of H1N1 (swine) flu and mathematics

I came across an interesting blog post by Murray Borne titled H1N1 and the Logistic Equation. It explains how a logistic function can be used to model the spread of a virus or a disease in a given population.

Now, maybe you don't know what is logistic function or equation. It is shown in the blogpost; it uses the exponential function as a part of it. Basically, it is like an exponential growth function but it is limited after a certain point so that the growth tapers off, and approaches a certain (upper) limit.

Murray shows the graph, and then shows a real-life example about the spread of swine flu in Mexico last spring. It's a great, yet fairly simple, example of how mathematics is used for modeling real-life situations.

You could definitely use it as such an example with your students, even if you don't understand a THING about logistic equations. You see, seeing how math is used is definitely inspiring and motivating to a lot of students - especially when it ties in with some current "hot topic" such as the H1N1 flu.

Introducing Make It Real Learning workbooks

I have recently had the pleasure to add Make It Real Learning workbooks to my site. These books contain real-life math activities with real-life data, companies, and situations. They are written by Frank Wilson.

Arithmetic I



Fractions, Percents, and Decimals I



Linear Functions I


Calculus I



Periodic and Piecewise Functions I

Some examples of the topics included in these activities are: cell phone plans, autism, population growth, cooking, borrowing money, credit cards, life spans, population growth, and music downloads. But there are many more, more than I can list here.

As students work through the problems, they can use the math skills and concepts they have learned in their math curriculum (such as the concept of average or graphing), and apply those to a situation from real life.

Each activity-lesson in the book contains several questions about the situation, starting with basics and going into more in-depth evaluations, and should be adequate for one-two complete class periods.

Why does that benefit you, the teacher? It will motivate the students far more than dull, boring word problems from the textbook. It will show students how mathematics is truly USEFUL. Also:

• The problems are written by an experienced math teacher (Frank Wilson)


• The problems are matched to the learning objectives of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). This means that the concepts and skills required to complete the problems ARE found in typical middle and high school mathematics curriculum. You can simply replace some of the problems in your textbook with these real-life scenarios.
  
  
• These activities are excellent to be used in a small-group setting.
  
  
• Typically, the activities contain challenging parts and therefore allow students to practice real problem solving - not just apply knowledge from textbook examples to other almost identical problems.
  
  
• Gifted students can enjoy the challenge of solving all the questions on their own.

All books include complete solutions to all activities and problems. Please note that Make It Real Learning workbooks do not contain the instruction or explanations of the concepts.

List of available books:

Arithmetic I - for grades 3-6
Fractions, Percents, and Decimals I - for grades 4-8
Fractions, Percents, and Decimals II - for grades 6-11
Sets, Probability, and Statistics I - for grades 6-10

Linear Functions I - for algebra 1 and algebra 2
Linear Functions II - for algebra 1 and algebra 2
Quadratic Functions I - for algebra 1 and algebra 2

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions I
- for algebra 2/precalculus
Periodic and Piecewise Functions I
- for algebra 2/precalculus
Polynomial, Power, Logistic, and Rational Functions I
- for algebra 2/precalculus
Calculus I - for grade 12

When will I ever need this (math)?

We all know that youngsters often have this question in mind when they go on in their math studies: where or when will I ever need all this?

It's pretty easy and simple to find applications and real-life examples for the usage of the simple, elementary math, such as multiplication tables or decimals and percents. But when we go on to algebra and beyond, this question may be harder to answer.

Here are a few answers you can give as to why study algebra:

• You need it in any occupational field that requires higher education, such as computer science, electronics, engineering, medicine (doctors), trade and commerce analysts, ALL scientists, etc. In short, if someone is even considering higher education, they should study algebra. You need algebra to take your SAT test or GED.
  
  
• Algebra also lets you develop logical thinking and problem solving skills. It can increase your intelligence! Actually, studying any math topic can do that (even elementary math), if the mathematics is presented and taught in such a manner as to develop a person's thinking.

Now, it's no big secret that mathematical concepts in algebra and beyond are not needed in every single occupation, especially in those of mostly manual labor. (You can check Math Careers Database for the math requirements of 277 major occupations.)

But, ask your students if they are 100% sure what they are going to do as adults? Most kids in middle school are not. If they are not 100% sure, they'd better study algebra and learn all the math they can so that when they finally have some idea, they won't be stopped from a career because of not having studied algebra, geometry, or calculus. (This has definitely happened to many folks.)

Besides, in today's world many people have to change careers even during their work life. So I would recommend young people to get a good solid basic education, just so they are well prepared and also so they.

Now, beyond these thoughts, there also exist SEVERAL find websites dedicated to these issues, so I want to highlight them here.

The website Future's Channel has short movies, lesson guides, and student worksheets that show how algebra is used in with real word applications, such as roller coasters, banking, rice production, skyscrapers, solar power, and lots more. These video clips are really well made and can motivate students to choose a career where math is used.



Another site to check is Make It Real Learning and their free worksheets. These worksheets focus on answering the question, "When am I ever going to use this?" They also sell worksheets, and as a special BONUS, visitors of this site get 30% off their regular pricing with the coupon code "save30". This applies to ANY worksheet or worksheet bundle sold on the site.

Then, Micron: Math in the Workplace contains a collection of real-world math problems and challenges contributed by a variety of businesses, demonstrating the relevance of math in today's world.

Yet more resources

Career profiles
Essays from authors from a variety of careers for which a background in the mathematical sciences is useful.

Examining How Mathematics is Used in the Workplace
Mathematics in Automobile Production; Proportional Reasoning by Nurses; Modeling the Mathematics of Banking; Mathematical Models as Seen by Biologists; How do Scientists Interpret Graphs?

Mathematical Moments - a series of one-page PDF files that promote appreciation and understanding of the role mathematics plays in science, nature, technology, and human culture. The one-page flyers cover very diverse topics such as findign oil, solving crimes, DNA, brain, traffic, aircraft design, etc.

Where do you need exponents in everyday life? - my article.

Math in Technology
Fully written out examples of how various areas of mathematics are applied to various areas of technology.

Career profiles in mathematical sciences
If you were a math major, what kind of jobs could you end up with?

Movies of math in the real world - FuturesChannel.com

I delved into this fascinating website just this past week, and I heartily recommend you visit it, too!

Most math teachers have faced the age-old question, "When will I ever need this?", especially when kids get into algebra and more. Well, FuturesChannel.com has the answer - in the form of short movies, lesson guides, and worksheets.

The topics are just fascinating, from skyscrapers, roller coasters, endangered animals, to inventing, the subway, bakery, bicycle design, etc.

For each movie, there is a worksheet or several for the student that concentrates on some math topic that is needed in the field shown in the movie.

Some samplings:

100,000 computers a day
A rare and fascinating look inside the world's largest computer manufacturer, Dell Inc., where thousands of computers are custom-built and shipped around the world every day. From the call center to the inventory system to the assembly line and beyond, one thing is certain: The whole operation relies on a variety of math skills every step of the way.

Inventing with Polygons
This guy had some really interesting stuff! Inventor Chuck Hoberman uses polygons to build amazing expandable structures.

Structural Engineering
To design buildings that don't fall down, you need to know how your materials will respond to forces such as gravity, wind, and earthquakes.

The Bakery
Whether it's fractions or measurement or division, a key ingredient to this baker's success is math, making each one of his pastries, cakes and breads as delicious as the last.

Latex to images - online tool

Here's a handy math tool for those who know Latex (university folks and such). You type in a n mathematica expression using Latex language, and it makes an image. It even gives you a readily copyable code you can paste to a webpage.

Texify.com.

Here's an example of one such image; it's hotlinked from their server.