Posts

Fan Friday

Image
Is there any math involved in basketball? Of course there is. Here is a clip of Elton Brand, a former NBA star, explaining some of the math involved in making a free throw.  You can also try this Desmos activity and use the math of parabolas to make predictions about a shot. Will the ball hit the hoop? Click the picture to try it out! GO CHARGERS!

Thirteen Thursday

Image
Here are thirteen interesting facts about the number thirteen. 1. The number thirteen is a Happy Number. To decide if a number is a happy number you begin by separating it's digits. Square each digit and find their sum. Then separate the digits of the sum, square them and find their sum. Repeat this process until you get the number 1. If you do, your original number is a happy number. 2. The number thirteen is a Prime Number . 3. The digits in the number thirteen are the first two positive odd numbers. 4. The number thirteen is a Centered Square Number. A centered square number is the sum of two consecutive square numbers.  Each term is also two times the number squared, minus two times the number plus one.  Below are the first six centered square numbers. Can you figure out what would be the next in the list?  Here is a challenge you could try if you are interested. 5. There will be TWO Friday the ...

How to Learn Math

Image
"It's not that I'm so smart.  But I stay with the questions much longer." -Albert Einstein