Math 303 - Investigations in Geometry

Investigations in Geometry -- MATH 303

Spring 2004

Send any questions or comments to Dr. Aimee J. Ellington: ajellington@vcu.edu

SYLLABUS

Professor: Dr. Aimee J. Ellington	Office: Oliver 2070
Phone Number: 828-1301 x 149	Office Hours: T, W, TH 3:30 – 4:30
E-mail: ajellington@vcu.edu	Web Page: www.people.vcu.edu/~ajellington

Textbook: Symmetry, Shape, & Space, by L. Christine Kinsey & Theresa E. Moore

Exploring Geometry with the Geometer’s Sketchpad, Dan Bennett

The Geometer’s Sketchpad Version 4, Student Edition, Key Curriculum Press

Description: This course will explore select geometry topics in the textbooks and other topics supplied through supplemental materials. The Geometer’s Sketchpad, geoboards, Miras, and many other hands-on materials will be used throughout the course.

Topics: Area, Volume, Billiards, Celtic Knots, Ruler & Compass Constructions, Patty Paper Constructions, Star Polygons, Regular & Semiregular Tilings, Irregular Tilings, Penrose Tilings, Point Symmetry, Line Symmetry, Pyramids, Prisms, Antiprisms, Solids

Prerequisites: MATH 131 or equivalent and (STAT 210, 208, or 212)

Class Meetings: Group work, hands-on & GSP activities, lecture, questions will fill most days.

Attendance: Perfect attendance is highly recommended. Excessive absences may result in failure or dismissal from class. Poor attendance will affect a student’s class participation grade. In class assignments will be graded on a daily basis. In class assignments missed for excused or unexcused absences cannot be made up. Check the class web page for missed homework assignments.

Tests/Quizzes: Two GSP tests will be given. Do not miss a test day! Excuses are not granted unless requested in advance -- exceptions are rare but might be made for illness or emergencies if cleared with the instructor. Unannounced quizzes on non-GSP activities will be given on a regular basis. Quizzes will cover recently studied material. Students should always be prepared for quizzes.

GSP Tests: Test 1: Thursday, March 11, 2004 Test 2: 001: Thursday, May 13, 8:00 – 10:50 am

901: Tuesday, May 11, 4:00 – 6:50 pm

Grading: The final grade will be computed as follows:

GSP Tests : 20% Non-GSP Quizzes : 20% Participation : 10%

GSP Projects : 25% Homework/Classwork : 25%

Group activities and discussion are a significant part of each class period. Participation in class activities is crucial to the success of this course and will be graded accordingly.

Grade Scale: Final Grades will be assigned according to a ten point scale:

90%+ A 70%+ C

80%+ B 60%+ D

These percentages are "guaranteed minimums".

Technology: A basic calculator ($20 or less) will be necessary for this course. A graphing calculator is not required, but is acceptable. TI-89 or TI-92 calculators (or other brands that will do symbolic manipulation) are not allowed. Each student must purchase the student version of The Geometer’s Sketchpad that is bundled with the textbook. Sketchpad assignments will be turned in via e-mail attachments on a regular basis. VCU e-mail accounts will be used for all student-teacher correspondence. Therefore each student must regularly access his/her VCU e-mail account. Students are responsible for information sent by the instructor through e-mail. Throughout the semester, students will also need access to a compass, straightedge, protractor and other devices for geometric exploration. Students must bring their calculator and the geometry devices currently in use to every class. Inclass assignments will depend on their use and the instructor will not bring extras to class.

Honor Code: VCU recognizes that honesty, truth, and integrity are values central to its students and its mission as an institution of higher learning. All students enrolled in this course are responsible for acting in accordance with the provisions of the VCU Honor System. Students are encouraged to work together on homework assignments, projects, and classroom preparation. All our quizzes, tests, and exams will be “Pledged” work, for which students must neither give nor receive help. Please note: Bringing unauthorized material into a testing room or taking unauthorized material out of a testing room, including material stored in calculator memory, is a violation of the VCU Honor System. All violations will be prosecuted to the full extent and may result in automatic failure in this course. Students should familiarize themselves with the details of the Honor System as outlined in the VCU Resource Guide.

Disabilities: “Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 require Virginia Commonwealth University to provide an ‘academic adjustment’ and/or ‘reasonable accommodation’ to any individual who advises us of a physical or mental disability. If you have a physical or mental limitation that requires an academic adjustment or an accommodation, your professor must be notified immediately. Please arrange a meeting a meeting with your professor at your earliest convenience. Additionally, if your coursework requires you to work in a lab environment, you should advise the instructor or department chairperson of any concerns you may have regarding safety issues related to your limitation(s).”

ASSIGNMENT LIST

SECTION	PROBLEM NUMBERS	DUE DATE
EG 133-134	Areas of Parallelograms and Triangles Sketchpad Area Assignment 1	2/3
Dot Paper	Paper for Activity 4 in Area & Pythagorean Theorem Handout 5 Grid Geoboard Dot Paper	2/3
Billiards	p. 22 - 24 #2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Billiards Summary Sheet Billiards Grid Paper	2/17
Celtic Knots	p. 30 - 36 #1 - 13 Celtic Knots Summary Sheet Dot Paper for Celtic Knots	2/19
EG 202-203	Hat Curve & Koch Snowflake Fractals Sketchpad Fractal Assignment 1	2/19
Celtic Knots	SSS p. 72 - 77 #4 - 15 Star Polygons Summary Sheet	3/2
Sierpinski Gasket	EG p. 204 - 206 Sierpinski Gasket Handout	2/26
Regular Polygons	Cutouts Needed for 3/2 Class Period Regular Polygons Handout	3/2
Tesselations	Regular and Semi-Regular Tilings Part 1 Regular and Semi-Regular Tilings Handout	3/4
Tesselations	Regular and Semi-Regular Tilings Part 2 Regular and Semi-Regular Tilings Continued Handout	3/9
GSP Test #1	Sketchpad Test #1 Bring Disk With ALL Previously Completed Sketchpad Assignments	3/11
Dual Tilings	SSS p. 91 - 92 #15 - 25 Dual Tilings Summary Sheet	3/23
Irregular Tilings	Cutouts Needed for 3/25 Class Period Irregular Tilings Handout	3/25
EG 44-47	In Class Sketchpad Assignment on Reflections	3/23
Irregular Tilings	SSS p. 94 - 96 #1 - 8 Irregular Tilings Summary Sheet	3/30
Escher Tilings	SSS p. 97 - 105 #9 - 19 Directions Templates Summary Sheet	4/6
Escher Tilings	In Class Assignment EG p. 56 - 59	4/6
Symmetry	SSS p. 138 - 146 Symmetry Handout	4/13
Ruler & Compass Constructions	SSS p. 40 - 50 Ruler & Compass Constructions Handout	4/15
Patty Paper Constructions	SSS p. 61 - 71 Patty Paper Handout	4/22
No Class		4/20
GSP Activity	Similar Polygons Dividing a Segment into Equal Parts EG p. 169, 182 - 183	4/22
GSP Activity	Animation - Ferris Wheel & Bullet Rides Animation Handout Bullet	4/27
GSP Activity	Golden Rectangle EG p. 167 - 168	4/29
GSP Test #2	Sketchpad Test #2 Bring Disk With Sketchpad Assignments Completed since 3/11 Transform EG p. 33 - 35, Reflect EG p. 44 - 47, Reflect2 EG p. 38 - 39, Escher EG p. 56 - 59, Similar EG p. 169, 182 - 183, Rides See Handout Golden EG p. 167 - 168	5/4