FALL 2004
MATHEMATICS
137: GEOMETRY FOR DESIGN
Section : 001 Sequence:
1183
Room: W 2 32 (Mon) & B 2 8 (Wed) Time:
M W
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Instructor: Dr. D. French Main
Campus Office :
BR-60
Phone: 215-751-8689 Email address: dfrench@ccp. edu Office
Hours : M W F
Mathematics Department :
W 2-7
Secretaries:
Ms. Starr 215-751- 8431 & Ms. Foster
215-751- 8430
Math
Learning Lab: B2-36, for tutoring
support/ computers
SACC: B
2-33 ( for computer and internet access)
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COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
Although
concrete in its origins, the study of geometry provides ample opportunity to
explore abstraction and logical mathematical organization. This course attempts to model inductive
reasoning through guided student discovery, and, in turn, build towards
deductive reasoning, emphasizing the use of logic and abstraction. Students will explore topics from both two ‑
and three ‑ dimensional geometry, and they will cultivate an
understanding of geometric relationships within the physical world. Traditional numerical, graphical and
algebraic techniques will be used, along with appropriate technological tools.
IMPORTANCE
OF GEOMETRY:
Knowledge of geometry is very important
for students who intend to pursue further study in architecture, construction
technology, art and visual design disciplines at CCP or at other transfer
institutions. Consider how mathematics
plays an important in our society: the
sky-rocketing world-wide demand for energy and the consequences of global
warming are just two examples of scenarios that can be understood as
mathematical problems requiring numerical solutions. Mathematics
is also an indispensable tool in the creative visual arts: architect Frank Gehry and engineer Santiago Calatrava
both use advanced geometry in their complicated designs of buildings and
bridges, and anime artists use mathematical algorithms in the design of
sophisticated modern cartoons and animations. Furthermore, high-tech fields requiring creative
visual design, such as art, architecture, animation, construction, and engineering,
are expanding and creating a need for people with mathematical skills that
include the ability to frame and solve quantitative and geometric problems. Therefore, Math 137, with its emphasis on geometry
and the development of problem-solving ability, is a critically important
course for students of visual design curricula who are beginning to build their
mathematical skills.
TEXTBOOK
:
Serra, M.
(2003). Discovering geometry-an investigative approach, third edition.
Available
in CCP bookstore in
SUPPLIES:
Scientific
Calculator ( e.g. Texas Instruments TI-30 Mark II ) -
optional.
Ruler (inch and cm) Graph paper loose-leaf binder or
folders for notes and drawings Professional
grade compass, protractor, sharp pencils, eraser
computer disk (s) : HD 3.5" formatted for PC
Special
materials required for individual projects and assignments will be identified
throughout the semester. Completed exercises should be
kept sequentially in a folder along with the drawings and design projects.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
i) Identification,
description, comparison and classification of geometric figures.
ii) Visualization
and representation of geometric figures, with development of spatial sense.
iii) Transformations
of geometric figures.
iv) Use of geometric models to represent and solve problems.
v) Understanding
and application of geometric properties and relationships.
vi) Development of appreciation of geometry as a means of describing
the physical world.
vii) Development
of an understanding of the historical development and application of geometry
in fields such as art, architecture, design and construction.
viii) Appreciation
of the historical role of important practitioners of creative disciplines who
used geometry as central themes of their work.
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING:
Final
grades will be determined using the following schema:
10
manual or computer-assisted drawings 10%
Quizzes 20%
Project I 10%
Mid
term examination 15%
Project II 20%
(including drawings and/or models)
Final
examination 20%
Classroom
discussion and attendance
5%
TOTAL 100%
Note: In the
professional world, lateness is not tolerated.
It is expected that the work will be submitted on time and in complete
form. Late work may drop at least one letter grade ( -
10 % ), and no work will be accepted late without specific arrangements.
ATTENDANCE
POLICY & OFFICE HOURS:
Due to the nature of the course
instruction, attendance and class participation are of prime importance, as
material considered in class will correspond to the text readings and
assignments. Also, the classroom
participation component of the final grade makes regular attendance
necessary. There is a class-attendance
policy allowing only six absences for M W F classes. (For M W or T R
classes there is a maximum of only four allowable absences during the
semester.) Class attendance will be
taken at the beginning of each session and students are responsible for
arriving to class on time. Chronic
lateness will be considered as absence and treated accordingly as described
below. If a student accumulates more
than the maximum allowable absences, he/she may be withdrawn from the course
with a "W" before the final drop deadline ( during
the 11th week of the
semester—
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT POLICY:
Students
should refer to and follow CCP guidelines for classroom behavior, as documented
in the student handbook and college catalog.
Students are expected to refrain from inappropriate behavior, and this
includes operating mobile phones and/or pagers or other electronic gear in the
classroom during class sessions.
Students must therefore turn off ( or otherwise
silence) pagers and phones before classes begin. Students who must leave class early should
do so quietly without disrupting the session.
Students must not bring beverages or food into the classroom, and under
no circumstances should food or beverages be consumed in any computer-equipped
locations such as the
classroom B 2 - 8 , the Math Lab B2 36, or the SACC center B2
33. Students may not bring children to
class, and everyone must observe the campus-wide NO SMOKING policy.
ACADEMIC
HONESTY
Students are expected to maintain the highest
standards of integrity in all their academic work, and therefore they must do
their own work: cheating or plagiarism or other forms of dishonesty will not be
tolerated. Students are therefore
advised to carefully review the relevant sections of the 2004-2005 Student Handbook on plagiarism , in-class
cheating , cheating outside the classroom and electronic cheating. Students
who are caught cheating or plagiarizing will be dealt with; penalties can include, but are not limited
to, receiving a zero score for the test, examination or homework assignment or homework project in
question.
DISABILITY
Students who are registered with the Center on Disability must inform the
instructor by the end of the first week of classes if special accommodations
are requested. The instructor will try
to work with all students to help them succeed to the utmost of their ability.
SOME
SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE:
Every student should be aware that the Math Learning Lab in B 2 36 is an
extremely important resource center where one-on-one tutoring assistance can be
obtained. The Math Lab presents several
useful skills sessions and workshops every semester, and, in addition, the Math
Lab has computers that may be equipped with algebra tutorial software. Students will be able to earn “extra credit”
for attending Math Lab workshops and /or tutoring sessions (
details will be provided as the course proceeds). The computers in the SACC computer lab in B 2 33 also
give Internet access to CCP students with a valid ID card. If appropriate, currently registered students
can apply for a CCP
email account by logging onto the STARR system computers in the
BG lobby.
Please try
to make every effort to come to each class. This course is based on a
practical problem-solving approach.
Most people learn by doing, and it has been said that,
“Math is not a spectator sport”.
It will be difficult to do the homework assignments if you missed the corresponding
class. You should therefore attend class regularly and punctually. If you are absent, call a classmate or the
teacher's voicemail at (215)751- 8689 or send email to dfrench@ccp.edu for information about the homework
assignment.
Another obvious suggestion is to do all the homework assignments on time and come to class as prepared
as possible. As you read your newspapers and magazines, you may want to
copy the articles and graphs containing mathematical and/or geometric
information and save them using a
folder or three-ring binder. Please do
not tear or disfigure articles or graphs that appear in library books or
magazines - every library user has a right to view the material in a library’s collection. Save and review all homework quizzes before
tests and exams.
You should always take
lecture notes during the classroom session.
The notes could include main ideas of a section, questions that came to
mind as you viewed the solution of a particular equation system, or personal
responses to the readings in the text or from other sources. Always check
your work before handing in any assignment to find out if your solution
answers the question.
MATH
137 GEOMETRY FOR DESIGN
FALL 2004 Dr. D. French: 215- 751- 8689
Main Campus E-MAIL : dfrench@ccp. edu
TEXT : Serra, M. (2003). Discovering
geometry--an inductive approach, 3rd edition.
[Note:
This course outline is approximate; October 11 th
Professional Development Day --No Classes; November 25-28 Thanksgiving Holiday No Classes, College
closed].
Lesson Date Day Section Topic &
Activity
___________________________________________________________________________________________
1. 9/ 8 W Ch.0,1 Introducing Geometry. Sketchpad activity. Skpad 1
2. 9/ 13 M Ch.1 Using
technology in basic geometry .
3. 9/
15 W Ch. 2 Reasoning
in Geometry , angle relationships Skpad 2.
4. 9/ 20 M Ch.3 Using the tools of geometry Project 1 assigned.
5. 9/ 22 W
6. 9/ 27 M Ch.4 Discovering
and proving triangle
properties
7. 9/ 29 W Ch.4 Discovering
and proving triangle properties, ct'd. Skpad 4
8. 10/4 M Ch.5 Discovering
and proving polygon properties .
9. 10/ 6 W Ch.5 Discovering
and proving polygon properties . Skpad 5.
10. 10/ 13 W
Ch.6 Discovering
and proving circle properties . Skpad 6
11. 10/ 18 M Ch. 6 Discovering and proving circle properties
12. 10/ 20
13. 10/ 25 M
14. 10/27 W Ch.7 Transformations
and Tessellations
Project 1 due. Project 2 assigned.
Skpd. 7
15. 11/1 M Ch.7 Transformations
and Tessellations
, c'td.
16. 11/3 W Ch.7 Transformations
and tessellations, ct.d. Skpad 8,
17. 11/ 8 M Ch.8 Area.
18. 11/ 10 W Ch.8 Area Skpad 9.
19. 11/15 M Ch.9 The Pythagorean Theorem
20. 11/ 17 W Ch.9 The
Pythagorean Theorem , c'td. Skpad 10
21. 11/ 22 M Ch.10 Volume . Hands-on poyhedra
activity
22. 11/ 24 W Ch.10 Volume, ct’d. Polyhedra Internet
activity
23. 11/ 29 M Ch.10 Volume, c'td..
24. 12/ 1 W Ch.11 Similarity,
25. 12/ 6 M Ch.11 Similarity, c'td.
26. 12/ 8 W Ch.11 Similarity c’td.. Golden Mean Internet Activity
27. 12/
13 M
12 /15 --12/20 Final Examination : Date TBA