Author Archives: Dan

Inversion Problem Update

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Dan

I recently posted this interesting inversion problem: The question is this: in mod n, how many functions f(x)= ax +b are their own inverses? For example, the function f(x) = 5x + 2, applied twice in mod 12, is equal … Continue reading →

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A curious inversion problem

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Dan

I’ve been exploring a new problem with a couple of students recently that I find incredibly compelling, and I thought I’d mention it here. The main idea is looking at the behavior of functions of the form f(x) = ax … Continue reading →

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Exciting Times!

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Dan

These are exciting times at Math for Love! Our Teacher Circles have been seeing great results, and we’re gearing up for our spring session. Meanwhile, the Julia Robinson Festival is coming up on April 28, and we’ve already got 158 … Continue reading →

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Doubling Algebra? Or making it work?

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Dan

I’d call this article, about how doubling the time students spent studying algebra led them to do better in math and also reading and writing(!) a case of burying the lead. Why? Before anyone rushes to double the lengths of … Continue reading →

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12-gon Puzzle Challenge II

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Dan

Here are the questions folks contributed: From Paul: 1. Why on earth would you break the symmetry by using a parallelogram instead of two triangles in the biggest one? I’m convinced you must have run out of triangles. 2. How … Continue reading →

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12-gon Puzzle Challenge I

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Dan

Here are three dodecahedra dodecagons (that is, 12-gons) a group of  students I work with put together out of pattern blocks. I have some thoughts about them, but I’d like to throw out a challenge first. What questions can you … Continue reading →

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The Path to Freedom

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Dan

We seem to be experiencing a brief cultural moment, in cinema, at least, to look back at  slavery. Lincoln and Django Unchained at least, take place in a six-year period where people enslaved each other with all the brutality that … Continue reading →

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In science, questions are much more valuable than the answers.”

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Dan

The title of this blog post is the last line to a beautiful, short film called GÖMBÖC. For a film where almost nothing happens, it’s compelling watching. And wonderfully, it captures the simple, profound, mathematical joy of thinking really, really … Continue reading →

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“Help, my daughter hates math!”

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Dan

Back in August, an email with the subject “Help, my daughter hates math!” showed up in the Math for Love inbox. To quote that email: Here’s our situation:  We are entering our fourth year of home schooling and my 10 … Continue reading →

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Goat River Crossing

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Dan

This is a post about owning your mathematical experience, problem-solving, and flexibility. It also involves our goats—yes, we have goats—and a story of what happened when we took them hiking this summer. What you need to know about our goats … Continue reading →

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