Math Confidence Newsletter
Volume 36
May 2012
In This Issue
Math Confidence Video
Recommended Reading
Math Confidence Philosophy 0
Function Notation
Brain Teaser
    Math Confidence Video
Math Confidence Audio
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Quote of the Month

"We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves."

Marie Curie
"When will I ever use Math?" many students ask -- this month's Recommended Reading "Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google? " describes interview puzzles full of Math and logic.  The Math topic is function notation, a way of showing algebraic substitution, found in Science and Economics.  On May 4, Robin will present at NYU Sharing Our Success Conference.
Recommended Reading  
Are You SmartInterviewers use challenging puzzles and riddles to see how job candidates think on their feet.  People ask "When do we ever use this Math?" You might need Math on a job interview! The book has questions with precise Math "How many integers between 1 and 100 contain a 3?" and estimation "How many golf balls fit on a school bus?"  
William Poundstone' wrote a similar book in 2004 "Microsoft's Cult of the Puzzle:How the World's Smartest Companies Select the Most Creative Thinkers".   Poundstone mentions numerous times that Google interviewers remain neutral with a poker face so as to not supply feedback.

The Math Confidence Philosophy Introduction

The forthcoming ebook, The Math Confidence Philosophy, has five chapters:

Part I: Math is a Metaphor!

Part II:  Why Study Math?
Part III:  The Math Confidence Methodology
Part IV: The Success Literature Perspective
Part V: How to Be A Great Math Student

Introduction to Math Confidence Philosophy

Function Notation

Function notation "f of x notation", written as f(x) means y.  For example, if y = 2x + 5, we could write that as f(x) = 2x + 5.  Then instead of writing when x is 3, y  is 11, we could write f(3) = 11 and say "f of 3 is 11".  A good example can be found in Physics, where distance, velocity and acceleration are all functions of time and can be written as d(t), v(t) and a(t). 

Coolmath Online Function Notation Exercises 

How to Evaluate a Function 

Function Notation Using the TI-84 Video by kthomp271828 

Functions on the SAT 
Brain Teaser 
Numbers thru Funnel

A clock is observed. The hour hand is exactly at the minute mark, and the minute hand is six minutes ahead of it. Later, the clock is observed again. This time, the hour hand is exactly on a different minute mark, and the minute hand is seven minutes ahead of it. How much time elapsed between the first and second observations?

Answer to April's Brain Teaser: 0

 April 2012 Brain Teaser Solution 

Thanks for reading!  How can we make this newsletter better?  Please send comments and suggestions to Robin mathconfidence@aol.com 
Sincerely,

 

Robin "the Math Lady" Schwartz
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