Math 140-11 Fall 2008
Number Questions Assignment
The course syllabus mentions a presentation/paper assignment, and this is it. The
assignment is worth 50 points total, with 20 points coming from the presentation and 30
from the paper.
Consider the following numbers. On Wednesday I will ask you to choose one of the
numbers. The number in the upper right hand corner of this paper indicates the order in
which you will get to choose not only your number but also the date on which you will
present your oral report. Unless you are picking first, some of the numbers and dates will
be taken by the time you choose. You should know your first through n-th choices for a
number, where “n” is the number in the upper right hand corner of the paper.
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
1
2
, 40, 81, 88, 99, 360, 8128, 2024561111,
googol, i (imaginary unit), φ (phi), π (pi), e, phi), π (phi), π (pi), e, pi), e, א
0 (phi), π (pi), e, aleph-naught),
2
For the number you have chosen, answer three of the following questions. Present
your answers both in a one to two page paper and in a three minute oral report. Some
questions might not make sense for some numbers, but some numbers might surprise
you.
1. How old is this number?
2. What are the interesting linguistic properties of this number?
3. What is the cultural significance of this number, and in which culture(phi), π (pi), e, s)?
4. What interesting arithmetic properties does this number possess? (phi), π (pi), e, prime, perfect, twin
prime, transcendental, irrational, etc)
5. What is an interesting true story about this number?
6. Where was this number first used?
7. What are the interesting geometric properties associated with this number?
8. What are some examples of this number in art, to include painting, sculpting, music,
architecture, dance, etc?
9. When did you first discover this number? How?
10. How is this number represented in at least two other numeral systems?
Oral Presentation: We will schedule presentations when you pick your number. Take
three to four minutes at the beginning of class to do the following four things: 1) Identify
the number you chose to study, 2) For numbers which are not integers, give the number’s
meaning or approximate decimal representation, 3) Identify which three questions you
chose to answer, and 4) Answer the three questions. You should use some form of visual
aid in your presentation. You may use the overhead projector, the computer projector, or
the dry-erase board. The safest option is the dry-erase board, since it almost always
works. If you want to use other equipment, you need to obtain it.
