Fractions can quite literally serve as a puzzling component of mathematics. One of the reasons fractions are perceived to be difficult is what members of the math community call gap reasoning. Gap reasoning can limit students’ understanding of the problem. The method leads students to assess distances as equal by appearance over measurements. In their paper “Escaping … [Read more...] about Minding the gap to take the frustration out of fractions
Dr. William Bray, department head of mathematics, had a couple of productive years. In addition to his department duties, teaching classes and advising students, Bray has also published three papers. Old friends, new papers Bray collaborated with Dr. Boris Rubin, from Louisiana State University, for two of the papers. Bray has known Rubin for more than 20 years, having … [Read more...] about A scholarly year for our math department head
Over the summer, four faculty went to China for about two weeks to teach as part of the Southwest University Global Immersion Program. This required a proposal about what each professor would teach and why it was important to students in China. About 100 professors from 25 different countries were chosen to teach this summer. About the MSU faculty who went The … [Read more...] about Four professors use summer to teach in China
Frannie Haller, a mathematics education major, spent her summer at Illinois State University. From June 3-July 26, Haller worked with professors, other mathematics educators and high school students at a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). About her research There were five teams at the REU that worked with different mathematics problems for about seven … [Read more...] about Mathematics educator attends REU at Illinois State
Sabrina Klement, a senior applied mathematics major, attended the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics Jan. 25-27. This conference focused on how much women could do in a male-dominated field. Klement learned from both students and professors that presented. It also gave Klement new ideas on research. “Seeing examples of possible research … [Read more...] about Women in STEM: Mathematics edition