Shirts for the Cubs Field Trip

Interested in getting a commemorative shirt for our Cubs Field Trip?  Well you're in luck!  You can place an order here:  http://www.customink.com/g/mad0-00b0-4093

Here's what they will look like!

Orders close on Tuesday, May 2nd.  I will announce a reminder in class on Monday as well.  Payment must be made online.  I am unable to accept cash.  If you are unable to make an online payment, please let me know and we will figure something out.

Assignment 13 Correction

Please skip number 29 on assignment 13.

Also, be prepared to show me a completed Assignment 13 tomorrow (4/27).

7.4 Triangle Proportionality Theorem

You can access your prompt for today here.

You will need to take notes in your notebook.  Do not make a copy of the notes and try to fill them in digitally.  I will be checking your notes for completion tomorrow at the beginning of class.

Number Theory and Cryptography Project

This project can be done individually or with a partner (no more than 2 people per group).  If you are doing this with a partner, you need to inform me today (4/27).  Please send me an email letting me know who your partner is and which of the two topics you will be doing.

By the end of the day, you should have all of your content prepared.  Our test will be Tuesday and we will finish up the project on Wednesday.

Option 1

Create a positional number system with your own symbols and characters.  On a piece of posterboard, explain how your number system works by providing an example in which you convert the number to base ten and another example in which you convert a base-ten number to your system. The project must include a “key” of all your symbols/characters, an example converting to base ten, and an example converting from base ten.  Make sure your number system is able to represent any base ten number up to 1000.

Option 2

Create a themed, ciphered text.  On a piece of posterboard, cipher the text (minimum 75 characters) using both the Caesar and Vigenère method (same text, ciphered twice).  Decorate the posterboard based on the theme of your text.  For example, if your text is a battle message, you might decorate the poster with camouflage and other war-themed images.  The project must include both versions of the cipher, the keyword for the Vigenère Cipher, and images to compliment the theme.  Write the plain text on the back of the poster.

Do your best and show off your talent J

Due: 4/27/16 at the beginning of class!

Number Theory & Cryptography Review Solutions

You can access the review solutions here!

Friday Work for Students Signed Out 6th & 7th

If you are going to be missing tomorrow's class for any reason, please download and complete the following for Monday.

http://blogspot.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=075bd698c0c217827f3f37f2b&id=d6e33c6d06&e=c088c3f629

If you will be in class, you do not need to print out a copy, as I will have them for you.

Decoding using Frequency Tables

Good afternoon!

Today we will be learning how to use frequency analysis to crack a Caesar Cipher!

Part 1. Collecting data from a small sample.

1. Choose about 100 English letters from a newspaper or other English text. 
2. Work with your group to count the As, Bs, etc., in your sample.
3. Enter your data in this table.

Part 2. Computing relative frequencies.

I have already entered functions to calculate the relative frequencies for each of the letters.  Using the completed data (wait for everyone to finish entering data), answer the following questions with your partner.

1. What percent of the letters in the class sample were the letter T? ____%
2. About how many Ts would you expect in a sample of 100 letters? _____
3. If your sample was about 100 letters, was your answer to 1b close to the number of Ts you found in your sample?
4. What percent of the letters in the class sample were the letter E? ____%
5. About how many Es would you expect in a sample size of 100? _____
6. About how many Es would you expect in a sample of 1000 letters? ____
7. This table shows frequencies of letters in English computed using a sample of about 100,000 letters. How is your class data the same as the data in that table? How is it different? Why might it be different?

Now use our frequency analysis to decode Jenny's message.

Music & Concentration

Welcome back from spring break!  We recently had a speaker come and talk to us about how the music we listen to while we study can affect our concentration.  Unfortunately, only my second period class was able to attend.  However, the speaker, Julia Mossbridge, has offered you a 30-day free trial of Focus@Will, a streamlined music service, by going to this link: http://go.focusatwill.com/drJulia -- no credit card needed.  This service provides music that has been specifically designed to help you focus while you work.

In addition to the free trial, you may want to check out https://www.focusatwill.com/focus-tips-students-science/ -- a recent blog post offering research-based focus tips for students, teachers, and admins.

If you're interested in the research driving the development of the music, you can find more details here.

Spring Break Extra Credit Opportunity!

Rescale Project

--> For this project, you will be investigating similarity by rescaling an everyday object.  Make it bigger, make it smaller, it’s up to you!

First, pick an everyday object like a juice box (but not a juice box).  As you are picking your object, consider how difficult it will be to construct, as you will be creating your rescaled version.  Hint:  Curves can be difficult.

Once you have chosen your object, you will need to find the dimensions of your original object.  Then decide on a scale factor – are you going to make it bigger or smaller?  By how much?  Use this scale factor to calculate your new dimensions.  You can record all of your calculations and measurements on this sheet, which you must submit to me.  You must include the unit of measurement for both the original object and the rescaled object

Now you’re ready to create your rescaled object!  This will probably take you some time.  You are not allowed to use a computer to assist you in rescaling any text or images.  Everything must be done by hand!  You may construct your object out of anything non-perishable (cardboard, paper, etc), but do make sure it is sturdy!  In general, if you made an object larger, you should probably use cardboard and if you made it smaller, paper might be a better choice.

So here’s how this will all shake down.  You will get 1 extra credit point towards your homework score for every 5 points you get on the rubric.  That’s a total of 20 points (2 homework assignments) if you do everything correctly!  But wait – there’s more!  I want your rescaled object, and I’m willing to buy it from you with extra credit points towards the test category.  If you choose to sell me your rescaled object, you will have to haggle me for it.  That means you should put your best effort into making it appealing to me, as I am a frugal buyer.  

Here’s some whacky inspiration for you courtesy of fellow mathematician and author Lewis C. Carroll:

Projects are due upon returning from spring break.