Infinite Fun in a Finite Infinite Fun in a Finite Math ClassMath Class

Nancy Rivers Deborah Bentonnjrivers@waketech.edudsbenton@waketech.edu

Wake Technical Community College

6600 Louisburg Rd

Raleigh, NC 27616

Goals/PlanGoals/Plan

Introduce you to four activities we use with our students

Allow time for you to “play student” and experience these activities

Share your impressions, constructive comments

Allow you to share activities you employ.

Our Finite Math ClassesOur Finite Math ClassesExcel based

◦Use Solver instead of the Simplex Method

◦Calculators can also be usedTargets mainly business majors

needing a third math courseTypically last math before

transferring

Course OutlineCourse OutlineFinancialLinear ProgrammingProbabilityMatricesMarkov ChainsGame Theory

First Day Ice BreakerFirst Day Ice BreakerFour Color ProblemAllows students to meet each

otherRequires them to do some

thinking on the first day of classSets the tone for the course –

something different

Roller’s GambleRoller’s GambleIntroduction to Expected ValueNot every pair of students plays

the same gameUse pennies/poker chips/candies

in the classroomDiscuss various games: which

were fair/favored player/favored “runner”

Markov PoloMarkov PoloIntroduction to Markov ChainsStudents actually experience a

Markov process before we introduce the topic

Requires students to consider how a matrix can be employed in the process

Individual discovery activity

Penny Face-offPenny Face-offIntroduction to Two-person

GamesBefore topic is begun, students

use the game matrix, possibly employing a strategy

Various games are played throughout the classroom

Students share their experiences with their classmates

Time for FunTime for FunUncover the activity nearest youExperience the activity for

approximately 10 minutesSwap activities with another groupExperience that activity for app.

10 mins.Swap activities with another groupExperience that activity for app.

10 mins.

CommentsCommentsThoughts?Ideas for improving these

activities?What activities do you use with

your finite class?

ExtraExtraFinance ProjectDream house with 10% down15-year fixed, including PMI30-year fixed, including PMI30-year ARM, worst case

scenario

Active ReviewActive Review

A take-off on “The Amazing Race”A set of clue packets for each group of

up to 4 studentsAll problems in one clue must be

correct before they swap it for the next clue

The instructor is the keeper of the clues

Roadblocks!Display the groups progress

throughout the game.

Contact informationContact informationNancy Rivers

njrivers@waketech.eduDeborah Benton

dsbenton@waketech.edu