MathTalk is a column published in each issue of the Skagit Cardinal Newspaper. Current information about the math department, Math Center Hours, tutring hours, and other math talk is included. Each issue also includes a puzzle and a kenken. Get ahold of a current issue around campus.

Issue #5

Coming March 12th

Issue #4

Are you a fan of Sudoku, but wish they were more challenging or mathematical?  (A Sudoku puzzle doesn’t really need numbers, but could instead use letters, shapes, or other symbols.)  New this issue is a similar type of puzzle called KenKen, invented by Japanese mathematics teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto.  Puzzles can range from 3x3 to 9x9 or even larger.  As like Sudoku, numbers are placed in each cell, making sure a number is not repeated in any row or column.  However, KenKen has an additional rule…

Rules:

1. For the 6x6 puzzle, fill in using the numbers 1-6
2. Do not repeat a number in any row or column
3. The numbers in each heavily outlined set, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner using the mathematical operation indicated.
4. A number can be repeated in a cage as long as it is not in the same row or column.

MATH CENTER HOURS
Daily: 8:00-5:00
Saturday 9:00-2:00
Drop-in tutors are available 9:30 to 1:30
Tutoring is also available in the Tutoring Center in L-20

Math Study Sessions
Math 141 & 142 Tues and Thurs 1:30 F-202
Math 152 Wed 11:30 & Thurs 9:30 F-209

Win a MT $5 Cardinal Café Gift Card

We have yet to receive a correct solution for MT Puzzler #3.  If you are still working on MT#3, the first submitted correct answer with explanation will win the gift card!

MT Puzzler #4

You've got someone working for you for seven days and a gold bar to pay them. The gold bar is segmented into seven connected pieces. You must give them a piece of gold at the end of every day. If you are only allowed to make two breaks in the gold bar, how do you pay your worker?

Submit your answer with complete explanation on a 3x5 note-card including your name, phone number and email address, to Chuck Stevens, Ford Hall-204 by Thursday, February 19th.  Winner will be announced in the next issue.

Issue #3

April is Mathematics Awareness Month.  This year’s Awareness Month theme is Mathematics and Climate.  One of the most important challenges of our time is modeling global climate.  Some of the fundamental questions researchers are currently addressing are:

• How long will the summer Arctic sea ice pack survive?
• Are hurricanes and other severe weather evens getting stronger?
• How much will sea level rise as ice sheets melt?
• How do human activities affect climate change?
• How is global climate monitored?

Calculus, differential equations, numerical analysis, probability, and statistics are just some of the areas of mathematics used to understand the oceans, atmosphere, and polar ice caps, and the complex interactions among these vast systems.   Also, math and science are central to the development of both traditional and alternative energy sources, and to the evolution of other strategies for mitigating the effects of climate change.  For more information visit:  www.mathaware.org

MATH CENTER HOURS
Daily: 8:00-5:00
Saturday 9:00-2:00
Drop-in tutors are available 9:30 to 1:30
Tutoring is also available in the Tutoring Center in L-20

Win a MT $5 Cardinal Café Gift Card

Congratulations to MT Puzzler #2 winner Luke Thomson, and to everyone who submitted a correct answer.

MT Puzzler #3
The sum of two numbers is 4, and the product of these same two numbers is 5.  What is the sum of their reciprocals?

Submit your answer with complete explanation on a 3x5 note-card including your name, phone number and email address, to Chuck Stevens, Ford Hall-204 by Wednesday, February 4th.  Winner will be announced in the next issue.

Issue #2

Everyone listen up!  Beginning winter quarter there will be a fresh new study group called The Real World of Math designed to help math and physics students with their studies!  There will be a number of people leading the sessions, all of whom will be advanced math and/or physics students at SVC.  The sessions will take place once a week and will be held in the Math Center!  Time and dates will be announced next issue.  We look forward to seeing you, and get ready to excel!

MATH CENTER HOURS
Daily: 8:00-5:00
Saturday 9:00-2:00.

MATH STUDY SESSIONS
Math 96-97-98-99 - - Wed 10:30 T-39
Math 141 - - Mon, Wed, Thu 1:30 (Check with Doug Quinlan for location)
Math 151 - - Thu 1:30 F-216

Win a MT $5 Cardinal Café Gift Card

MT Puzzle #1 had seven correct entries!  This issue’s winner (randomly chosen by our Science Club) was Kimberley Barnes.  Good job!!

MT Puzzler #2
8 + 9 = 7 ?

Every letter in the following problem represents a different digit from 0 to 9.  Can you figure out what they are?

EIGHT + NINE = SEVEN

Submit your answer on a 3x5 not card including your name, phone number and email, to Chuck Stevens F-204 by Dec. 11.  Thanks for playing.

Issue #1

WIN A $5 GIFT CARD TO THE CARDINAL CAFÉ

Each issue will feature a puzzle of mathematical nature to exercise your brain.  One winner will be randomly drawn from all submitted correct answers.  Submit your answer on a 3x5 card including name, phone number and email to any math faculty by Nov 12th.

Puzzle #1
Can you place one “+” sign and two “-“ signs in the string 123456789 so it equals 100? 

You could try 1234+56-7-89 but that equals 1194.  The winner will be announced in the next issue.  Good Luck!!!