Chapter 13: Let Me Count the Ways (Days 110-111)

Today in Ethnostats, we begin Chapter 13 of the text, an introduction to probability. It is the first chapter of Unit 4, "Randomness and Probability."

In second period, I cover the first six pages of this chapter. Topics here include random phenomena, the Law of Large Numbers (and the nonexistent Law of Averages), and modeling probability. I have the students calculate simple probabilities based on flipping coins, rolling dice, choosing playing cards, and even my random name generator program. Assignment #12 contains a few problems from the text. But fourth period is a little different, because of the parade. Yes, the local football team here in Southern California, the Rams, won the Super Bowl over the weekend -- and since I figure that the students might be distracted anyway, I turn on the livestream of the parade.

Why is the superintendent on our campus today? Last night was a board meeting to discuss the future of our school, and the superintendent presented a proposal to the board. Right now, the current proposal is for us to move to the main campus and start an Early College program for a group of new freshmen.

Meanwhile, in Calculus yesterday we begin Section 5.2 of the text, on Riemann sums. I assign two assignments here, one from the text and the other on DeltaMath. And in Trig, the Section 2.1 Quiz is on memorized values of trig functions (such as sin 90, cos 60, and tan 90). Then for the main lesson in Section 2.2, I pass out the calculators so the students can find trig values that aren't memorized.

It's been so long since I sang songs in class -- or even lamented on the blog about what songs I'd be singing had I still been performing. The current Chapter 13 title, "Let Me Count the Ways," is also the name of a Square One TV song -- one that I often sing near Valentine's Day anyway (since the full first line is "Let me count the ways that I love you"). Then again, the actual content of the chapter suggests a few other Square One TV songs, such as the probability song "Ghost of a Chance."

Indeed, I had imagined how last week might have been a perfect week of songs. On Monday (2/7, e Day), I'd perform "The Number e Song" (Bizzie Lizzie's "Sugar Sugar" parody), then on Tues./Wed. (the first day of Chapter 13 in Ethnostats) I'd move on to "Let Me Count the Ways," and wrap up the pre-Valentine's week with "Mathematics of Love." But that would never have worked out even if I was still performing songs in class, due to my testing positive for COVID-19. Thus I wasn't even in school on e Day, and moreover Chapter 13 was , so I couldn't sing "Let Me Count the Ways" before V-Day. Oh, and today I finally hand out that Valentine's Day candy -- also delayed by my positive COVID test.

Today is Friday, the first day of the week on the Eleven Calendar:

Resolution #1: We take pride in our own work and cite our sources.

Unfortunately, not enough students wrote a full citation for their Stats article in Assignment #10, so they will need a reminder in time for their next current event in Assignment #20.

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