2000 Frames a Second

An instant is no longer an instant at 2000 frames a second. This video of a water balloon popping at high speed lets us experience time in a way that isn't possible in our normal human time frame. Also, the math problems we can pull out of this can make it a motivator in any math class. Video normally plays at 30 frames per second. What percent increase do we have here.

Mathletes

Imagine 200 middle schoolers in a large multipurpose room doing sophisticated math problems in two minutes each. That's what Mathletes is like. I've been doing a Math Club twice a week at Willow Creek Academy the public charter school in the Sausalito Marin City School District and we and the students from Martin Luther King Academy in Marin City went to the Marin Mathlete's competition in Novato recently. What a hoot! The students are packed in at cafeteria tables, problems are handed out one at a time, questions answered and then "Go!" turn your paper over and you get two minutes to solve the problem. The problems are the best part. Well actually, the kids' energy is the best part - there's so much excitement in the room it's unbelievable - AND its all over mathematics! But the problems are good too. They're high level, but can be solved in two minutes. Here are a few samples.

What is the percent increase from 5² to 2⁵ ?

In base three, place value is based on the powers of 3. In base four, place value is based on powers of 4. How is the value written as 1222_{base 3} written in base 4?

Check out the MathCounts.org website for more info.