Work in groups of 3-5 people. Use the Internet to find factual information about the numbers assigned to your group.
Turn in an approx. 3-page paper on the results of your investigation (double-spaced, 12 pt.). A few questions are given to guide you, but feel free to touch other
topics. The paper should be written by the group. Printouts or reproductions of existing sites are not acceptable, however, you can quote different sources, or use
pictures/diagrams (as long as you name the source) to illustrate your paper. Name at least 3 different sources (web sites) that you have used to collect the
information. Please remember to put the names of all members of your group on your paper. Finally, prepare a short (about 5-8 minutes) presentation using either a
poster (write big), the document camera (available in the classroom, i.e. your "slides" should be on regular paper - this is the most time efficient method for
our class), or a computer projector (will have to bring your own laptop).
Group A. Natural Numbers
Give examples.
What notation is used in mathematics for the set of all natural numbers?
Which culture/individual(s) were credited with discovering these numbers?
What were these numbers used for?
Show various notations for natural numbers (ancient and modern).
Name various properties of these numbers.
Group B. Integer Numbers
Give examples.
What notation is used in mathematics for the set of all integer numbers?
Which culture/individual(s) were credited with discovering these numbers?
Why were these numbers needed?
Name various properties of these numbers.
Group C. Rational Numbers
Give the definition and examples.
What notation is used in mathematics for the set of all rational numbers?
Which culture/individual(s) were credited with discovering these numbers?
Why were these numbers needed?
Name various properties of these numbers.
Group D. Irrational Numbers
Give the definition and examples.
Which culture/individual(s) were credited with discovering these numbers?
Why were these numbers needed?
Name various properties of these numbers.
Group E. Real Numbers
Give examples.
What notation is used in mathematics for the set of all real numbers?
Which culture/individual(s) were credited with discovering these numbers?
Why were these numbers needed?
Name various properties of these numbers.
Group F. Complex Numbers
Give the definition and examples.
What notation is used in mathematics for the set of all complex numbers?
Which culture/individual(s) were credited with discovering these numbers?
Why were these numbers needed?
Name various properties of these numbers.
Explain how to add two complex numbers and how to multiply two complex numbers.
Group G. Prime Numbers
Give precise definition and examples.
Which culture/individual(s) were credited with contributing to the knowledge about prime numbers?
What is the Sieve of Eratosthenes?
When and how was it proven that there are infinitely many prime numbers? (Give a proof in your paper.)
Group H. Square root of 2
Give the definition and an approximate value of this number.
Which culture/individual(s) were credited with discovering this number?
When and how was it proven that this number is irrational? (Give a proof in your paper.)
Why is this number important in mathematics?/Name some properties of this number.
Group I. The number pi
What is an approximate value of this number?
Which culture/individual(s) were credited with discovering this number?
Name various properties of this number.
Who and when first proved that this number is irrational?