Research Topics for Math Extra credit: Up to 4 points added to your FINAL grade
 PLEASE COME SEE ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR CLARIFICATION
In order to obtain extra credit, you must write at least 3 PARAGRAPHS (5 sentences
minimum) EXCEPT for the stock market project (see questions below) about your chosen
research topic.



Grammar and spelling must be correct
Answer all the questions posed and add additional information you found interesting or
learned during your research
Hand in the assignment by December 12, 2014
Rubric for Extra Credit:
Grammar and
Spelling
All questions
answered
Paragraphs are
the correct
length and well
written
Needs
Improvement - 1
Basic - 2
Proficient - 3
Advanced - 4
More than 5
grammar and
spelling errors
Most questions
remain
unanswered, are
not completely
answered, and are
inaccurate
Paragraphs are
not 5 sentences
long, paragraphs
do not follow a
logical order,
information is not
well presented
4-5 Grammar and
spelling errors
2-3 Grammar and
spelling errors
0-1 Grammar and
spelling error
Many questions
remain
unanswered, are
not completely
answered, or are
inaccurate
Paragraphs are at
least 4 sentences
long, may not
follow a logical
order, information
is not well
presented
Most questions are
answered
completely with
accurate
information
All questions are
answered
completely with
elaboration and
accurate
information
Paragraphs are 5
sentences long,
follow a logical
order and
information is well
presented
Paragraphs are at
least 5 sentences
long, may not
follow a logical
order, information
may be well
presented
Infinity

The idea of infinity is something that mathematicians spent centuries trying to figure out. Base
your project on the idea of a limited infinity and write about the history of its discovery. A
limited infinity says there is a limit to the idea of infinity and not an infinite number of infinites.
Although this seems complex, Hilbert's discussion of the "Grand Hotel" is a good starting point
for this project, which is a word problem explaining the limitations of infinity.
o
Define infinity
o
Write about Infinity’s history
o
What was Hilbert’s discussion of the “Grand Hotel” about? How does it relate to
infinity?
o
Do you think the use of infinity is a good or bad idea? Is it useful? When might
you use it in your life?
Golden ratio

The golden ratio is the number that is commonly used to described beauty. The ratio is 1:1.1618,
meaning items that show these properties appear beautiful to us. Find what objects in nature
conform to this principle, which is also evident in mathematics as the basis of the Fibonacci
sequence. Your project could measure the facial features of celebrities and find which
measurements conform to the ratio. This way you can show practical and real-world applications
for math.
o
What is the golden ratio? What is its history?
o
Find at least 2 objects and 2 people who conform to the golden ratio. Do you
think they are more beautiful than other objects and people? Why or why not?
o
What is the Fibonacci sequence and how does it relate to the golden ratio?
Gender Stereotypes Regarding Math

Research gender stereotypes regarding the learning of math. Here is a good place to start:
http://www.brightsurf.com/search/r-a/Math/1/Math_current_events_and_news.html

Does gender play a major role in who can learn or do better at math?
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What else determines how well a student does in Math?
Has your view of math changed after doing this research? Why or why not?
Stock Market Project:
1. Research 3 companies (one of each of the following categories)
1. Environmental (Green) Stock Ex. Solar Energy – **Green Progress Stocks**
2. Technology Stock Ex. Apple – **Wikipedia: list of the largest global technology
companies**
3. Retail Stock Ex. Macys – **Seeking Alpha**
4. Buy the stocks
1. You have $15,000 to buy shares of stock in all three categories.
($5,000 for each company.)
2. For example, if your stock is $25.50 per share, how many shares
can you buy for $5000. Remember you can’t buy part of a share.
When you divide 5000 by 25.50 you get a decimal, 196.078. You can
buy 196 shares because you don’t have enough to buy 197. So, how
much did you actually spend. Take the amount of shares and
multiply by the price per share to get how much you spent. 196 *
25.50 = $4998. Most likely you will not spend exactly $5000.
3. Fill in the chart.
Company
Price per share
Grand Total
Amount of
shares
Total Price
1. Tracking your stock – Track your stock every other day for 1 week and record the data
below:
1. Go to Yahoofinance.com
2. Use the previous close
Company:
Date
Number of shares*
Amount per Share
Stock Value
*Number of shares will stay the same throughout the project
Company:
Date
Number of shares*
Amount per Share
Stock Value
*Number of shares will stay the same throughout the project
Company:
Date
Number of shares*
Amount per Share
Stock Value
*Number of shares will stay the same throughout the project
Answer the following questions:
1. What are the three companies you chose to purchase?
2.
What are the prices per share you paid for each stock when you first purchased them
back in November? * use the symbol with each price (ex: DAL for Delta Ailines)
a.
b.
c.
3. Using the current value at the sale of your stock, list the gain or loss of each stock.
Example: Purchase price $4,900 minus Sale price $5,800 = +$900, or $4,900 purchase
price minus sale price $4,000 = $-900
a.
b.
c.
4.
Now, let’s see how much your Portfolio is worth?
First take the total spent for all 3 companies, and find the difference between that and
the sale price. How much did you make or lose?
Paid _________________ Sold_________________________
Difference __________________________
5. Now, find out what % your portfolio went up or down. Amount of change over original
amount equals percent over 100.
6. Write one paragraph (5 sentences) on if your investments were good or not and why you
believe that. Remember, generally when people are investing in the stock market, it is
for long term returns not short term (many years versus one year or one week)
SHOW ALL WORK FOR THE PROBLEMS