Category Archives: Mathematics

Discussions about mathematics and software that supports the doing of it.

Math Quick Take: Optimizing your garden’s area

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Bob Sutor

I’m on vacation this week and taking it easy, so I thought I would do a post that appealed both to gardeners and math afficionados. Here’s the problem we’re going to solve: Suppose you buy 100 feet of wire fencing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged | Comments Off

iPads in math classrooms?

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Bob Sutor

I just received an inquiry from a reader who is looking for fellow teachers who are now using iPads in math classrooms for middle or high school. If you know of any, please comment here (or on reddit) and I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged | Comments Off

Math and AI

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Bob Sutor

Not many people know this, but I was briefly involved with artificial intelligence research in the early 1980′s. In fact, I had to miss my first wedding anniversary because I was at an AI conference in Austin, something I’m still … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Comments Off

Richard D. Jenks Memorial Prize

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Bob Sutor

I had the honor of working for and with Dick Jenks for many years in IBM Research. With other computer scientists, he led the development of computer algebra systems like Scratchpad and AXIOM. I’m very pleased to be on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Comments Off

What should an iPad/tablet math app look like?

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Bob Sutor

Math apps for tablet devices like the iPad should teach you how to structure a problem and its solution so you become better organized and capable of learning more advanced topics. As I continue to ponder math software for tablet … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged | Comments Off

End of year update on math software for the iPad

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Bob Sutor

As we reach the end of 2010 and so the end of the first calendar year for Apple’s iPad, I decided to look around one more time at the math software available for that tablet. I’ve previously done this in … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , | Comments Off

Math and the iPad: Mathination

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Bob Sutor

From time to time I do a little survey of the math applications that have been made available for the iPad. I haven’t had time lately to really look through the full set of what has become available in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged | Comments Off

Revisiting math software on the iPad

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Bob Sutor

Now that the iPad has been out for about 3 months and I have had mine for a bit longer than 2 months, I’m going to revisit math software on the iPad. I previously did a couple of blog entries … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Math Quick Take: Repeating Decimals

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Bob Sutor

When students first start learning about fractions and decimals, they see that 1/2 = .5 1/3 = .3333333333… 1/4 = .25 1/5 = .2 1/6 = .1666666666… Some of the decimals are simple and others repeat, but evidently in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | 4 Comments

Math software, dynamic languages, and the iPad

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Bob Sutor

Will issues around multitasking and the new restrictions on the use of dynamic languages stop the Apple iPad from being used as a serious device for mathematical and scientific software? Several days ago I did a blog post about how … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Math software in the age of the iPad and other tablets

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Bob Sutor

Will the next generation of tablets lead to new and better user interfaces for mathematical software? Will this encourage the use of tablets in education? Back in the 80s and 90s I was a member of the Mathematical Sciences Department … Continue reading →

Posted in Mathematics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments