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CCST9037/AS1/TNK/13-14sem2

THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

SCNC9037: Mathematics: A Cultural Heritage

Assignment 1

The purpose of this assignment is to investigate in what ways mathematics is presented in the

internet/printed mass media.

Start collecting clippings that have to do with mathematics from current (published later than

January 27th 2014) newspapers, magazines, or webpages (in English or in Chinese, whose target

audience is the general public). The items can be news, columns, advertisements, cartoons, etc.

Do not take an excerpt out of a book or a magazine or a website which is specifically on

mathematics or science per se. E.g., clippings from magazines or websites such as New Scientists,

Nature, American Mathematical Society, Science News, or from a personal blog, are not acceptable.

Target number of items is 10.

For each item, record clearly the source and date, and write a note of a sentence or two (in English)

to explain how that item is related to mathematics. If the content of the item was originally written

in Chinese, please provide also a brief description or translation in English.

After collecting all 10 items, write an additional passage between 200 to 300 words to comment on

the mathematical contents and express your overall views about the items in relation to the

Learning Outcomes of this course (you can find the Course Learning Outcomes in the Course

Description file or in the ppt notes of Lecture 1 and Lecture 2).

Submit your 10 items (and number them) and your type-written passage in a single Word or PDF file

through Moodle.

Due date: 16:55 April 22nd, 2014.

Some examples of clippings are in the next few pages. Note that they were collected previously and

hence are not current; but the items you collect for this assignment must be published later than

January 27th 2014.

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Item 1

Source and date: Ming Pao (明報), Dec 21, 2012

Brief translation of news content: University professor applied mathematical models to win horse race. His business partner files law suit to claim compensation.

Note to explain how this news clipping is related to mathematics: Most people would like to know secret mathematical formulas to win bets. Such mathematical knowledge, if exists, will be sought after by many.

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Item 2

Source and date: Ming Pao (明報), Jan 29, 2013

Note: The "mathletes vs athletes" poster shows a brain and a boxing glove. Here mathematics is associated with brain power or intelligence.

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Item 3

Source and date: Mail Online, Nov 1, 2012

URL:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2226247/Maths-really-CAN-make-head-hurt-researchers-say.html#axzz2JjjaNpVc

Note: Here is some medical evidence to show that, at least for some people, the “pain” of doing mathematics is real.

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