Welcome to Seminar Five
Conic Sections (MTH112)
Weekly Content - Conic Sections
Think about taking two cones and gluing them together at their tip - one opening up and the other down. Now let a plane cut across the two cones. Depending on the angle of the plane, you'll get a variety of different shapes. These different shapes are what we call "conic sections".
Weekly Motivation
There is no branch of mathematics, however abstract, which may not some day be applied to phenomena of the real world. [1]
-- Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky
Lobachevsky's quote touches on a tension that has existed in mathematics for centuries: Is mathematics a pure or applied subject. This is something we'll look at more in this week's discussion.
[1] The Foundations of Geometry and the Non-Euclidean Plane by George Edward Martin (1982) p.225
-- Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky
Lobachevsky's quote touches on a tension that has existed in mathematics for centuries: Is mathematics a pure or applied subject. This is something we'll look at more in this week's discussion.
[1] The Foundations of Geometry and the Non-Euclidean Plane by George Edward Martin (1982) p.225
Final Exam
The final exam isn't due until the end of next week but some of you may want to get a head start on studying for it.
Tech Support
If you're having technical issues with accessing or using Blackboard, you should contact the Baker College help desk at (800) 645-8350. I'll be glad to answer any questions you have about the course's content but faculty don't have the training or access to do any kind of tech support
Contacting Me
There are a number of ways for you to reach me during this course:
- Our private discussion area
- Telephone: 813.995.8622 (office hours only)
- Skype: prof.gregory.allen
Professor Gregory Allen
Email: gallen06@baker.edu
Website: http://www.whitecraneeducation.com
Location: Skype: prof.gregory.allen
Phone: 813.995.8622