MATH 1114 – Mathematics for IT

Project

Due: August 1st, 11:59pm

First Deadline: July 9th , 11:59pm: Topic chosen
1. Suggestions for project topics will be made available in Week 8.
Note: You can come up with your own project based on the work you do outside
the college or based on a math topic you are interested in. Suggested topics are
listed in this document.
2. You must submit your chosen topic by July 9th , 11:59pm. Submit this description to
the appropriate drop box in DC Connect. Failure to submit this item on time means an
automatic 25% deduction in marks for the project. The Summary must include the
name of the project, your name and student ID number as well as a short description
of your chosen topic. The description should be one or at most two paragraphs.
3. Prepare the word processing document with the following specifications:
1. Cover page must include project title, your name and Student ID numbers,
Durham College logo and submission date. (1 point)
2. Problem definition or introduction – a brief summary of the project explaining what
the project about. (1 point)
3. Your work for the project. (14 points)
4. Conclusion (2 points)
5. References. (2 points) References to material or information obtained from various
sources must be given credit. You must use APA style as directed in the Course
Outline. If you did not use any sources for your project you must include a heading
for references and write ‛no sources used“ under that heading.

General style:
You may use the default settings of your word processor to write your project report so
long as those default settings match the list below. Deviations will be penalized:
 Report must be submitted in English
 Instructor must be able to open and read Project report
 Report must be submitted in a word processor format. A spreadsheet file or
presentation file may be submitted if appropriate to the topic. Only word processor
files will be marked. No PDFs will be accepted for marking.
 Font Size: no less than 10 pt, no more than 13 pt
 Font Name: any professional-looking font is acceptable. This means no cursive-style
fonts, no all-capital fonts
 Left and Right page margins equal between 2.5cm and 3.8cm
 Top and Bottom page margins equal between 2.5cm and 3.5cm
MATH 1110 Project 2021 Fall p. 1 of 5
 Spelling and Grammar
Correct spelling and grammar are very important in a professional report. Given the
abilities of current word processors spelling errors are not acceptable. Grammar errors
should be corrected to the best of your ability. If your knowledge of English grammar
is weak then ask someone whose knowledge of English grammar is much better than
yours to proofread your report and help you make corrections. I will deduct up to 10%
of the total mark for the project report if I find grammar and / or spelling errors in
your report.
Submit one word processing document (plus any accompanying or support files) to the DC
Connect Dropbox by the deadline August 1st, 11:59pm
No late projects will be accepted. No extensions will be granted. No alternative work will be
provided.

Suggestions for project topics

Investigation Beyond the Third Dimension. We perceive our world as one of three
dimensions. Mathematicians of vision, however, have ventured beyond these limits,
conceptualizing "spaces" of four and even more dimensions. How can we use algebra and
geometry to extend our knowledge of the first three dimensions? Can you build a model of
a tesseract, the fourth-dimensional equivalent of a cube?
What are Napier's Bones? How were these rods constructed? What math principles were
used to determine how to use the rods to solve problems?
How and why is it possible to approximate a curve using straight lines?
Investigate one method of making projections about the future that uses mathematics.
Investigate the development and use of Catastrophe Theory.
What is a cycloid and what does it do?
Investigate the use of dice and probability in role playing games. Players fight battles by
rolling two dice and adding modifiers according to each player's advantages. Generate a
chart giving the odds of victory based on modifiers.
Build and explain probability tables based on the odds of winning in popular casino
games: for example: roulette, Black Jack, other poker games, dice, Baccarat, slot
machines.
Investigate different systems of measurements that have been and / or are used in various
cultures around the world. How did they develop? How do they compare to the current SI
system?
Demonstrate the mathematics of making a flat map of a curved object.
What are the mathematical relationships between the dimensions (length, width, and
height) of a rectangular solid (box), its surface area and its volume? Develop a method that
will generate the perimeter of the box‘s net based on its dimensions. (A box‘s net is the 2-
dimensional representation of the 3-dimensional box, What the box looks like as a flat
piece of paper or cardboard.)
What are the mathematical principles involved in a pantograph? How are pantographs
used?
How has mathematics be used to assist people who invest in the stock market?

MATH 1110 Project 2021 Fall p. 2 of 5

What are the mathematics involved in public key cryptography? How is it possible to
calculate the length of time necessary to ‛break“ the key.
What is a magic square? Research and describe how to find solutions for magic squares?
Analyze the results from flipping an ordinary coin at least 100 times. Is it likely to be able
to repeat your results the second or third or fourth time? How do you know the coin is
‛fair“, i.e. not biased or weighted to generate more heads or more tails?
Demonstrate if the general linear equation y = mx + b can be used to define a line in three
dimensions? What about four or more dimensions?
If two poles 10m and 15m high are 25m apart, what is the height of the point of
intersection of the lines that run from the top of each pole to the foot of the other pole?
Generalize your result and develop one or more equations that can be used to solve any
problem of this sort.
Investigate the five "perfect" (or Platonic) solids and explain why there are only five.
Research an invention based on unusual geometric properties or configurations (e.g.
Rolamite Bearing, Wankel Engine, Holograms, etc.).
Investigate and discuss the Escher variety of periodic drawings. Describe how to analyze
an Escher drawing to find the unit cell and periodicity.
Investigate tiling the plane with similar figures (tessellation).
Analyze and describe the construction of an accurate sundial (gnomon).
Make and use a clinometer (sextant) to indirectly measure five lengths. (Hint: Do this
project only after having studied similar triangles.)
Investigate the field of topology.
Research the application of mathematical principles in the world of art with a written
description of those principles and their application.
Investigate the connection between economics and math.
Investigate and report on financial institutions and how to simulate investing in the stock
market.
Research the role of geometric shapes and properties in architecture and construction.
What is the influence of Archimedes on mathematics?
What is the mathematics behind current encryption techniques. How can a cipher be
broken?
Investigate the Golden Proportion and the Golden Rectangle in art and nature.
Investigate and describe how Eratosthenes measured the circumference of the earth.
What is the mathematics behind the theory of perspective in drawing:
What is the history of finding the distance from the earth to the moon? How is it possible
to measure the distance from the earth to the moon with simple geometry? How accurate
is the result?
What is meant by the terms standard deviation and normal distribution in statistics. How
are these used in in population studies like the Canadian census.

MATH 1110 Project 2021 Fall p. 3 of 5

Non-Euclidean Geometry. Many attempts have been made to prove Euclid's fifth postulate,
all unsuccessful. A system of geometry that is constructed without the use of the Parallel
Postulate is known as a non-Euclidean geometry. What is absolute geometry? hyperbolic
geometry? elliptical geometry?
Some Special Numbers. The constants 0, 1, i, and e have many important and unique
properties. What are these numbers? How are they related to each other? How did they
develop in the history of mathematics?
Investigate the use of check digits and error detecting codes in use today: UPC bar coding,
Social Insurance numbers, credit card numbers, etc.
Investigate the curvature of surfaces.
Explore Fractals and objects having non-integral dimensions. What is the relationship
between the square roots of negative numbers and fractals?
What does it mean to say a sequence of numbers is random? How random are the random
numbers generated by a computer? Is it possible to generate true random numbers with a
computer?
Use examples from mammalian genetics to demonstrate the use of probability in Genetic
Counselling.
Write a report on ancient number systems, positional and / or non-positional.
Calculate the average distance between restaurants in several fast food chains (e.g.
McDonald's, Tim Horton‘s, Pizza Pizza, etc.) Why are they different?
Research Pythagoras and his most famous theorem about the hypotenuse of right-angled
triangles.
What are the relationships between music and mathematics? Are there different
relationships in different cultures.? If so what are the differences and why?
What are the mathematical properties of spheres, cones and cylinders? How are they
related?
Investigate the Golden Proportion and the Golden Rectangle in art and nature.
How did Eratosthenes measure the circumference of the earth?
Describe the theory of perspective in drawing.
Measurement of the distance from the earth to the moon by simple geometry.
What is the Fibonacci Sequence? Where can it be seen in natural systems (plants,
animals, etc.) How is it used in mathematics?
Investigate the use of check digits and error detecting codes in use today. UPC bar coding,
Social Security numbers, etc.
Explore Fractals and objects having non-integral dimensions.
Game Theory. Investigate the application of mathematics to game strategies. How is this
mathematics used in economics?
How is iteration useful in mathematics and computer programming?

Item Maximum Your Score

Score
Cover 1
MATH 1110 Project 2021 Fall p. 4 of 5
 Summary 1
Body 14
Conclusion 2
References 2
Total 20 0
Errors

MATH 1110 Project 2021 Fall p. 5 of 5