At Thursday Detention, we greatly value keeping in touch with our mentors/teachers. We learn so much from them! We want to know more. On a deeper level. As deep as possible. Naturally, we sent our spies to gain some top secret information in the form of answers to the following five questions, Enjoy.
question 1: what is your favorite shape?
Mr. Wood: Circle
D. Cal: Nonagon, because it’s a frequent crossword puzzle answer.
Ms. Dahl: I am weirdly obsessed with the 3D shape formed by the intersection of equal width cylinders around the x, y, and z axes. Visualizing it in detail is an almost meditative mental challenge. Way better than counting sheep.
Mr. P: Gömböc - the first shape found that has 1 equilibrium point
D. Cal: Nonagon, because it’s a frequent crossword puzzle answer.
Ms. Dahl: I am weirdly obsessed with the 3D shape formed by the intersection of equal width cylinders around the x, y, and z axes. Visualizing it in detail is an almost meditative mental challenge. Way better than counting sheep.
Mr. P: Gömböc - the first shape found that has 1 equilibrium point
question 2: what is your favorite angle?
Mr. Wood: right angle
D. Cal: A right angle. Who would want to be wrong?
Ms. Dahl: Maybe 2(pi)/3. I’m not sure why, but it’s the one that popped into my head first. So let’s go with that. Also, it’s a third of a circle, and thirds of a circle are the basis for the peace symbol, and we could use a little more peace in the world.
Mr. P: 53.13 degrees - one of the angles of a 3-4-5 triangle
D. Cal: A right angle. Who would want to be wrong?
Ms. Dahl: Maybe 2(pi)/3. I’m not sure why, but it’s the one that popped into my head first. So let’s go with that. Also, it’s a third of a circle, and thirds of a circle are the basis for the peace symbol, and we could use a little more peace in the world.
Mr. P: 53.13 degrees - one of the angles of a 3-4-5 triangle
question 3: degrees or radians?
Mr. Wood: degrees
D. Cal: Degrees
Ms. Dahl: Radians. Obvi.
Mr. P: Radians - because degrees are made up and radians are for real
D. Cal: Degrees
Ms. Dahl: Radians. Obvi.
Mr. P: Radians - because degrees are made up and radians are for real
question 4: derivatives or integrals?
Mr. Wood: integrals
D. Cal: Integrals
Ms. Dahl: Integrals, because Donut Day.
Mr. P: Choosing one or the other is like asking if I want a peanut butter sandwich or a jelly sandwich... so no.
D. Cal: Integrals
Ms. Dahl: Integrals, because Donut Day.
Mr. P: Choosing one or the other is like asking if I want a peanut butter sandwich or a jelly sandwich... so no.
question 5: who is your favorite mathematician?
Mr. Wood: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
D. Cal: Dr. Joe Busch
Ms. Dahl: I do especially enjoy learning about the often-overlooked contributions of women in mathematics over the years, like Hypatia, Ada Lovelace, and Katherine Johnson.
Mr. P: Newton
D. Cal: Dr. Joe Busch
Ms. Dahl: I do especially enjoy learning about the often-overlooked contributions of women in mathematics over the years, like Hypatia, Ada Lovelace, and Katherine Johnson.
Mr. P: Newton