Mst121 Videocassette 1

Synopsis

A: Explores the mathematical properties of circles. Uses animations to explain geometrical and trigometric relationships and uses short live-action sequences to reflect the cultural and historical diversity in the development of the mathematics. Also illustrates some surprising applications and connections with the design of everyday objects such as 20-pence coins, bicycle wheels and crop circles.
B: Shows various features of networks as a means of describing the idea of matrix notation. Introduces a specially constructed network of coloured pipes that distribute water input at the top to output containers at the bottom. Later, the procedure for inputting water is altered and all the water output is recycled into the inputs, giving a closed system. In matrix notation this parallels the idea of multiplying a matrix by itself over and over. Also raises the notion of matrix manipulation is by making different networks of pipes and combining them together. Using graphics, the physical networks are transformed into several sequences where the matrices are worked horizontally.
C: Explores differentiation in visual terms by means of a gradient meter: by using graphical interpretations of algebraic functions, shows how the instantaneous speed of a jogger can be derived from a graph of the jogger’s distance agains time, and find the graphs of derivatives of the functions - sine, cosine, log and the exponential function exp of x.
D: Shows computer simulations of many sample means, leading the student towards a formula for estimating the stadard deviation for the mean of means.
E: This observational video shows how students at an M101 Summer School at the University of Reading work in small groups when tackling mathematical investigations. It also includes the views of students, tutors and experts on ‘group working’, and it is initially aimed at part-time maths tutors.

Series

Using Mathematics, Course Mst121

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 88 min.

Year of production

1997

Availability

AVAILABLE ONLY AS PART OF COURSE MATERIALS; 1999 sale: £120.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Notes

Support video foruse with Chapters A3, B3, C1 and D3.

Subjects

Mathematics

Keywords

circles; differentiation; matrices; network modelling

Sections

Title

Representing circles

Title

Band A

Title

Networks and matrices 1

Title

Band B

Title

Differentiation 1

Title

Band C

Title

Sampling distributions

Title

Band D

Title

Working in groups

Title

Band E

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk