11/16/14

Updating my Nexus 4

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cd /Users/raystuckey/Downloads/occam-krt16o

reboot the phone into recovery

adb reboot bootloader

edit flash-all.sh and remove the -w and it won't wipe the device

raystuckey$ /Users/raystuckey/Downloads/occam-krt16o/flash-all.sh

let it reboot, then boot back into the bootloader


fastboot flash recovery /Users/raystuckey/Desktop/Desktop\ Folder/RootNexus4/openrecovery-twrp-2.6.3.3-mako.img

This used to work with Jelly Bean, but Lollipop has changed how to get root. See the section below.

Boot into recovery (twrp) and install superSU

adb push /Users/raystuckey/Desktop/Desktop\ Folder/RootNexus4/UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.69.zip sdcard/UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.69.zip


For Lollipop:
reboot the phone into recovery
adb reboot bootloader

Use CF-autoroot from Chainfire. Unzip and run. Might need to chmod +x root-mac.sh



root-mac.sh

I've had a problem on OSX where it get the error message:
fastboot(22763,0xa069c1d4) malloc: *** mach_vm_map(size=1787752448) failed (error code=3)
*** error: can't allocate region
*** set a breakpoint in malloc_error_break to debug
failed to allocate 1785963604 bytes
error: update package missing system.img

See details here for how to work around it.

Fish Dish for Raspberry Pi

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I used these excellent instructions to assemble the Fish Dish.


11/7/14

Empirical Rule Manipulatives

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I put together a manipulative idea for teaching the Empirical Rule (68 - 95 - 99.7% Rule) to my Stats class. It is posted on here.


This would fall under the Common Core standard S-ID.A.4:
Use the mean and standard deviation of a data set to fit it to a normal distribution and to estimate population percentages. Recognize that there are data sets for which such a procedure is not appropriate. Use calculators, spreadsheets, and tables to estimate areas under the normal curve.

I give two sheets to students. If you have colored paper, like a red and a green, its helps with the visual. I had my students color them with two different colors. If paper is in short supply, it can be done with just one set. Students should then cut out the curves.

On the front, each one should be labeled 100%, 99.7%, 95%, and 68%. Then fold them in half and on the backs, label each half of the backs: 50%, 49.35%, 47.5% and 34%. Now they can put them together and just add or subtract them. For example, the probability of data being below 1 standard deviation is the 50% below the mean, and half of the piece for 1 standard deviation above the mean: 50% + 34% = 84%.

Now if the endpoints of the data are on the same side of the mean, then you need to subtract. In this case, data between 1 standard deviation and 2 standard deviation is 47.5% then take out the red 34%, 47.5% – 34% = 13.5%


Here are some students working with them.





 I used the Khan Academy exercise on Empirical Rule. And these are the worksheets that they are working on.


10/11/14

Are we that bad at math?

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I get a little upset when I see some of these social media posts that challenge people to do simple math. This one was particularly bugging me.

First, let's start with the obvious errors, 2 is not equal to 5, 3 is not equal to 10, and 4 is not equal to 16. If those things were true, then we know that 5=2 by the reflexive property.
I don't believe that is the answer that is expected, and I don't like redefining a basic piece of notation.
So l we need to fix this problem a little. I going to assume that they are trying to represent some relation by using the equals sign. I'm going to rewrite this:
xy
25
310
417
5??
So looking for any type of patterns, I notice right away it isn't linear. The differences between the outputs are 5 and 7, so maybe the answer could be 26, by adding 9, given the little information that is given.
y = 26
However, there are many functions that can fit just three points.
Here is a parabola, that fits these points. Using this function f(5) = 23.

And then there is this circle: . There are two answers here: 24 or 59.


So so far we have answers of 2, 23, 24, 26, and 59. Are there more? Probably. I bet some sort of periodic function could fit those three points. Comment if you think you know of another answer.

10/4/14

Phone encryption a needed addition

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How to resolve this? A police “back door” for all smartphones is undesirable — a back door can and will be exploited by bad guys, too. However, with all their wizardry, perhaps Apple and Google could invent a kind of secure golden key they would retain and use only when a court has approved a search warrant.
How can the author say that back doors and unacceptable in one sentence, and in in the very next sentence say a golden key is the answer. It's the same thing, just a different metaphor! The article is also written in a very US-centric perspective. I'm bet in many countries, like Russia and China, encryption is welcomed by many residents, and people whom are traveling there. Compromise needed on smartphone encryption

8/16/14

LRF sings the Fight Song

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I taught my LRF a new trick. It can sing the fight song now. Just in time for the football season!

 Code is available from my Github for LRF.

Little Robot Friend

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I got my Little Robot Friend the other day. I finally got all the tools I needed to put it together.









6/24/14

Scope for Common Core Math

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It has been a lot of work this year planning for Common Core. We are done working out the scope, sequence, pacing, chapters, CRM, etc. for our Integrated Math Classes. It has been a journey. Even at the end we were still struggling to get a big-but-lots-of-information-picture of what we had just make. I put together what we called the "Pretty Pages" for the all of Math 1, Math 2, and Math 3.
The full thing can be downloaded here.

6/22/14

Playing Music with Tasker

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I wanted my phone to play automatically when I start my car. Kind of like a radio. From my phone. I'm using my Nexus 4 and the HomeSpot Bluetooth Receiver.

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Tasker has a problem with the Play Media option, but here is what works.

2013-07-30 05.19.17



Profile -> Set Variable -> %MTRACK



2013-07-30 05.19.25

Task -> Flash -> %MTRACK

2013-07-30 05.18.57

Profile -> Bluetooth Connected -> GT BT-Receiver (Or whatever your bluetooth is called)

2013-07-30 05.19.09



Task -> Load App -> App Play Music

Wait -> 6 seconds

Media Control -> Pause

Media Control -> Toggle Pause

6/18/14

QR Luggage Tag

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So I was at Target and got a neat idea use for a QR code. I made a QR code from qrstuff that will set up an SMS message with a predetermined message. All the person scanning it has to do is press send. I'll put this on my luggage tag along with the plain text of my phone number and address. Hopefully it never gets used, but if it help me find my lost luggage it will be worth it.

6/11/14

Music on the Pibrella

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Here's my attempt at playing music using the Pibrella on the Raspberry Pi.

Star Wars Theme
The Buzzer seems to have some trouble hitting notes over about 500Hz, as you can probably tell.

Stars Wars Theme one octave lower


MSU Fight Song


Here is the code on for music3 on GitHub.

4/12/14

Calculators for the Common Core

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Hi Friends,

I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed. So I've created a classroom project request at DonorsChoose.org, an award-winning charity.

I'm asking for donations of any size to help my kids. For the next four days, any donation you make to my project will be doubled by 100 Women in Hedge Funds (up to $500). If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your donation will brighten my students' school year, and you'll get photos and thank yous from our class.

Here's my classroom request:


To have your donation matched dollar for dollar, enter the promo code 100WOMEN on the payment screen. This awesome match offer lasts through April 16.


My students and I greatly appreciate your support.

3/15/14

17 Equations that changed the world

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I get it, its a pretty hard sell to get people to buy a book about equations. But when you write a book called In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World, it might be a good idea to get the equations right. Math is hard, but it's not that hard. Chapter 7 covers the equation for the standard normal distribution. Here is the offending equation from page 107:
Also, it is repeated wrong on page 115:
There are lots of ways to write this equation, as far as being algebraically equivalent. However, what you see above is not it. Here is the corrected version.
Seriously, I teach this in high school. It's not that hard.

3/2/14

πday Preview

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I'm getting a πday investigation set up for my students to do on 3/14. I have circles of various that they will have to measure the diameters and circumferences (circumfrencii?)