Project Quantum Leap (PQL) – Links and Sample Project
The PQL Sampler, which can be downloaded as a pdf at http://faculty.lagcc.cuny.edu/ctl/pql/sampler,
contains dozens of projects ready for implementation in your MAT095, MAT096, MAT115 and even
MAT120 classes. To give some idea of what the projects entail, the outline of one (not yet in the Sampler)
is included below. Projects in the Sampler include a detailed activity overview for instructors, with
complete references and guidelines on when and how to run it. Feel free to adopt or elaborate on these
projects in your classes, and to design your own for publication in the Sampler!
Outline of PQL Project: “Let’s Talk about Cell Phones”
MAT095 Intro to Algebra
Part 1
Go to http://www.secret-life.org/cellphones/ and watch short video “The secret life of cell phones”. Answer
the following questions.
1. How many cell phones were in use in the USA in 1985?
2. How many cell phones were in use in 2006?
3. Do you know how many cell phones are in use in the USA right now? Please find it out using online resources.
4. How many phones approximately are replaced each year?
5. What about your experience? How often do you replace your phone?
6. How many cell phones have to be recycled to extract gold enough to produce a gold ring?
7. How much silver could be extracted from 1 ton of recycled phones?
Part 2
Using your answers from Part 1 or/and information provided in each question please complete the following
calculations.
1. It is known that “Recycling 100,000 cell phones ready for end of life management in the US would save
enough energy to power about 194 US households with electricity for one year.”
(a) Estimate the number of cell phones needed to be recycled to power up 1 household for 1 year.
(b) Using your answer for question 4 find how households could be powered up by the energy saved if
all phones replaced in one year would be recycled?
2. Using your answer for question 6 find how many rings could be produced from gold extracted from
replaced cell phones?
3. The average weight of a cell phone is 4 ounces or 28 grams. Calculate the number of cell phones that
have to be recycled to extract 7 kilograms of silver (Use your answer for question 7 – Part 1)
Part 3
Please reflect on your behavior regarding cell phones. You may use questions bellow as a guide line.
1. Based on this project, what have you learned about cell phone usage? What is the most shocking piece of
information and why do think it is shocking?
2. Based on the potential for cell phones reuse/recycling, what do you think we can do to encourage people
to reuse and recycle their cell phones? In your opinion, how necessary is it?
3. How has this study affected your own behavior as a consumer of cell phones? With what you know
now, would you consider changing the way you are “consuming cell phones? What would you change
and why?
4. What we have discovered for cell phones is also true for computers and what we consume every day. In
your opinion, what is our responsibility as consumers toward the environment and the rest of the world?
The Math Society – Links and Sample Contest Problems
OPEN TO ALL LAGUARDIA STUDENTS, The Math Society runs STATE AND NATIONAL MATH CONTESTS each
featuring cash and other prizes (including $3000 scholarship!) It also organizes contest prep sessions, student talks,
review parties, and open hours where you can work on problems with faculty and peers.
To learn about Math Society Parties and events, including research opportunities, and for the most up-to-date
information please visit www.facebook.com/MathSocietyAtLaguardia
Some Problems from Past and Current Contests
22 people want a piece of pizza…
Can you cut a circle with 6 straight lines into 22 parts?
Spot an Error
The city in which Leila lived had a tax-free day. Leila went to a 99-cent store and bought several items that each
costs 99 cents, as well as a few that costs $1.98 and some that costs $2.97. But Leila didn’t know exactly how many
items she had in her shopping bag. When she went to the cash registrar, the cashier told her that the total cost was
$62.47. Leila told the cashier that she knew that the cashier had made a mistake in adding up the cost of her items.
Leila was right. But how did she spot the error without knowing the number of items she bought?
Logic Problem
Read the statements below. Is statement (3) true?
1) There are three numbered statements in italics.
2) Two of the numbered statements are not true.
3) You know the answer to the question.
Flying hats
Cindy and her three aunts are out for a walk. All the aunts are wearing hats, which are suddenly blown off by a gust
of wind. Cindy runs after the hats and manages to collect all of them, but not remembering who had which hat, she
gives them back at random. What is the probability that exactly two of the aunts will get back the right hat?
Adding to 99
How many pluses (“+”) should you put between the digits of 987,654,321 to get a total of 99?
There are two solutions. Can you find both?
My name is Bond… James Bond
Each of the letters below represents a single digit between 0 and 9. Can you break the code (S =?, M =? etc…) to
figure out which digits will give a correct sum?
+
SEND
MORE
MONEY