Example Book
By Sir Francis Drake
This is an EXAMPLE of the
book project.
The application project for this course is to make a book that
explains some of the key course concepts. As you write the
book you will apply tools we use to communicate
mathematical concepts in written form. In addition to
learning to write math, you will also be creating a resource
to help you retain what you learn.
You will not benefit by copying and pasting from here or from
the course. Instead, take the time to write the book in your
own words. The following pages are examples but do not
contain content from this course. Your pages will look much
different and contain content from our course.
Module 1: Area & Circumference of a Circle
𝝅 = 𝟑. 𝟏𝟒𝟏𝟓𝟗𝟐𝟔𝟓𝟑𝟓 … …
𝑪
Pi is an irrational number, not
because it is crazy, but because
𝒓 it cannot be expressed as a
𝑨 ratio of two numbers (which is
what makes a rational number
rational). It is an endless
number that never repeats itself.
The formula for the area of a circle is: 𝑨 = 𝝅𝒓𝟐
Where A is the area of the circle, r is the radius of the circle, and
𝝅 is the constant irrational number pi.
The formula for the circumference of a circle is: 𝑪 = 𝟐𝝅𝒓
The circumference of a circle is another name for a circle’s
perimeter, or the length of the circle’s outside edge.
In the equation, C is the circumference, r is the radius of the
circle, and 𝝅 is the constant irrational number pi.
Circles are special versions of a shape called an This is an
ellipse, just like squares are special versions of ellipse
rectangles. The special part is that if you start at
the center and walk to the edge, you will always
walk the same distance. The distance is the radius.
Module 2: Percentages
Percentages are just another way of representing rational
numbers. There are many ways that rational numbers can be
represented. Here are three ways that five-fourths can be
represented:
• Fractions: show a division between two rational numbers
and can be equivalent so long as they are proportional.
𝟓 𝟏𝟎 𝟐𝟎 𝟏𝟐𝟓
𝟓÷𝟒= = = = =⋯
𝟒 𝟖 𝟏𝟔 𝟏𝟎𝟎
• Percentages: are a special kind of fraction that we notate
with a % sign and always have a denominator equal to 100.
𝟏𝟐𝟓
= 𝟏𝟐𝟓%
𝟏𝟎𝟎
• Decimals: mix using percentage amounts with whole
numbers.
𝟓
= 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓
𝟒
Module 3: Degree 2 Polynomials
The degree of a polynomial is the highest exponent that
shows up in an expression.
An exponent is an operation that tells us how many times a
number is multiplied by itself, so 5 squared means that there are
2 fives multiplied together.
𝟏𝟐𝟏 = 𝟏𝟐
𝟓𝟐 = 𝟓 ⋅ 𝟓
𝟕𝟑 = 𝟕 ⋅ 𝟕 ⋅ 𝟕
A polynomial is a mathematical expression with more than two
terms. It is called a polynomial because “poly-” means “many,”
so it really means that there are many terms.
This is an example of a polynomial of degree 2:
𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟓
All polynomials of degree 2 either reach up or reach down.