Dataset2/D2TBSS

From Jsarmi

Contents

Group Trajectory

 Session 1: Bwang divided the figure into horizontal and vertical lines, Formulas for both sticks and squares were produced, 
            The values for N=4, 5, and 6 were agreed upon and posted to the Wiki.  Quicksilver offers an explanation of how
            the pattern grows but it is not discussed
 Session 2: Feedback attended to
 Session 3: 
 Session 4: 

Group composition: Stable

 Session 1:  bw   qs   az
 Session 2:  bw   qs   az         
 Session 3:  
 Session 4:  
  
 (L)                   (N)  

Session I

 bwang8 5/9/06 6:23:18 PM EDT: hi
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:23:23 PM EDT: Hi
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 6:23:28 PM EDT: hey
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:23:35 PM EDT: So we can't have our own friends?
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:23:40 PM EDT: nope
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:23:49 PM EDT: lol
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 6:23:52 PM EDT: hey three of us are from miller
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:23:55 PM EDT: Hi everyone!
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:24:59 PM EDT: Today's session is mainly to get to know the VMT system
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:29:12 PM EDT: You can click on the button at the top that says "View Topic" to see the math problem
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:29:32 PM EDT: ok
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:29:50 PM EDT: are we suppose to solve it now?
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:30:13 PM EDT: Then you can click on the button in the little window that appears to open the topic in another big growser window
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:30:36 PM EDT: browser*
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:30:40 PM EDT: It didn't open.
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:30:52 PM EDT: Now it did.
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:31:32 PM EDT: So, are we supposed to work together?
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:31:49 PM EDT: yeah
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:31:50 PM EDT: ok
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:31:54 PM EDT: Exactly!
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:32:04 PM EDT: Aditya, you there?
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:32:05 PM EDT: you can divide the thing into two parts
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:32:10 PM EDT: Let's start this thing.
 (bwang draws the third iteration of the pattern splitted in 2 diagrams dividing the horizontal and vertical lines)
 ...
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 6:32:58 PM EDT: what are the lines for?
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:33:01 PM EDT: go to view topic
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:33:05 PM EDT: so you can see we only need to figur one out to get the total stick

intersubjectivity

good example of how whiteboar actions and chat are mutually informative, but also how the sequential production of the conversation is used as a resource for making sense of the conversation. This is all tentative, and the group works it out. What are the lines for? Instructability: There is always a content and a procedural side to everything we do: Saying "you can divide the thing into two parts" informs the others about how his subsequent actions are to be read. Those whiteboard actions inform the meaning of that posting as well.

 bwang8 5/9/06 6:33:32 PM EDT: 1+2+3+........+N+N
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:33:38 PM EDT: times that by 2
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 6:33:40 PM EDT: Never mind I figured it out..
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:34:01 PM EDT: Can we collaborate this answer even more?
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:34:05 PM EDT: To make it even simpler?
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:34:15 PM EDT: ok
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:34:16 PM EDT: Because I think we can.
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:34:50 PM EDT: ((1+N)*N/2+N)*2
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:34:58 PM EDT: that's the formula, right?
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:35:15 PM EDT: How did you come up with it?
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:35:16 PM EDT: for total sticks
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:35:34 PM EDT: is a common formual
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:35:40 PM EDT: formula
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:35:46 PM EDT: Yeah, I know.
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:35:59 PM EDT: and just slightly modify it to get this
 (whiteboard)
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:36:31 PM EDT: Aditya, you get this right?
 (bwang corrects his drawing so that the horizontal lines orient in the same way that the original problem drawing)
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:38:38 PM EDT: The number of squares is just (1+N)*N/2  (points to his formula posted at 6:34:50 PM)
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:38:52 PM EDT: I put BWang's formula on the whiteboard
 (whiteboard)
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:39:45 PM EDT: So how do we submit this?
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 6:40:26 PM EDT: We are still in the process
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 6:40:38 PM EDT: We are discussing
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:40:41 PM EDT: you can complete the table for different N and put that on the wiki

The practice of moving formulas to the whiteboard is not picked up, so the formula for the number of squares never makes it on to the whiteboard.

 Quicksilver 5/9/06 6:46:50 PM EDT: Are we Team B?
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:46:55 PM EDT: TEAM B
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:47:02 PM EDT: i am done
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:47:06 PM EDT: I think's its case sensitive.
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:47:11 PM EDT: Alright, my turn.
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:47:25 PM EDT: Nice!
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:47:27 PM EDT: is mine in the correct format
 Aznx 5/9/06 6:49:34 PM EDT: The number of squares is 15.
 Gerry 5/9/06 6:49:47 PM EDT: You might want to draw the table on the whiteboard to make sure you all agree
 (table being constructed on the whiteboard by bwang)
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 6:51:00 PM EDT: There are 15 squares and 44 sticks for n=5?
 (correction 4 instead of 3 and the values for n=5 just mentioned by Quicksilver added by bwang)
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:52:03 PM EDT: isn't it 40
 bwang8 5/9/06 6:52:18 PM EDT: (15+5)*2
 (correction 40 instead of 44 by bwang)

Interesting... This an application of ((1+N)*N/2+N)*2 -> ((1+5)*5/2+5)*2) -> (15+5)*2 = 40

Later they have on the whiteboard two tables and one textbox which contain overlap but disagree in one number. In two, number of sticks for N=5 is 44 in the rest it is 40, so they try to coordinate this. Quicksilver does not seem responsive and later he posts this long chat message:

Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:00:39 PM EDT: Well, anyway, you can see a pattern that the amount of squares increases by the n. For the
                                   sticks, The bottom row's square on the right has 2 new sticks. All the squares in the new row 
                                   to the left of it have 3 new sticks. So, If te row has 5 squares, 4 of the squares have 3 sticks,
                                   the last on only has two. For the enitre Figure, you would add the amount to the previous ammount

After that technical problem the moderator sort of closes down the session:

 Gerry 5/9/06 7:04:43 PM EDT: Maybe we should stop for today
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:04:48 PM EDT: Alright.
 jsarmi 5/9/06 7:04:50 PM EDT: Quicksilver... why don't you go ahead and close this window and try to enter again
 Gerry 5/9/06 7:05:10 PM EDT: and let jsarmi help Quicksilver get ready to Thursday
 jsarmi 5/9/06 7:05:27 PM EDT: (BTW, this room will now show up in the "My Rooms" tab not on the "Limited Access" one)
 Quicksilver leaves the room 5/9/06 7:05:43 PM EDT
 Gerry 5/9/06 7:05:48 PM EDT: You made a lot of progress already.
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:05:53 PM EDT: So do we leave?
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:06:01 PM EDT: And when do we come back?
 ...
 Gerry 5/9/06 7:06:51 PM EDT: I think we will have the next session at the same time on Thursday. 
                              You will come into the same room and start where you left off today
 jsarmi 5/9/06 7:07:06 PM EDT: that's correct... same time, same team, same room
 bwang8 5/9/06 7:07:12 PM EDT: ok
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:07:15 PM EDT: I have a dentis't appointment...I don't think I can come
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:07:16 PM EDT: Same time on Thursay...got it!
 bwang8 5/9/06 7:07:37 PM EDT: but aren't we done now with this problem
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:07:47 PM EDT: Yeah
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:07:56 PM EDT: So I guess we would start on the second problem?
 bwang8 5/9/06 7:08:05 PM EDT: ok
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:08:16 PM EDT: Did you guys discuss the problem like it said to?
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:08:21 PM EDT: Yeah.
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:08:22 PM EDT: i didn't get half the messages'
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:08:24 PM EDT: so i dont know
 bwang8 5/9/06 7:08:25 PM EDT: yeah

Because Quicksilver can't make it on Thursday , they reschedule their session for the next day:

 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:09:45 PM EDT: Can we just reschedule for wednesday or something?
 jsarmi 5/9/06 7:11:03 PM EDT: If it works out for everyone, you could re-schedule... is that an option?
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:11:23 PM EDT: Wednesday should work for me.
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:11:31 PM EDT: it works for me
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:11:43 PM EDT: bwang?
 bwang8 5/9/06 7:11:50 PM EDT: yes
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:11:59 PM EDT: So this time tomorrow then
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:12:11 PM EDT: in place of thursdays
 bwang8 5/9/06 7:12:14 PM EDT: wednesday, 6-7 central?
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:12:34 PM EDT: Same time as today.
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:12:38 PM EDT: Yeah
 bwang8 5/9/06 7:12:44 PM EDT: ok
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:12:45 PM EDT: Except it's Wednesday instead of Thursday.
 ....
    Aznx 5/9/06 7:13:37 PM EDT: So will we start on a new problem?
 jsarmi 5/9/06 7:13:43 PM EDT: Is it clear to everyone???
 Aznx 5/9/06 7:13:46 PM EDT: Tomorrow?
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:13:48 PM EDT: Yes.
 bwang8 5/9/06 7:13:59 PM EDT: ok
 jsarmi 5/9/06 7:14:11 PM EDT: Some of you are on Central time and some of you on Pacific time, so do not get confused... 
                               same time as today
 bwang8 5/9/06 7:14:17 PM EDT: ok
 Quicksilver 5/9/06 7:14:25 PM EDT: Ok. See you tomorrow then.

Feedback

 VMT Feedback
 
 We were very interested in the approach that divided the figure into  
 the horizontal lines and the vertical lines and the quickness with  
 which formulas fell out of that approach. It seemed as though you  
 also were paying attention to each other's work and quickly reached  
 agreement. You handled the technology of the chat environment and the  
 wiki easily.
 
 We also noticed two places in the chat where some kinds of  
 conversation did not happen. There was a point where 44 was posted as  
 the number of sticks and 40 was offered as a correction. There was no  
 discussion of how 44 was calculated. At another moment, Quicksilver  
 posted an explanation of the pattern of growth that was not discussed.
 
 There was a sense in which you indicated that your work was done when  
 you had at least one answer for the questions in the problem. For the  
 next step we will encourage you to think more about the different  
 approaches and the problems that you can discover on your own and  
 that are interesting to pursue.

Session II

 Gerry 5/10/06 7:02:03 PM EDT: You have some feedback and a new Topic
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:02:13 PM EDT: Has everyone read the feedback?
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:02:17 PM EDT: yup
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:02:25 PM EDT: NOw we have to discuss
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:02:28 PM EDT: yes
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:03:01 PM EDT: Well,, the part about converstaion not happening is because of me
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:03:06 PM EDT: my computer was lagging....
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:03:12 PM EDT: but that's out of our hands
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:03:17 PM EDT: So, I think we should focus on discussing on each step more.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:03:30 PM EDT: and explain every answer thoroughly
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:03:40 PM EDT: Even if the answer was "obvious."
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:03:48 PM EDT: ok
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:03:49 PM EDT: like i gave a wrong answer, but my explanations didn't come up 
                                     on the computer because of the lag
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:03:58 PM EDT: so thats one thing
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:04:12 PM EDT: maybe think of more ways of doing the same problem?
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:04:21 PM EDT: Yeah.

They try to start an activity

Two proposals, looking at today's topic and talking about Quicksilvers wrong idea:

 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:04:50 PM EDT: Now did you two read today's topic?
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:05:08 PM EDT: what was your pattern of growth, quicksiler
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:06:20 PM EDT: i think it was something about the amount of squares that increased with each row....and how one of the new squares had 3 new sticks while the other new ones had 2 new sticks
 p M
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:06:41 PM EDT: oh, ok
 (Quicksilver starts to draw squares with sticks to illustrate his talk to which he refers to in his next chat message)
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:07:07 PM EDT: i drew some sqaures
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:07:19 PM EDT: the left one had three new sticks
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:07:33 PM EDT: the right one has a new stick on the bottom and on the right
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:07:39 PM EDT: the top one is from an old square
 Gerry 5/10/06 7:07:40 PM EDT: It was at 7:00:39 -- to get the old messages, click on the icon above here with the two circular arrows
 (this messages points to a message from the previous day's session, unclear if they followed the link?)
 (the feedback textbox is deleted from the whiteboard)
  Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:09:25 PM EDT: yea that's wrong
  Aznx 5/10/06 7:09:33 PM EDT: So let's brainstorm through some problems that we think are challenging.

Aznx goes back to his idea of orienting to a new task

Instead of quicksilver's error to which bwang and quicksilver oriented, others agree:

 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:09:40 PM EDT: yes...new topic
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:09:42 PM EDT: ok
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:10:20 PM EDT: 3-d figures?
 (quicksilver adds sticks to the 2 squares he drew earlier to make them 3-D)

Projecting

Later on, Aznx adds a third 3D square and calls them a "row of blocks". Aznx makes some "projections" of what they could do:

 Aznx 5/10/06 7:11:06 PM EDT: I think we should discuss on the different methods.
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:11:24 PM EDT: So that we can easily apply our thoughts quickly when seeing a problem.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:11:30 PM EDT: Yes....but we must find a question or problem to investigate
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:11:37 PM EDT: Yeah.
 p M M
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:11:50 PM EDT: I think we should start off with a conjecture, that we need to prove.
 p M M M
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:12:03 PM EDT: Not a hard one, but one that can be challenging.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:12:17 PM EDT: Maybe a row of blocks
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:12:27 PM EDT: likethis
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:12:44 PM EDT: What about them?
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:12:59 PM EDT: The amount of sticks may increase in a pattern?
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:13:01 PM EDT: The problem from yesterday, but only 3-d

The problem from yesterday! BUT different.

Notice no reference to members! (They are stable!) and this is taken by Quicksilver to be a negative assessment, a complaint! BUT ONLY?

 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:13:07 PM EDT: yea i guess
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:13:09 PM EDT: not that good

He repairs the offer, bwang accepts, he mitigates it, bwant escalates, aznx endorses it, quicksilver mitigates put down:

 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:13:18 PM EDT: maybe a pyramind
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:13:24 PM EDT: yeah
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:13:30 PM EDT: although that's hard to draw
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:13:35 PM EDT: pryamind is good
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:13:36 PM EDT: Yeah, I liked that.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:13:36 PM EDT: but we shoudl be able to managt
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:13:36 PM EDT: e
 (Quicksilver draws a 2d version of a stack of cubes in pyramid shape and marks it as "side view")  

Yesterday is still a problem:

 bwang8 5/10/06 7:14:56 PM EDT: isn't this the same as yesterday problem
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:15:03 PM EDT: Really?
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:15:10 PM EDT: Except it's 3-D.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:15:12 PM EDT: no it's three d

What can we use that we ALREADY KNOW:

Interesting:

 Aznx 5/10/06 7:16:45 PM EDT: So, how should we approach this?
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:16:54 PM EDT: What can we use that we already know?
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:16:57 PM EDT: Layer by layer shown in a chart?
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:17:01 PM EDT: well we can divide it into a front and a back
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:17:02 PM EDT: I'd suggest yesterday's problem.
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:17:10 PM EDT: yeah
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:17:22 PM EDT: using the formula from yesterday's problem
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:17:32 PM EDT: we can figure the front and back easily
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:17:36 PM EDT: this
 (Points to the formula from Session I which is still on the whiteboard) 


Notice here Projections again, in this case very collaboratively constructed: "break it down" is something they used in Session I.

 bwang8 5/10/06 7:27:55 PM EDT: the last level have 9
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:28:07 PM EDT: yeah
 p M M M M M
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:28:28 PM EDT: so we will just have to figure out how many sticks make up 3 by 3 blocks
 p M M M M M
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:29:06 PM EDT: Yes.
 p M
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:29:15 PM EDT: After that, we go up to Nth step.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:29:20 PM EDT: Yes
 p M M M M M M M M M M M
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:30:07 PM EDT: ok, how do we figure that out
 p M
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:30:17 PM EDT: 3*3 blocks
 p M
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:30:26 PM EDT: Break it down
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:30:27 PM EDT: I'd say look for a pattern.
 p M
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:30:33 PM EDT: and yes, break it down.
 p M
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:30:40 PM EDT: What other possible ways are there?
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:30:44 PM EDT: That we know of?
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:30:52 PM EDT: top, middle and bottom
 p M M M M M M
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:31:29 PM EDT: top and bottom are 3 by 3 squares
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:31:33 PM EDT: whoops i drew it wrong

"Yesterday stuff:"

 bwang8 5/10/06 7:32:27 PM EDT: do you mind if i erase some yesterday stuff?
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:32:34 PM EDT: yea u can do it
 Diagrams and other materials (e.g. table) are deleted, the formula is kept and then
 a "decomposed" diagram with horizontal and vertical sticks for a 3x3 grid is created by bwang (as he did in S1!)
 ...
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:33:57 PM EDT: when they combine
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:34:05 PM EDT: they make a 3 by 3 square
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:34:08 PM EDT: yes
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:34:14 PM EDT: so just count these
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:34:28 PM EDT: and the equation for it is 2N(N+1)
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:34:35 PM EDT: right?
 p M M
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:34:58 PM EDT: N is the level
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:34:59 PM EDT: I don't know
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:35:04 PM EDT: Prove it.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:35:11 PM EDT: Where did you get it?
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:35:16 PM EDT: I'll help you as you go along.
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:35:27 PM EDT: I kind of get it, but not clearly.
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:35:27 PM EDT: i mean just from the top and bottom 3 by 3 squares
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:35:44 PM EDT: Where did the 2 come from?
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:35:54 PM EDT: this is 3(3+1)  (reference to the whitebaord)

Sharedness

Interesting explanation of bwang8's formula. Is it shared now? Was it just in bwang's problem space before? Was it in everbody's problem space but positioned differently? With different meanings?

Bwang had sugested that their pyramid can be broken down into "top, middle and bottom" and that the "top and bottom are 3 by 3 squares" Then bwang draws a "broken down" version of a 3 by 3 square that looks like this on the whiteboard:

    _ _ _
    _ _ _     | | | |
    _ _ _     | | | |
    _ _ _     | | | |

Then he follows up with this explanation:

 bwang8 5/10/06 7:33:57 PM EDT: when they combine
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:34:05 PM EDT: they make a 3 by 3 square
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:34:08 PM EDT: yes
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:34:14 PM EDT: so just count these
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:34:28 PM EDT: and the equation for it is 2N(N+1)
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:34:35 PM EDT: right?
 (bwang manipulates some objects on the whiteboard, invisible)
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:34:58 PM EDT: N is the level
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:34:59 PM EDT: I don't know
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:35:04 PM EDT: Prove it.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:35:11 PM EDT: Where did you get it?
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:35:16 PM EDT: I'll help you as you go along.
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:35:27 PM EDT: I kind of get it, but not clearly.
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:35:27 PM EDT: i mean just from the top and bottom 3 by 3 squares
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:35:44 PM EDT: Where did the 2 come from?
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:35:54 PM EDT: this is 3(3+1)  (Points to the left side of his diagram, the array of horizontal lines)

Claim Markings:

 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:36:05 PM EDT: ok
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:36:05 PM EDT: Ah.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:36:07 PM EDT: i c
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:36:08 PM EDT: I get it.

Bwang aknowledges, moves on:

 bwang8 5/10/06 7:36:10 PM EDT: ok
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:36:10 PM EDT: ok
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:36:32 PM EDT: so now we get the top and bottom
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:36:40 PM EDT: we need to find the middle

But this "sharedness" is contingent, not cumulative! For example... in this passage both Quicksilver and bwang create different graphics and at the end, they use it to understand each other's views:

 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:37:14 PM EDT: i don't understand something
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:37:15 PM EDT: 
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:37:15 PM EDT: 
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:37:15 PM EDT: 
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:37:19 PM EDT: sorry\\
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:37:28 PM EDT: um...what do you mean it is the top and bottom
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:37:37 PM EDT: oh
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:37:39 PM EDT: it is a pyramid with a flat face right
 p M
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:37:47 PM EDT: let me explain
 (Quicksilver and Bwang, each, create a drawing.  Bwang's is 3D, Quicksilver's 2D with colors)
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:38:38 PM EDT: This face could go againts a wall(this is a top view)   [Points to his drawing]
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:38:48 PM EDT: it is just a way to divide the problem
 (Quicksilver colors a part of his diagram in yellow)
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:39:05 PM EDT: so the yellow is the top level?
 (Quicksilver creates a yellow 3 by 3 grid of squares, Bwang marks lines in his original diagram with scribbles)
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:39:45 PM EDT: we are just focusing on the bottommost level
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:39:54 PM EDT: Yeah.
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:40:04 PM EDT: and all those edges with scribble on it are the top
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:40:18 PM EDT: So this is against the floor underneath the other two levels  [Points to his yellow 3 by 3 grid]
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:40:35 PM EDT: yes
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:40:43 PM EDT: ok...continue then

Q: Is "coloring" (like "labeling") a a more "persistent" diectic? (Note: the use of whiteboard references is very sophisticated here) How do the 2 diagrams stand in relation to each other, their authors and other participants

 bwang8 5/10/06 7:41:02 PM EDT: all the vertical lines are consider the middle  [Points to his diagram]]
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:41:21 PM EDT: ok
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:41:32 PM EDT: and the rest are the bottom
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:41:48 PM EDT: which has the same number of sticks as the top

p M M

Explaining to others and to oneself

Also, bwang, who is "explaining" is also monitoring the intelegibility of his own explanation, and complains about it:

 bwang8 5/10/06 7:42:51 PM EDT: my explanation is pretty bad
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:43:01 PM EDT: do you understand?
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:43:12 PM EDT: enough to go on with the problem
 Aznx 5/10/06 7:43:12 PM EDT: I understand it.

Bwang posts this equation on the whiteboard, not on the chat:

 top/bottom: 2n(n+1)  
 middle: (n+1)^2

"recursive equation/function" appears

 bwang8 5/10/06 7:46:30 PM EDT: so we can use recursive equation to figure out n 3d pryamind
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:46:36 PM EDT: stick number
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:46:42 PM EDT: lol
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:46:48 PM EDT: bad grammar
 (bwang scribles on the whiteboard: Sum (n=1, n) = 4n(n+1) + (n+1)^2

Later he clarifies how is that this is a "recursive function"

 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:50:18 PM EDT: It goes up by one every time because n=1 rite?
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:50:38 PM EDT: no, n start at 1
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:50:46 PM EDT: oh yeah!!!
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:50:46 PM EDT: this is a recursive function
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:50:46 PM EDT: 
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:51:26 PM EDT: when n=1, plug 1 into the right equation\\
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:51:40 PM EDT: 12?
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:51:58 PM EDT: when  n=2, plug 2 into the  right equation and add the equation when n=1
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:52:13 PM EDT: Oh...so u add the thing that came before
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:52:17 PM EDT: yes
 bwang8 5/10/06 7:52:31 PM EDT: 12 is right  (points to Quicksilver's 7:51:40 PM)

Transition to the Wiki

What to put, who/how to put it.

 Quicksilver 5/10/06 7:57:45 PM EDT: so we have to go to the wiki now
 ...
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:01:03 PM EDT: so our equation
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:01:11 PM EDT: no first lets state our problem
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:01:49 PM EDT: The number of sticks to make a N level pryamind
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:02:04 PM EDT: ?
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:02:17 PM EDT: Yeah, that's our question.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:02:56 PM EDT: Err...
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:03:03 PM EDT: I kind of put somethingt different
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:03:04 PM EDT: 
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:03:09 PM EDT: But it's similar
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:03:24 PM EDT: Wait, do we all have to put it in?
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:03:30 PM EDT: Only one of us right?

Today's result was "technically" the same as yesterday but today was "really" a discussion

 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:04:03 PM EDT: you guys can add on
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:04:08 PM EDT: i just put the basic
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:04:20 PM EDT: Maybe share our results?
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:04:53 PM EDT: We technically had the same result.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:05:07 PM EDT: Whaddya mean?
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:05:21 PM EDT: oh as yesterday?
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:05:31 PM EDT: Yeah.
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:05:36 PM EDT: And today.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:05:40 PM EDT: Still...
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:05:43 PM EDT: Well today was really a discussion.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:05:46 PM EDT: we should say that'
 ...
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:06:39 PM EDT: That may mean these types of problems all are similar in one way

We should write it out here

The "natural" person to write their findings on the Wiki might be bwang since he is the one who was driving the process and explaining things to others, but he says he is "bad with words". So Quicksilver suggests that they do it together. In reality, he does it by himself almost, which is a great display of his level of engagement with prior group activity:

 Aznx 5/10/06 8:06:55 PM EDT: Wait, who is submitting?
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:06:57 PM EDT: bwang?
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:06:59 PM EDT: tell them the intervals between levels
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:07:06 PM EDT: or quicksilver, or me?
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:07:08 PM EDT: sorry, i am bad with words
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:07:14 PM EDT: So am i
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:07:15 PM EDT: Not to worry.
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:07:21 PM EDT: We should write it out
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:07:22 PM EDT: here
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:07:24 PM EDT: Aznx to the rescue lol
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:07:26 PM EDT: Together
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:07:30 PM EDT: sure
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:07:30 PM EDT: No not that
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:07:34 PM EDT: a conclusion
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:07:34 PM EDT: Yeah lol
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:07:36 PM EDT: yeah
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:07:51 PM EDT: So first, we started off with the basic problem.
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:07:57 PM EDT: and changed it to a 3-D problem
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:08:02 PM EDT: to make it more challenging
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:08:04 PM EDT: Yea
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:08:22 PM EDT: then we divided the top, bottom, and middle area down, to make the problem simpler for us
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:08:42 PM EDT: Then, we recognized the 2N(N+1) pattern in the middle area
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:08:44 PM EDT: That was one strategy\\
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:08:54 PM EDT: that's our second: finding a pattern
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:08:55 PM EDT: dividing it
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:08:59 PM EDT: yes
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:09:07 PM EDT: Finally, we used the recursion method to figure out the obttom area,
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:09:15 PM EDT: obttom?
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:09:16 PM EDT: 
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:09:19 PM EDT: So that's three strategies right there.
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:09:32 PM EDT: I meant bottom
 ...

retrospective-prospective

Later, Quicksilver still assigns the task to bwang. Also, here there is a retrospective-prospective move: The feedback said X, we can do that next time

 Aznx 5/10/06 8:10:32 PM EDT: I think bwang should put it in, since he's more familiar with the recursion method and how to use it than we are,
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:10:36 PM EDT: Agreed?
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:10:51 PM EDT: Today's topic siad go to the wiki and share the most intersting math problems that your group chose to work on
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:10:59 PM EDT: agreed
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:11:15 PM EDT: but we do understand it now
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:11:18 PM EDT: that's important
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:11:28 PM EDT: Well, we should just say we wanted to explore yesterday's problem more.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:11:29 PM EDT: maybe we can apply it next time...who knows?
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:11:32 PM EDT: Yes, we do.
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:11:32 PM EDT: ok
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:12:06 PM EDT: we can use the strategy we used to solve this problem to solve future problems
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:12:31 PM EDT: the method is important
 bwang8 5/10/06 8:12:36 PM EDT: not the answer
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:12:48 PM EDT: Yup.
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:12:49 PM EDT: definiteyly
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:12:56 PM EDT: Always learned that whereever I learned math. =P

Interestingly, here they find it relevant to talk about things that they "learned." How did they do that? For what purpose?

 bwang8 5/10/06 8:13:05 PM EDT: we learn that divide the problem up can make it simpler and easier to solve
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:13:09 PM EDT: so bwang...are you updating the wiki?
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:13:14 PM EDT: yea
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:13:21 PM EDT: we also learned finding a pattern is a good step
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:13:39 PM EDT: yes and we could have also started with a simpler problem
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:13:42 PM EDT: in fact...we did
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:13:43 PM EDT: and recursion can be usually used when solving for a pattern, after finding the designated pattern of course
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:13:48 PM EDT: yesterday's problem was simpler
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:13:52 PM EDT: yes, we did!
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:14:00 PM EDT: so we actually used 4 strategies =D
 Quicksilver 5/10/06 8:14:12 PM EDT: yes
 Aznx 5/10/06 8:14:34 PM EDT: We also tried to look at the problem from different views, although it's not really a strategy.

The moderator kind of "closes" down the session by bringing up next session:

Gerry 5/10/06 8:15:46 PM EDT: So, can you all come back here at the same time next Tuesday?

What gets on the Wiki

An elaborate narrative of what they did (to which they will add after the other 2 sessions)

 To investigate the number of sticks in a flat faced pyramid with n levels with 1 block increase in length and width per level.  
 Also, to find as many approaches and put them to use. We eventually found 4 different strategies and applied them, such as divide 
 the problem up, finding a basic pattern, and use recursion to solve problems. We also found a formula, its origins, and how to use it.
 
 f(n)=4n(n+1)+(n+1)^2+f(n-1) and f(0)=0.
 We first determine the number of squares in each level of the pyramid, 1 cubes in first level, 4 cubes in second level, 9 cubes in 
 third level, and so on. Then we divide each level into 3 parts, the top, the bottom and the middle. The top is the same as the 
 bottom part. They are just a bunch of squares in square format. When divided top or bottom into vertical or horizontal, the 
 equation for # of sticks is n(n+1). Times that by 2 and you get a top or bottom, and times it by 2 again to get the total for top 
 and bottom. The result is 4n(n+1). Then there is the middle which are straight columns, and they are n+1 by n+1 on the side, so 
 (n+1)^2. The equation for each level is 4n(n+1)+(n+1)^2, and use a recursive fuction and you can get the total sticks for the pyramid.

Feedback II

 VMT Feedback on Session #2
 
 You can load the old chat messages by clicking on the double arrow icon above the chat scroll bar. 
 You can look through the history of the whiteboard by using the scroll bar all the way on the left 
 (be sure to scroll all the way down to the present in order to draw anything new.)
 
 You did a great job of defining a challenging problem and solving it by using a combination of methods 
 that were well suited to the problem. And you shared what you did with the other groups in the wiki. 
 
 You noticed that stating the problem and making it clear to everyone is a big part of working on a problem.  
 In going to 3-D, you selected a particular kind of pyramid. How would your problem change if you had two flat sides, 
 with each layer in a corner of the layer underneath, so that some cube faces and edges (sticks) were shared between layers?
 
 Can you explain your formula for the number of sticks so that someone in a different group can see how you got it 
 by breaking each layer into its top surface, bottom and middle and then counting the horizontal 
 and vertical sticks separately?
 
 Do you understand how team C got its formulae for the diamond pattern of squares? 
 What if they had a diamond pattern of diamonds (just rotate the squares 45 degrees)?
 
 What shapes make mathematically interesting patterns in 2-D or in 3-D?

Session III

They take on the feedback mention of a "corner pyramid" but it gest too confusing so they make a bid to postpone it:


 Aznx 5/16/06 7:24:08 PM EDT: Should we just go onto a different problem for now?
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:24:20 PM EDT: This is todays problem isn't it?
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:24:25 PM EDT: Discuss last week?
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:24:50 PM EDT: And more problems I guess..
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:24:55 PM EDT: Yeah
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:25:05 PM EDT: WE can come back to this on Thursday

Recovering last session's materials: we keep it and move onto a different sequence

 Aznx 5/16/06 7:26:08 PM EDT: This was our formula for this problem last time correct?  [Points to whiteboard's formula]
 bwang8 5/16/06 7:26:13 PM EDT: yeah
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:26:13 PM EDT: Yes
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:26:21 PM EDT: So how about we keep it
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:26:29 PM EDT: Yes
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:26:31 PM EDT: And move onto a different sequence?
 p M M M

Who had mentioned squares???

 Aznx 5/16/06 7:26:47 PM EDT: How about squares?
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:26:52 PM EDT: As you had mentioned?
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:26:55 PM EDT: 
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:26:56 PM EDT: bwang you have any ideas?
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:27:01 PM EDT: These basically were squares
 p M M
 bwang8 5/16/06 7:27:24 PM EDT: squares of what?
 p M M M
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:27:45 PM EDT: The cubes were basically squares
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:28:22 PM EDT: I'm sure we can come up with other sequences.
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:28:41 PM EDT: How did team C get its formula for the diamonds?

How do we access that [Team C's] formula

 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:28:41 PM EDT: How did team C get its formula for the diamonds?
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:28:46 PM EDT: How do we access that?
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:29:00 PM EDT: Well, let's look at their problem.
 bwang8 5/16/06 7:29:05 PM EDT: open browser
 p M M M
 bwang8 5/16/06 7:29:13 PM EDT: and click on the link
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:29:14 PM EDT: oh nevrmind
 p M
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:29:15 PM EDT: i got it
 bwang8 5/16/06 7:29:19 PM EDT: ok
 p M M M M
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:29:48 PM EDT: Wait, I think I messed up.

How did they derive it?

 bwang8 5/16/06 7:33:30 PM EDT: how did they derive it
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:33:50 PM EDT: There's the formula
 bwang8 5/16/06 7:33:57 PM EDT: (n^2+(n-1)^2)*2+n*3-2
 bwang8 5/16/06 7:34:08 PM EDT: n^2+(n-1)^2
 Aznx 5/16/06 7:34:18 PM EDT: The 3n has to do with the growing outer layer of the pattern I think.

From Team's C Wiki:


  We also found formulas for a diamond-like arangement of the squares:
  sides:
  (n^2+(n-1)^2)*2+n*3-2
  squares:
  n^2+(n-1)^2

Later on, Quicksilver who might know somebody in Team C (xander?) attempts to ask Team C directly, what they meant by N, through Nan but at some point he withdraws the question, aparently

bwang8 5/16/06 7:43:33 PM EDT: what is n in their equation
p M M M M
Aznx 5/16/06 7:43:56 PM EDT: Good question
Aznx 5/16/06 7:44:01 PM EDT: I don't know. :P
p M M
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:44:10 PM EDT: Sides, sticks or squares?
p M
Aznx 5/16/06 7:44:14 PM EDT: Gerry?
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:44:17 PM EDT: let ask xander
p M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M
Gerry 5/16/06 7:45:18 PM EDT: I assume N is the stage in the pattern
Aznx 5/16/06 7:45:29 PM EDT: What do you mean?
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:45:35 PM EDT: That is twelve extra squares in a five by five square
Aznx 5/16/06 7:45:39 PM EDT: I'm confused how the pattern grows
Aznx 5/16/06 7:45:50 PM EDT: Oh, I get it now
Aznx 5/16/06 7:45:56 PM EDT: I was on the right track =P
Gerry 5/16/06 7:45:59 PM EDT: Just like in the original problem on the Topic
Gerry 5/16/06 7:47:12 PM EDT: Stage N=1 is one square
Gerry 5/16/06 7:47:27 PM EDT: Stage N= 2 is a cross of 5 squares
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:47:37 PM EDT: Ok
Gerry 5/16/06 7:48:00 PM EDT: Stage N=3 is the bigger figure with 13 squares
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:48:08 PM EDT: Stage N=3 is a cross of 9 squares or 13?
Aznx 5/16/06 7:48:23 PM EDT: 13
Aznx 5/16/06 7:48:32 PM EDT: i tihnk
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:48:42 PM EDT: Because those extra four are tricky
Gerry 5/16/06 7:48:46 PM EDT: you could define the sequence either way
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:48:54 PM EDT: yeah
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:49:01 PM EDT: but it has to be constant
Gerry 5/16/06 7:49:05 PM EDT: which did they do? Which is more interesting mathematically?
Aznx 5/16/06 7:49:29 PM EDT: 13
Aznx 5/16/06 7:49:34 PM EDT: is much more interesting =P
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:49:34 PM EDT: it doesn't actually have to be constant but it has to have some kind of patter
bwang8 5/16/06 7:49:53 PM EDT: ok
Aznx 5/16/06 7:50:23 PM EDT: Now what do we do?
Quicksilver 5/16/06 7:50:33 PM EDT: this
bwang8 5/16/06 7:50:38 PM EDT: (2n-1)^2= the # of squares in the big square
nan 5/16/06 7:48:49 PM EDT: (we got a question for you from another team, which was posted in the lobby:
nan 5/16/06 7:48:53 PM EDT: Quicksilver 7:44:50 PM EDT: Hey anyone from team c, our team needs to know what n was in your equations last week
Jason 5/16/06 7:49:04 PM EDT: oh
137 5/16/06 7:49:15 PM EDT: The length of a side.
qwertyuiop 5/16/06 7:49:16 PM EDT: was n side length?
Jason 5/16/06 7:49:33 PM EDT: are you talking about the original problem with the squares
137 5/16/06 7:49:48 PM EDT: I think nan is.
qwertyuiop 5/16/06 7:49:58 PM EDT: i think it's squares and diamonds
Jason 5/16/06 7:49:58 PM EDT: oh
Jason 5/16/06 7:50:12 PM EDT: then if you look in the topic description, theres a column for N;
Jason 5/16/06 7:50:14 PM EDT: thats what it is
nan 5/16/06 7:50:17 PM EDT: ok, quicksilver said they got it
Jason 5/16/06 7:50:25 PM EDT: so yes it is # sides
nan 5/16/06 7:50:26 PM EDT: thanks guys

Le'ts explain it together right here

This is something Aznx did in Session II also when team members were refusing the task of writing on the Wiki. (Aznx to the rescue)

Aznx 5/16/06 8:03:11 PM EDT: Le'ts explain it together right here

but bwang has to leave and Qs and Az struggle with creating an explanation, so they project it to next session:

then lets pick it up next time when bwang can explain it

 Aznx 5/16/06 8:05:21 PM EDT: I'm not sure if we got the first formula though.
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 8:05:33 PM EDT: i don't think we did
 Aznx 5/16/06 8:06:37 PM EDT: (2n-1)^2=the # of squares in the big square
 Aznx 5/16/06 8:06:46 PM EDT: Correct?
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 8:06:57 PM EDT: Yes
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 8:07:27 PM EDT: But that is not in theri equation
 Aznx 5/16/06 8:07:29 PM EDT: So isn't that our first formula right there?
 Aznx 5/16/06 8:07:36 PM EDT: Hold on.
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 8:07:39 PM EDT: no....we want the sides
 Aznx 5/16/06 8:08:14 PM EDT: Read above.
 Aznx 5/16/06 8:08:24 PM EDT: bwang kind of explains it.
 Aznx 5/16/06 8:08:31 PM EDT: I somehow get it, but can't explain it.
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 8:08:59 PM EDT: then lets pick it up next time when bwang can explain it
 Aznx 5/16/06 8:09:12 PM EDT: So leave for today?
 Quicksilver 5/16/06 8:09:18 PM EDT: i suppose

Bwang's message in between sessions III and IV

bwang8 joins the room 5/16/06 8:42:43 PM EDT
 p M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M
 bwang8 5/17/06 12:18:23 AM EDT: Sorry i have to leave early
 bwang8 5/17/06 12:18:56 AM EDT: i updated our wiki page to explain the equation from the last session
 p M M M
 bwang8 5/17/06 12:34:54 AM EDT: i also added some stuff, change anything you want
 bwang8 5/17/06 12:39:55 AM EDT: i hope you can read this

Feedback III

 We started doing the problems you were doing and got very interested in them. 
 We did not always arrive at the same answers and we weren't always able to decide if we were looking at it 
 in the same way that you were, but we liked working "with you" in this sense. 
 
 From our perspective, the goal has not been for you to answer “our” problems, 
 but for you to figure out math questions that interest you and to pursue them. 
 That is why we set the challenge for the iPod as having your group excel at collaboration, 
 not at finding some answers.
 
 You seem to have pursued some interesting questions and are all contributing and also 
 making use of each other’s ideas. It is sometimes hard for us to tell what you are writing and thinking. 
 It seems that there are times when you say you are following each other, 
 but it is not clear that you are really in agreement or completely understand each other. 
 You might actually discover some more math if you state things in more detail – 
 to be completely sure you are in agreement.
 
 For session four, you could revisit a problem you were working on before, 
 in order to state more clearly for other groups in the wiki: (a) a definition of your problem, 
 (b) a solution and (c) how you solved the problem. Or you could try a new variation of these pattern problems, 
 like a 3-D version of group C’s diamond pattern. 
 
 It is up to you to pursue whatever most interests you and what enables you to improve and enjoy your ability to work together. 
 As you know, one hour goes by pretty quickly, so it’s easy to run out of time for a complicated problem. 
 Be creative and enjoy the session.

Session IV

Recovering their "plan"

The three members had postponed the "flat sided pyramid" and two of them (Az and Qs) postponed explaining their work (or bwang's formula) on the diamond pattern. They recover the pyramid problem

 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:03:44 PM EDT: for this session, it says to revisit an old problem
 p M M
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:04:10 PM EDT: Hm.
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:04:16 PM EDT: Let's make a new problem
 p M
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:04:18 PM EDT: the pryamid one that we didn't finish last time
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:04:21 PM EDT: Not necessarily 3-D
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:04:26 PM EDT: Yeah
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:04:31 PM EDT: ok
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:04:32 PM EDT: let's do the pyramid one
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:04:35 PM EDT:  

After this they start reading the feedback and later on the decision of what to do, resurfaces:

 bwang8 5/18/06 7:14:38 PM EDT: let's just focus on diamond problem today
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:14:44 PM EDT: So let's really focus on the pyramid.
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:14:48 PM EDT: we almost got the solution last seesion
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:14:49 PM EDT: lol
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:14:49 PM EDT: Diamond or pyramid?
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:14:55 PM EDT: diamond
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:14:59 PM EDT: aditya?
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:15:02 PM EDT: because we worked on it longer
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:15:03 PM EDT: diamond
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:15:08 PM EDT: agreed then
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:15:11 PM EDT: ok
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:15:13 PM EDT: we have a more thorough understanding of it
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:15:18 PM EDT: yeah
 
 ...
  
  Aznx 5/18/06 7:16:03 PM EDT: I'd say, we work on the pyramid problem, solve it thoroughly, and then state the solution as they suggested in the feedback.  Then, if we have enough time, which probably will ,we'll sytart on the pyramid problem.
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:16:21 PM EDT: u said two pyramid problems?
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:16:27 PM EDT: read ur thing again
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:16:27 PM EDT: OOps
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:16:34 PM EDT: I meant in the first part
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:16:37 PM EDT: the diamond problem
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:16:41 PM EDT: not the pyramid
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:16:41 PM EDT: lol

As usual Routine

 Aznx 5/18/06 7:12:00 PM EDT: Let's first discuss about the feedback.
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:12:06 PM EDT: ok
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:12:06 PM EDT: As usual, what do you guys think?

So where were we?

Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:15:57 PM EDT: so where were we?
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:16:00 PM EDT: so right now we know that we must calculate the number of squares on each level by making a big square and minus the 4 extra corners

Notice how they orient to process/steps:

 Aznx 5/18/06 7:16:57 PM EDT: we pretty much solved it didnt we?
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:17:09 PM EDT: yeah
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:17:11 PM EDT: Well 50% of it I should say.
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:17:15 PM EDT: lets just recap the process
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:17:27 PM EDT: from the point of view who had never seen this problem
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:17:32 PM EDT: we know how to calculate the big square in a level
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:17:44 PM EDT: ok hold on
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:17:50 PM EDT: as in this
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:17:56 PM EDT: whole thing
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:17:57 PM EDT: our objective is to find the amount of squares and sticks in each level righrt?
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:18:03 PM EDT: yeo

We had already figured that out/We can use the equation from Session 1

Pointing to a textbox created in Session 1!!!

bwang8 5/18/06 7:20:48 PM EDT: what is the pattern
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:20:56 PM EDT: Triagnular numbers.
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:20:58 PM EDT: triangular numbers!
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:21:00 PM EDT: yep
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:21:00 PM EDT: yep
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:21:03 PM EDT: We had already figured that out.
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:21:10 PM EDT: we can use the equation from session 1
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:21:11 PM EDT: yes
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:21:20 PM EDT: Yup.
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:21:36 PM EDT: n(n+1)/2
 p M M M
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:21:56 PM EDT: 4*n(n+1)/2= the four corners
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:21:57 PM EDT: this right?   [Points to a textbox from Session 1 with formula]
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:22:03 PM EDT: yes
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:22:06 PM EDT: Yeah
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:22:28 PM EDT: (2n-1)^2-2n(n-1)
 bwang8 5/18/06 7:22:48 PM EDT: this is the equation for each level

Is it here that bwang8 does his subtle transformation of "ns" and changes the equations so that the n in thefour corners from (7:21:56 PM EDT: 4*n(n+1)/2) which is 2n(n+1) matches that in the central square: 2n(n-1)? And integrates it into the complete formula (7:22:28 PM EDT: (2n-1)^2-2n(n-1))

The final textbox and the Wiki report end up with different formulas:

   big square: (2n-1)^2
   4 corners: n(n+1)/2*4
   
  (2n-1)^2-n(n+1)/2*4

Wiki: (2n+1)^2-n(n+1)/2*4

But that is not what it ENDS UP TO BE

 Aznx 5/18/06 7:25:43 PM EDT: But that's not what it ends up to be.
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:25:56 PM EDT: If you double check with our already-given formula
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:26:00 PM EDT: why?
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:26:07 PM EDT: It's this
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:26:12 PM EDT: oh yeah
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:26:14 PM EDT: it doesn't work
 p M
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:26:16 PM EDT: The first one [Points to Team C's formula for sticks which is on the whiteboard]

They clarify which formula is for squares and Aznx accepts that he was confused

What is the actual solution

 Aznx 5/18/06 7:28:22 PM EDT: So is that all?
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:28:37 PM EDT: what is the actual solution then? those equations?
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:28:43 PM EDT: Yeah.
 p M
 Quicksilver 5/18/06 7:28:59 PM EDT: but when we put in the wiki how we did it....what will we write
 Aznx 5/18/06 7:29:20 PM EDT: Um.

This is what makes it to the Wiki:

 In session 4, we continued our progress on the diamond problem. We found that if we filled up the diamound 
 with more squares and get an easier square with 2n+1 as the dimension. So the number of squares 
 in the big square is (2n+1)^2. We then minus the squares that we added on which was at the 4 corners, 
 which grow in the same pattern as the triangle number in the first session. We used the formula for # of squares 
 from the first session and times it by 4 to calculate the 4 corners that we add on to make the big square. 
 The final formula for the # of squares in the diamond is (2n+1)^2-n(n+1)/2*4. We tested it several times to check if it works.
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