Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 09:04:55 -0600
To: satex@mail.ed.uiuc.edu
From: rayka@cmi.k12.il.us (Karen S. Ray)
Subject: project proposal

Here is my project proposal--I plan to make it a web site, which would be
my first attempt creating one.  Any suggestions would be very
welcome--either on the project itself or on creating the website.  If it
looks interesting, participate!!  You do not have to have a classroom to be
a participant.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME (AND THREE OTHERS!)

Ever wondered how many people in the world share your birthday?  Remember
how neat it feels to find someone else who shares your special day?    Have
you ever found two or three people who share your birthday?

While these problems have very complicated mathematical solutions, students
in elementary through high school can use Monte Carlo methods to solve a
simpler yet still intriguing  problem:

        WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT ANY FOUR PEOPLE CHOSEN AT
         RANDOM SHARE THE SAME BIRTH MONTH?

Not sure what Monte Carlo methods are--sign-up for the project and you will
learn-- alongside your students--a method of solving probability problems
through experimentation with dice, spinners or random number generators.

For more information, click on the topics below...  (on the site, you could
get more info)
        timeline
        registration
        Monte Carlo methods
        materials
        procedures
        lesson plans
        other applications
        submit data
        results
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I plan to run the project for a two week span  from April 6 - 19.  I plan
to create the web site during Spring break and hopefully have a pleasant
Passover and enough time to write the long and short report!!

I'm not sure if this was to be an exact copy of what would be posted on the
Web, or just a summary--it is just a summary.

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rayka@knight.cmi.k12.il.us (Karen Ray)
7th Grade Math Teacher