Ten Questions About Numbers: A College Writing Assignment

Abstract

This paper examines a writing assignment in a college algebra course. Each student picked a number from a list including the digits 0 through 9, ϕ, googol, ϰ0, and others. Each wrote a paper answering three questions from a list of ten, such as "How old is this number?" and "What are some examples of this number in art?" Students shared their papers through oral presentations in class. The assignment sought to increase interest in mathematics, to provide cultural content within the algebra course, and to have students discover some of the beauty of mathematics. This paper describes some answers the students gave, student feedback about the assignment, and the instructor’s thoughts about the assignment.