i need a fun and interesting topic for a math term paper..?

Question

something like the divine proportion/phi. something very interesting, or any other topics

Answer 1

Here are some topics I have read before in wikipedia: (you can go there if you want. just type these keywords.)

infinity (and its properties)

tetration (and the power tower)

silver ratio (the next after the golden ratio/divine ratio)

silver means (the generalisation of silver ratio and means)

factorial (including NON-INTEGER FACTORIALS)

birthday paradox (very interesting)

happy numbers

lucky numbers

euler's formula (quite complicated, but beautiful)

euler's identity (VERY BEAUTIFUL, possibly the most, for it relates 5 VERY IMPORTANT math constants)

recreational mathematics (a way of enjoying maths)

^_^

Answer 2

I can give 2 interesting ideas:
1). Why don't you investigate the 3x + 1 problem?
This is often called "the simplest unsolved problem
of arithmetic". There are many references to it online.
Despite many attempts, the problem is still unsolved.

2. Another interesting topic would be Fibonacci
numbers and all their properties. Maybe your library
has a copy of Britannica Book of the Year(1977 or 1978)
which has a very nice article on these numbers
and their ocurrence in nature.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Consider tax-free compound interest of a Roth IRA. If you could invest say $2,000 in year on at 10% per year, determine the value after each year and see how your stake grows.

$2,000 x 1.1 = $2,200

$2,200 x 1.1 = $2,420

$2,420 x 1.1 = $2,662, etc. for perhaps 45 years.

Then calculate how the end value shrinks or continues to grow if you take out 10% per year to live on in retirement and continue to invest the rest at 10% till age 100(?). What would be the total income from the original $2,000 investment. (Stock mutual funds MF's can earn far more than 10% per year but often less and $2,000 (or more) can be added to the Roth IRA each year there is earned income).

A second interesting study would calculate how much would accrue if a child had a Roth IRA baces on a paper route, etc. at age ten?

Answer 4

http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?p=488733#p488733

Try that link, it tells you about a zeta-regularisation of a sum/product that yields (infinity)! = V(2pi)
there are other stuff too like the infinite prime product is 4.pi^2
check this link and the fifth reference from top for a proof (which is surprisingly intuitive and comparatively easy)
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/PrimeProducts.html

Also summation of series and normalisations of infinite divergent series are quite intriguing topics.
eg. 1+2+3+4+5+......ad infinitum = -1/12, etc.
Trigonometric summations over complex quantities and complex analysis are always fun.
Or try something a little less ambitious like the divine proportion, the natural logarithm, exponential, pi, gamma(euler mascheroni constant),etc.
Drop me a line if you need help...

Answer 5

You can choose eulers equation that relates pi, exponential and the complex root i, which can be given as e^(i*pi)+1=0

Answer 6

Abstract algebra/group theory. it's tough, but amazingly cool and very beautiful.

Answer 7

algebra, love thee last 3 letters of that word

Answer 8

i know - i just know - you'll think i'm crazy. i haven't. i promise.

try the Bermuda Triangle, it's interesting, has more to do with mathematics than you think, and has been a mystery for years. try it! honestly.


hope you do well