Assignments for Week 7/8

R = Readings ._._. W = Writings

1. (R) In our online textbook read the chapters on Renaissance and Transitional periods. Also read my "lecture" for the week (when available).

2. (RW) STANDING ASSIGNMENT EVERY WEEK: Read the parts (if any) of your "general history" book corresponding to this week's material. You are encouraged to mail in ("report to the class") anything interesting or important that you found in your reading that's not in the online material.

3. (W) (For Thursday, Oct. 23) From the exercises on Renaissance mathematics:
   • 1 and 2 (cubic equation) [These are so closely related that I consider themn a single problem.]
   • 3 (angle trisection redux)

4. (W) (For Thursday, Oct. 23) I immodestly think that my logarithm problems are more interesting than any of the problems in the "Transition" chapter of the text.
   • Do the experiment on the logarithmic distribution of random data.
   • Answer either the question on island ecology or the one on estimating compound interest (your choice).