File Size: | 1887 kb |
File Type: |
File Size: | 152 kb |
File Type: |
File Size: | 222 kb |
File Type: |
File Size: | 551 kb |
File Type: |
File Size: | 160 kb |
File Type: |
File Size: | 294 kb |
File Type: |
File Size: | 446 kb |
File Type: |
File Size: | 351 kb |
File Type: |
File Size: | 648 kb |
File Type: |
File Size: | 504 kb |
File Type: |
In this post I will be sharing my opinion on selection of topic for Math IA.
Truth is, different schools have different guidance on this. For example, I know a school that bans Graph and Game theory for selection (I'm against such a policy).
I think the bottom line is:
HL students should not be pursuing a topic inside the SL syllabus.
HL students should choose a topic that is an extension of their syllabus
SL students should choose a topic that is within the HL syllabus
Too often I have seen students not working on their proposal and reading widely till the last minute and in the end settles for something for the sake of getting the teacher's approval. They fail to recognize the importance of reading widely for potential topics and how other reports are written before starting to draft their proposal. Clearly they underestimate the importance of Math IA as highlighted in my previous post.
So, how to go about choosing?
Frankly, there's no magic beans formula. What I typically advise my students is:
1) find a context (finance? search engines algorithms? sports stats?) you are interested in;
2) speak to your advisor/tutor if there's any math/research question worth exploring on;
3) even if it's a "no", think about possible derivatives and logical extensions areas.
Alternatively,
a) find a math concept that you have always wanted to know about (noise/signal processing, fractals, blockchains hash functions);
b) speak to your advisor/tutor
I understand my advice above isn't very useful at first glance, but truth be told I practically spend hours discussing with each of my tuition students to settle down on their Math IA topic or Economics IA article (more of this in a future post).
Feel free to contact me at +65 9782 4025 or [email protected] if you require a discussion.
So my bottom-line is making sure that students learn something from the research process (be it the math concept or the context they are keen on) beyond just clearing an assessment for the sake of it.
Of course getting a decent score is the real-real bottom line!
For interested readers, feel free to study some samples here: https://www.aces-aspire.com/ia-ee
Alvin, AcesMath
#acesaspire #acesmath #IBMath #IBMathIA #MathIA
Advice for IB Math IA
IB Maths Resources from Intermathematics
IB Maths Resources: 300 IB Maths Exploration ideas, video tutorials and Exploration Guides
Maths IA – 300 Maths Exploration Topics:
Scroll down this page to find over 300 examples of maths IA exploration topics and ideas for IB mathematics students doing their internal assessment (IA) coursework. Topics include Algebra and Number (proof), Geometry, Calculus, Statistics and Probability, Physics, and links with other subjects. Suitable for Applications and Interpretations students (SL and HL) and also Analysis and Approaches students (SL and HL).
Algebra and number
1) Modular arithmetic – This technique is used throughout Number Theory. For example, Mod 3 means the remainder when dividing by 3.
2) Goldbach’s conjecture: “Every even number greater than 2 can be expressed as the sum of two primes.” One of the great unsolved problems in mathematics.
3) Probabilistic number theory
4) Applications of complex numbers : The stunning graphics of Mandelbrot and Julia Sets are generated by complex numbers.
5) Diophantine equations : These are polynomials which have integer solutions. Fermat’s Last Theorem is one of the most famous such equations.
6) Continued fractions : These are fractions which continue to infinity. The great Indian mathematician Ramanujan discovered some amazing examples of these.
7) Patterns in Pascal’s triangle : There are a large number of patterns to discover – including the Fibonacci sequence.
8) Finding prime numbers : The search for prime numbers and the twin prime conjecture are some of the most important problems in mathematics. There is a $1 million prize for solving the Riemann Hypothesis and $250,000 available for anyone who discovers a new, really big prime number.
9) Random numbers
10) Pythagorean triples : A great introduction into number theory – investigating the solutions of Pythagoras’ Theorem which are integers (eg. 3,4,5 triangle).
11) Mersenne primes : These are primes that can be written as 2^n -1.
12) Magic squares and cubes : Investigate magic tricks that use mathematics. Why do magic squares work?
13) Loci and complex numbers
14) Egyptian fractions : Egyptian fractions can only have a numerator of 1 – which leads to some interesting patterns. 2/3 could be written as 1/6 + 1/2. Can all fractions with a numerator of 2 be written as 2 Egyptian fractions?
15) Complex numbers and transformations
16) Euler’s identity: An equation that has been voted the most beautiful equation of all time, Euler’s identity links together 5 of the most important numbers in mathematics.
17) Chinese remainder theorem . This is a puzzle that was posed over 1500 years ago by a Chinese mathematician. It involves understanding the modulo operation.
18) Fermat’s last theorem : A problem that puzzled mathematicians for centuries – and one that has only recently been solved.
19) Natural logarithms of complex numbers
20) Twin primes problem : The question as to whether there are patterns in the primes has fascinated mathematicians for centuries. The twin prime conjecture states that there are infinitely many consecutive primes ( eg. 5 and 7 are consecutive primes). There has been a recent breakthrough in this problem.
21) Hypercomplex numbers
22) Diophantine application: Cole numbers
23) Perfect Numbers: Perfect numbers are the sum of their factors (apart from the last factor). ie 6 is a perfect number because 1 + 2 + 3 = 6.
24) Euclidean algorithm for GCF
25) Palindrome numbers: Palindrome numbers are the same backwards as forwards.
26) Fermat’s little theorem : If p is a prime number then a^p – a is a multiple of p.
27) Prime number sieves
28) Recurrence expressions for phi (golden ratio): Phi appears with remarkable consistency in nature and appears to shape our understanding of beauty and symmetry.
29) The Riemann Hypothesis – one of the greatest unsolved problems in mathematics – worth $1million to anyone who solves it (not for the faint hearted!)
30) Time travel to the future : Investigate how traveling close to the speed of light allows people to travel “forward” in time relative to someone on Earth. Why does the twin paradox work?
31) Graham’s Number – a number so big that thinking about it could literally collapse your brain into a black hole.
32) RSA code – the most important code in the world? How all our digital communications are kept safe through the properties of primes.
33) The Chinese Remainder Theorem : This is a method developed by a Chinese mathematician Sun Zi over 1500 years ago to solve a numerical puzzle. An interesting insight into the mathematical field of Number Theory.
34) Cesaro Summation: Does 1 – 1 + 1 – 1 … = 1/2? . A post which looks at the maths behind this particularly troublesome series.
35) Fermat’s Theorem on the sum of 2 squares – An example of how to use mathematical proof to solve problems in number theory.
36) Can we prove that 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 …. = -1/12 ? How strange things happen when we start to manipulate divergent series.
37) Mathematical proof and paradox – a good opportunity to explore some methods of proof and to show how logical errors occur.
38) Friendly numbers, Solitary numbers, perfect numbers. Investigate what makes a number happy or sad, or sociable! Can you find the loop of infinite sadness?
39) Zeno’s Paradox – Achilles and the Tortoise – A look at the classic paradox from ancient Greece – the philosopher “proved” a runner could never catch a tortoise – no matter how fast he ran.
40) Stellar Numbers – This is an excellent example of a pattern sequence investigation. Choose your own pattern investigation for the exploration.
41) Arithmetic number puzzle – It could be interesting to do an exploration where you solve number problems – like this one.
42) Normal Numbers – and random number generators – what is a normal number – and how are they connected to random number generators?
43) Narcissistic Numbers – what makes a number narcissistic – and how can we find them all?
44) Modelling Chaos – how we can use grahical software to understand the behavior of sequences
45) The Mordell Equation . What is the Mordell equation and how does it help us solve mathematical problems in number theory?
46) Ramanujan’s Taxi Cab and the Sum of 2 Cubes . Explore this famous number theory puzzle.
47) Hollow cubes and hypercubes investigation. Explore number theory in higher dimensions!
48) When do 2 squares equal 2 cubes? A classic problem in number theory which can be solved through computational power.
49) Rational approximations to irrational numbers. How accurately can be approximate irrationals?
50) Square triangular numbers. When do we have a square number which is also a triangular number?
51) Complex numbers as matrices – Euler’s identity. We can use a matrix representation of complex numbers to test whether Euler’s identity still holds.
52) Have you got a Super Brain? How many different ways can we use to solve a number theory problem?
1a) Non-Euclidean geometries: This allows us to “break” the rules of conventional geometry – for example, angles in a triangle no longer add up to 180 degrees. In some geometries triangles add up to more than 180 degrees, in others less than 180 degrees.
1b) The shape of the universe – non-Euclidean Geometry is at the heart of Einstein’s theories on General Relativity and essential to understanding the shape and behavior of the universe.
2) Hexaflexagons: These are origami style shapes that through folding can reveal extra faces.
3) Minimal surfaces and soap bubbles : Soap bubbles assume the minimum possible surface area to contain a given volume.
4) Tesseract – a 4D cube : How we can use maths to imagine higher dimensions.
5) Stacking cannon balls: An investigation into the patterns formed from stacking canon balls in different ways.
6) Mandelbrot set and fractal shapes : Explore the world of infinitely generated pictures and fractional dimensions.
7) Sierpinksi triangle : a fractal design that continues forever.
8) Squaring the circle : This is a puzzle from ancient times – which was to find out whether a square could be created that had the same area as a given circle. It is now used as a saying to represent something impossible.
9) Polyominoes : These are shapes made from squares. The challenge is to see how many different shapes can be made with a given number of squares – and how can they fit together?
10) Tangrams: Investigate how many different ways different size shapes can be fitted together.
11) Understanding the fourth dimension: How we can use mathematics to imagine (and test for) extra dimensions.
12) The Riemann Sphere – an exploration of some non-Euclidean geometry. Straight lines are not straight, parallel lines meet and angles in a triangle don’t add up to 180 degrees.
13) Graphically understanding complex roots – have you ever wondered what the complex root of a quadratic actually means graphically? Find out!
14) Circular inversion – what does it mean to reflect in a circle? A great introduction to some of the ideas behind non-euclidean geometry.
15) Julia Sets and Mandelbrot Sets – We can use complex numbers to create beautiful patterns of infinitely repeating fractals. Find out how!
16) Graphing polygons investigation. Can we find a function that plots a square? Are there functions which plot any polygons? Use computer graphing to investigate.
17) Graphing Stewie from Family Guy. How to use graphic software to make art from equations.
18) Hyperbolic geometry – how we can map the infinite hyperbolic plane onto the unit circle, and how this inspired the art of Escher.
19) Elliptical Curves – how this class of curves have importance in solving Fermat’s Last Theorem and in cryptography.
20) The Coastline Paradox – how we can measure the lengths of coastlines, and uses the idea of fractals to arrive at fractional dimensions.
21) Projective geometry – the development of geometric proofs based on points at infinity.
22) The Folium of Descartes . This is a nice way to link some maths history with studying an interesting function.
23) Measuring the Distance to the Stars . Maths is closely connected with astronomy – see how we can work out the distance to the stars.
24) A geometric proof for the arithmetic and geometric mean . Proof doesn’t always have to be algebraic. Here is a geometric proof.
25) Euler’s 9 Point Circle . This is a lovely construction using just compasses and a ruler.
26) Plotting the Mandelbrot Set – using Geogebra to graphically generate the Mandelbrot Set.
27) Volume optimization of a cuboid – how to use calculus and graphical solutions to optimize the volume of a cuboid.
28) Ford Circles – how to generate Ford circles and their links with fractions.
29) Classical Geometry Puzzle: Finding the Radius . This is a nice geometry puzzle solved using a variety of methods.
30) Can you solve Oxford University’s Interview Question? . Try to plot the locus of a sliding ladder.
31) The Shoelace Algorithm to find areas of polygons . How can we find the area of any polygon?
32) Soap Bubbles, Wormholes and Catenoids . What is the geometric shape of soap bubbles?
33) Can you solve an Oxford entrance question? This problem asks you to explore a sliding ladder.
34) The Tusi circle – how to create a circle rolling inside another circle using parametric equations.
35) Sphere packing – how to fit spheres into a package to minimize waste.
36) Sierpinski triangle – an infinitely repeating fractal pattern generated by code.
37) Generating e through probability and hypercubes . This amazing result can generate e through considering hyper-dimensional shapes.
38) Find the average distance between 2 points on a square . If any points are chosen at random in a square what is the expected distance between them?
39) Finding the average distance between 2 points on a hypercube . Can we extend our investigation above to a multi-dimensional cube?
40) Finding focus with Archimedes. The Greeks used a very different approach to understanding quadratics – and as a result had a deeper understanding of their physical properties linked to light and reflection.
41) Chaos and strange Attractors: Henon’s map . Gain a deeper understanding of chaos theory with this investigation.
Calculus/analysis and functions
1) The harmonic series: Investigate the relationship between fractions and music, or investigate whether this series converges.
2) Torus – solid of revolution : A torus is a donut shape which introduces some interesting topological ideas.
3) Projectile motion: Studying the motion of projectiles like cannon balls is an essential part of the mathematics of war. You can also model everything from Angry Birds to stunt bike jumping. A good use of your calculus skills.
4) Why e is base of natural logarithm function: A chance to investigate the amazing number e.
5) Fourier Transforms – the most important tool in mathematics? Fourier transforms have an essential part to play in modern life – and are one of the keys to understanding the world around us. This mathematical equation has been described as the most important in all of physics. Find out more! (This topic is only suitable for IB HL students).
6) Batman and Superman maths – how to use Wolfram Alpha to plot graphs of the Batman and Superman logo
7) Explore the Si(x) function – a special function in calculus that can’t be integrated into an elementary function.
8) The Remarkable Dirac Delta Function . This is a function which is used in Quantum mechanics – it describes a peak of zero width but with area 1.
9) Optimization of area – an investigation . This is an nice example of how you can investigation optimization of the area of different polygons.
10) Envelope of projectile motion . This investigates a generalized version of projectile motion – discover what shape is created.
11) Projectile Motion Investigation II . This takes the usual projectile motion ideas and generalises them to investigate equations of ellipses formed.
12) Projectile Motion III: Varying gravity . What would projectile motion look like on different planets?
13) The Tusi couple – A circle rolling inside a circle . This is a lovely result which uses parametric functions to create a beautiful example of mathematical art.
14) Galileo’s Inclined Planes . How did Galileo achieve his breakthrough understanding of gravity? Follow in the footsteps of a genius!
Statistics and modelling 1 [topics could be studied in-depth]
1) Traffic flow : How maths can model traffic on the roads.
2) Logistic function and constrained growth
3) Benford’s Law – using statistics to catch criminals by making use of a surprising distribution.
4) Bad maths in court – how a misuse of statistics in the courtroom can lead to devastating miscarriages of justice.
5) The mathematics of cons – how con artists use pyramid schemes to get rich quick.
6) Impact Earth – what would happen if an asteroid or meteorite hit the Earth?
7) Black Swan events – how usefully can mathematics predict small probability high impact events?
8) Modelling happiness – how understanding utility value can make you happier.
9) Does finger length predict mathematical ability? Investigate the surprising correlation between finger ratios and all sorts of abilities and traits.
10) Modelling epidemics/spread of a virus
11) The Monty Hall problem – this video will show why statistics often lead you to unintuitive results.
12) Monte Carlo simulations
13) Lotteries
14) Bayes’ theorem : How understanding probability is essential to our legal system.
15) Birthday paradox: The birthday paradox shows how intuitive ideas on probability can often be wrong. How many people need to be in a room for it to be at least 50% likely that two people will share the same birthday? Find out!
16) Are we living in a computer simulation? Look at the Bayesian logic behind the argument that we are living in a computer simulation.
17) Does sacking a football manager affect results ? A chance to look at some statistics with surprising results.
18) Which times tables do students find most difficult? A good example of how to conduct a statistical investigation in mathematics.
19) Introduction to Modelling. This is a fantastic 70 page booklet explaining different modelling methods from Moody’s Mega Maths Challenge.
20) Modelling infectious diseases – how we can use mathematics to predict how diseases like measles will spread through a population
21) Using Chi Squared to crack codes – Chi squared can be used to crack Vigenere codes which for hundreds of years were thought to be unbreakable. Unleash your inner spy!
22) Modelling Zombies – How do zombies spread? What is your best way of surviving the zombie apocalypse? Surprisingly maths can help!
23) Modelling music with sine waves – how we can understand different notes by sine waves of different frequencies. Listen to the sounds that different sine waves make.
24) Are you psychic? Use the binomial distribution to test your ESP abilities.
25) Reaction times – are you above or below average? Model your data using a normal distribution.
26) Modelling volcanoes – look at how the Poisson distribution can predict volcanic eruptions, and perhaps explore some more advanced statistical tests.
27) Could Trump win the next election ? How the normal distribution is used to predict elections.
28) How to avoid a Troll – an example of a problem solving based investigation
29) The Gini Coefficient – How to model economic inequality
30) Maths of Global Warming – Modeling Climate Change – Using Desmos to model the change in atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.
31) Modelling radioactive decay – the mathematics behind radioactivity decay, used extensively in science.
32) Circular Motion: Modelling a Ferris wheel . Use Tracker software to create a Sine wave.
33) Spotting Asset Bubbles . How to use modeling to predict booms and busts.
34) The Rise of Bitcoin . Is Bitcoin going to keep rising or crash?
35) Fun with Functions! . Some nice examples of using polar coordinates to create interesting designs.
36) Predicting the UK election using linear regression . The use of regression in polling predictions.
37) Modelling a Nuclear War . What would happen to the climate in the event of a nuclear war?
38) Modelling a football season . We can use a Poisson model and some Excel expertise to predict the outcome of sports matches – a technique used by gambling firms.
39) Modeling hours of daylight – using Desmos to plot the changing hours of daylight in different countries.
40) Modelling the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) . Using the SIR model to understand epidemics.
41) Finding the volume of a rugby ball (or American football) . Use modeling and volume of revolutions.
42) The Martingale system paradox. Explore a curious betting system still used in currency trading today.
Statistics and modelling 2 [more simplistic topics: correlation, normal, Chi squared]
1) Is there a correlation between hours of sleep and exam grades? Studies have shown that a good night’s sleep raises academic attainment.
2) Is there a correlation between height and weight? (pdf). The NHS use a chart to decide what someone should weigh depending on their height. Does this mean that height is a good indicator of weight?
3) Is there a correlation between arm span and foot height? This is also a potential opportunity to discuss the Golden Ratio in nature.
4) Is there a correlation between smoking and lung capacity?
5) Is there a correlation between GDP and life expectancy? Run the Gapminder graph to show the changing relationship between GDP and life expectancy over the past few decades.
7) Is there a correlation between numbers of yellow cards a game and league position? Use the Guardian Stats data to find out if teams which commit the most fouls also do the best in the league.
8) Is there a correlation between Olympic 100m sprint times and Olympic 15000m times? Use the Olympic database to find out if the 1500m times have got faster in the same way the 100m times have got quicker over the past few decades.
9) Is there a correlation between time taken getting to school and the distance a student lives from school?
10) Does eating breakfast affect your grades?
11) Is there a correlation between stock prices of different companies? Use Google Finance to collect data on company share prices.
12) Is there a correlation between blood alcohol laws and traffic accidents ?
13) Is there a correlation between height and basketball ability? Look at some stats for NBA players to find out.
14) Is there a correlation between stress and blood pressure ?
15) Is there a correlation between Premier League wages and league positions ?
16) Are a sample of student heights normally distributed? We know that adult population heights are normally distributed – what about student heights?
17) Are a sample of flower heights normally distributed?
18) Are a sample of student weights normally distributed?
19) Are the IB maths test scores normally distributed? (pdf). IB test scores are designed to fit a bell curve. Investigate how the scores from different IB subjects compare.
20) Are the weights of “1kg” bags of sugar normally distributed?
21) Does gender affect hours playing sport? A UK study showed that primary school girls play much less sport than boys.
22) Investigation into the distribution of word lengths in different languages . The English language has an average word length of 5.1 words. How does that compare with other languages?
23) Do bilingual students have a greater memory recall than non-bilingual students? Studies have shown that bilingual students have better “working memory” – does this include memory recall?
Games and game theory
1) The prisoner’s dilemma : The use of game theory in psychology and economics.
3) Gambler’s fallacy: A good chance to investigate misconceptions in probability and probabilities in gambling. Why does the house always win?
4) Bluffing in Poker: How probability and game theory can be used to explore the the best strategies for bluffing in poker.
5) Knight’s tour in chess: This chess puzzle asks how many moves a knight must make to visit all squares on a chess board.
6) Billiards and snooker
7) Zero sum games
8) How to “Solve” Noughts and Crossess (Tic Tac Toe) – using game theory. This topics provides a fascinating introduction to both combinatorial Game Theory and Group Theory.
9) Maths and football – Do managerial sackings really lead to an improvement in results? We can analyse the data to find out. Also look at the finances behind Premier league teams
10) Is there a correlation between Premier League wages and league position? Also look at how the Championship compares to the Premier League.
11) The One Time Pad – an uncrackable code? Explore the maths behind code making and breaking.
12) How to win at Rock Paper Scissors . Look at some of the maths (and psychology behind winning this game.
13) The Watson Selection Task – a puzzle which tests logical reasoning. Are maths students better than history students?
Topology and networks
2) Steiner problem
3) Chinese postman problem – This is a problem from graph theory – how can a postman deliver letters to every house on his streets in the shortest time possible?
4) Travelling salesman problem
5) Königsberg bridge problem : The use of networks to solve problems. This particular problem was solved by Euler.
6) Handshake problem : With n people in a room, how many handshakes are required so that everyone shakes hands with everyone else?
7) Möbius strip : An amazing shape which is a loop with only 1 side and 1 edge.
8) Klein bottle
9) Logic and sets
10) Codes and ciphers : ISBN codes and credit card codes are just some examples of how codes are essential to modern life. Maths can be used to both make these codes and break them.
11) Zeno’s paradox of Achilles and the tortoise : How can a running Achilles ever catch the tortoise if in the time taken to halve the distance, the tortoise has moved yet further away?
12) Four colour map theorem – a puzzle that requires that a map can be coloured in so that every neighbouring country is in a different colour. What is the minimum number of colours needed for any map?
13) Telephone Numbers – these are numbers with special properties which grow very large very quickly. This topic links to graph theory.
14) The Poincare Conjecture and Grigori Perelman – Learn about the reclusive Russian mathematician who turned down $1 million for solving one of the world’s most difficult maths problems.
Mathematics and Physics
1) The Monkey and the Hunter – How to Shoot a Monkey – Using Newtonian mathematics to decide where to aim when shooting a monkey in a tree.
2) How to Design a Parachute – looking at the physics behind parachute design to ensure a safe landing!
3) Galileo: Throwing cannonballs off The Leaning Tower of Pisa – Recreating Galileo’s classic experiment, and using maths to understand the surprising result.
4) Rocket Science and Lagrange Points – how clever mathematics is used to keep satellites in just the right place.
5) Fourier Transforms – the most important tool in mathematics? – An essential component of JPEG, DNA analysis, WIFI signals, MRI scans, guitar amps – find out about the maths behind these essential technologies.
6) Bullet projectile motion experiment – using Tracker software to model the motion of a bullet.
7) Quantum Mechanics – a statistical universe? Look at the inherent probabilistic nature of the universe with some quantum mechanics.
8) Log Graphs to Plot Planetary Patterns . The planets follow a surprising pattern when measuring their distances.
9) Modeling with springs and weights . Some classic physics – which generates some nice mathematical graphs.
10) Is Intergalactic space travel possible? Using the physics of travel near the speed of light to see how we could travel to other stars.
Maths and computing
1) The Van Eck Sequence – The Van Eck Sequence is a sequence that we still don’t fully understand – we can use programing to help!
2) Solving maths problems using computers – computers are really useful in solving mathematical problems. Here are some examples solved using Python.
3) Stacking cannonballs – solving maths with code – how to stack cannonballs in different configurations.
4) What’s so special about 277777788888899? – Playing around with multiplicative persistence – can you break the world record?
5) Project Euler: Coding to Solve Maths Problems . A nice starting point for students good at coding – who want to put these skills to the test mathematically.
6) Square Triangular Numbers . Can we use a mixture of pure maths and computing to solve this problem?
7) When do 2 squares equal 2 cubes? Can we use a mixture of pure maths and computing to solve this problem?
8) Hollow Cubes and Hypercubes investigation . More computing led investigations
9) Coding Hailstone Numbers . How can we use computers to gain a deeper understanding of sequences?
Further ideas:
1) Radiocarbon dating – understanding radioactive decay allows scientists and historians to accurately work out something’s age – whether it be from thousands or even millions of years ago.
2) Gravity, orbits and escape velocity – Escape velocity is the speed required to break free from a body’s gravitational pull. Essential knowledge for future astronauts.
3) Mathematical methods in economics – maths is essential in both business and economics – explore some economics based maths problems.
4) Genetics – Look at the mathematics behind genetic inheritance and natural selection.
5) Elliptical orbits – Planets and comets have elliptical orbits as they are influenced by the gravitational pull of other bodies in space. Investigate some rocket science!
6) Logarithmic scales – Decibel, Richter, etc. are examples of log scales – investigate how these scales are used and what they mean.
7) Fibonacci sequence and spirals in nature – There are lots of examples of the Fibonacci sequence in real life – from pine cones to petals to modelling populations and the stock market.
8) Change in a person’s BMI over time – There are lots of examples of BMI stats investigations online – see if you can think of an interesting twist.
9) Designing bridges – Mathematics is essential for engineers such as bridge builders – investigate how to design structures that carry weight without collapse.
10) Mathematical card tricks – investigate some maths magic.
11) Flatland by Edwin Abbott – This famous book helps understand how to imagine extra dimension. You can watch a short video on it here
12) Towers of Hanoi puzzle – This famous puzzle requires logic and patience. Can you find the pattern behind it?
13) Different number systems – Learn how to add, subtract, multiply and divide in Binary. Investigate how binary is used – link to codes and computing.
14) Methods for solving differential equations – Differential equations are amazingly powerful at modelling real life – from population growth to to pendulum motion. Investigate how to solve them.
15) Modelling epidemics/spread of a virus – what is the mathematics behind understanding how epidemics occur? Look at how infectious Ebola really is .
16) Hyperbolic functions – These are linked to the normal trigonometric functions but with notable differences. They are useful for modelling more complex shapes.
17) Medical data mining – Explore the use and misuse of statistics in medicine and science.
18) Waging war with maths: Hollow squares . How mathematical formations were used to fight wars.
19) The Barnsley Fern: Mathematical Art – how can we use iterative processes to create mathematical art?
10 thoughts on “ maths ia – exploration topics ”.
Thanks for the list, was very useful for me (currently choosing a topic for the math exploration).
very helpful!
extremely helpful as my teacher is super vague! love this!
Most of these are excellent and I love the majority (CRT is the Way, the Truth, and the Light!) but these range from quite easy (modular arithmetic, at least at the basic level) to impossibly hard (GRH? Goldbach?).
I think the easier ones are more suitable; I find it hard to imagine a good paper on GRH or Goldbach without a background in complex analysis or analytic number theory, respectively: these topics are just too hard for high schoolers (and too hard for everyone else probably also). On the other hand, I’d quite enjoy reading (or writing?) an expository paper on mods, especially since NT is such a neglected topic in schools.
Also, what is with “Does finger length predict mathematical ability?”? Some of the Stats topics seem quite bizarre and wholly unmathematical in nature.
This is so helpful!
Great thanks!!!
Really helpful, I had no idea on even where to start. Thank you!
you saved me <3 🙂
I love IB Maths!
Comments are closed.
Powered by WordPress.com .
Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.
Type your email…
Continue reading
Need help with IB Exam preparation or Internal Assessment? Struggling with understanding concepts?
Sign up for our Trial IB Lesson Now!
Your Internal Assessment (IA) is a project that you will have to complete in all your IB classes. The style and grade value depends on the subject. It is a project that you will work on with the guidance of your teacher ( or your tutor ). The great thing about the internal assessment is that it allows students to be flexible and to further research a topic that they find interesting within the given subject. As good as it sounds, generating IA topic ideas is not always easy and that’s why we decided to help you here with some unique math IA ideas. Just read on!
A good IA should demonstrate your own interest of the topic. Moreover, it should show that the student has learned and has been able to apply what they have learned. A good IA does not have to be a very complex and intricate piece of work. Rather a clearly stated and clearly answered research question, consistent structure, and clear personal engagement which demonstrates knowledge will earn the student a good grade.
So let’s jump into what you are here for. Here is a list of 25 possible topics that serve as great math IA ideas . And keep in mind that in a math IA, it is more important to pick a topic that genuinely motivates you to display personal engagement than to pick something that sounds harder but does not resonate with you.
Arc lengths from integration techniques
Architecture and mathematics: the golden ratio
Bertrand paradox and probabilities
Cat’s cradle and the mathematics of knots
Chaos theory and the logistic map
Chess and the eight Queens puzzle
Conditional probability and the Monty Hall problem
Describing the vibrations of drums with Bessel functions
Dirac delta function and its applications
Elliptical geometry: when the sum of the angles of a triangle does not equal 180º
Euler’s identity: complex numbers and mathematical beauty
Fourier transformations
Fractals in nature
Markov chains and random walks
Modular arithmetic: when 2+2 is not always equal to 4
Möbius strip: the strange world of non-orientable surfaces
Simpson’s paradox and the strange outcomes of misused statistics
Special functions: error function and normal distributions
Surprising ways of finding Pi: Gaussian integral and the Leibniz Formula
The Koch snowflake: fractals and the tessellation of plane
The Mandelbrot Set: when fractals meet complex numbers
The Logistic function and its applications (population growth, neural networks, or linguistics)
The Gambler’s ruin: how beneficial chances are never beneficial in the end
The wave equation: how differential equations can be used to find the shape of a music note.
Topology: when a coffee mug and a donut are one and the same
Mathematics can be applied to pretty much all areas of human activity. For instance, a wave equation can be used not only to study music, but the dynamics of fluids and quantum mechanics as well, while the logistic function is applied to fields as diverse as population studies, neural networks, and linguistics. So remember to first pick an area that interests you, because the odds that one of the mathematics IA ideas above can be applied there are definitely in your favor.
No worries, our tutors are here to help. Whether you would like to consult what topic to choose or need additional help with setting up the structure of your IA, Think Smart Tutoring can help you. Just sign-up here for our tutoring services and we’ll contact you shortly to set-up the first introductory session.
25 unique biology internal assessment ideas.
This blog post is constructed to be seen as the fundamental handbook to accomplishing a higher maths IA mark . This is important to point out that as the probable topics for maths IA’s are so vast that each topic of maths IA would be addressed differently, this blog will disseminate the top 20 IB maths IA topics along with the comprehensive advice as opposed to necessary components of each IA; which can be otherwise be inferred from the IA marking criteria. Ib maths tutor at Ibstudies help students to secure full marks HL/SL maths IA, 20/20, and here we are providing some guidance that can assist you when writing up your final IB maths IA.
accomplishing a higher maths IA mark
Find a topic you always seem to question, how these things existing, what are fundamental principles apply to them and how can you assess them. In my opinion, this pertains to the maths IA more than almost any other IA or assignment as a considerable time will have to be disbursed on it to achieve a high mark. The IA indeed a tedious task in terms of formatting and working out and so on, especially with AA/AI Maths IA which will generally involve statistics, calculus, and so on, and so it is necessary that you don’t exhaust yourself too much and become demotivated.
Ib maths tutor at Ibstudies assists you to find a “topic” you really enjoy. Below are some examples :
Ib maths tutor
Gini Index:
Tinder/Bumble and other apps:
Decoding a Password:
Permutation and combination:
Modeling the Spread of a coronavirus:
Birthday problem:
3d phone case like this best replica watch site 2019 Optimizing area:
The flow of traffic:
Cricket statistics:
Probability:
Olympic Statistics:
Analyzing Data:
Amazon rainforest Fire 2020:
The historical problem of seven Königsberbridgesge:
Radioactive decay:
Tag: IB Maths IA Topics
Previous post
You may also like, how to choose the best ib tutor.
phone case knife
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Remember Me
WhatsApp us
How to choose topics for ib math ia and ee.
Choosing topics for any research-based essay can significantly affect how your essay is and therefore many students find it one of the most difficult parts of the assignment.
IA and EE in IB Mathematics are essentially the same in terms of what they require. However, EE is an extended and a much more in-depth analysis of the topic of your choice. Therefore, for an EE the topic you choose should be a little broader and have a lot more potential for detailed study than your topic for your IA. A topic for an IB Math IA can be much more focused and have limited possibilities in exploration. If you are not sure about how much you can explore in a particular topic, speak with your teacher or your online IB maths tutor to discuss options.
Any research based extended essay is best written on a topic that the writer feels passionate about or is keen to explore. Hence, choose a topic that invokes curiosity in you or that you wish to learn more about. Personal engagement is an important criterion in IA and EE and is best justified when the topic you choose has a major relevance in your life in general or your further studies. It could also be based on things you see around you like cooling rates of food on your table or patterns in nature. Your topic could also be based on your passion for music, equestrian, skating or any other hobbies you may have. Mathematics is everywhere. Explore the Mathematics behind things you love!
Both IB IA and EE topics should have a mathematical focus yet may not be confined to theories in IB Mathematics itself. Topics with a focus on math can be chosen from Economics, Physics or in general, Engineering and Social Sciences. For example, calculus is used in physics and engineering extensively. You can narrow down one or two such uses that you would like to explore mathematically. However, the research question and subsequently your IA and EE should revolve around the mathematical progression in the topic. Make sure that the level of Mathematics that you are exploring is in par with and/or beyond the level of Mathematics (IB Mathematics Analysis and Approaches SL/HL or Application and Interpretation SL/HL) you have chosen in the IB curriculum.
Your topic may also depend on whether you want to do a statistical analysis, model data or investigate certain theories. Exploring applications of math is another approach you can take. Some students prefer choosing the approach before the topic. If so, decide which approach will you do well in. Are you good with modelling data and finding patterns? Or do you prefer exploring theories or applications of theories? When you have done choosing which approach you prefer, look at topic options. Research which topic are you interested in and has the potential to explore in terms of the approach you have chosen. Discuss approaches and relevant topics with your IB Mathematics tutor or online IB tutor to narrow down your options.
There are many resources and websites online that have extensive lists of topics. Many students find that these lists have useful yet very repetitive topics that they do not find very interesting. You can find different yet interesting ideas by considering the modules of the course you are planning to undertake at University level, ask your IB online math tutor for ideas to explore a topic and then connect the topic to your syllabus in IB. Another place to start is to focus on areas of Mathematics that you are currently learning and are particularly interested in and research what theories or applications that you have not already learnt can be investigated further.
There are a lot of topics that are very common and every other IB math IA or EE that an examiner or moderator checks is based on these. Question is how to make yours stand out? Be innovative in exploring the topic. Investigate an area of use an approach of the same topic that is unique, exciting for you and for the reader. Even though the criteria of IB Math may restrict your options for which topics have potential, your ability to innovate and explore beyond what one would expect makes your IA or EE stand out.
In your search for topics, make a list of areas that you wish to explore and narrow down the list to three or four topics in order of preference. You may find after delving into a topic that it does not have the potential to cover all of the criteria of the IA or EE well enough. In this case, it is better to have some backup options, so you do not waste time in searching for another topic.
Plan how you will explore a topic before actually starting your IA or EE. IB requires a lot from a student within the short span of two years and therefore time is precious for you. Planning your essay or making a broad outline to your proposed IA and EE can help you understand the potential of the topic you have chosen and give you an insight of your progress. It can help you conclude if the topic is a good fit for you and your essay. For further understanding, your online IB tutors are always there.
With these points in mind, you can choose the best suitable yet fail safe topic for your Mathematics IA or EE. Baccalaureate Classes are always available to students who need further help. Good Luck!
Ib tutors in india.
A-1/6, Sushant Lok-2, Sector 55
(Near Rapid Metro Pillar No. 231 ), Gurugram,
Haryana - 122002.
+91-90198 49025 +91-9742824056
[email protected] , [email protected]
Score a home run on your Mathematics AI HL with our exclusive collection of Free IA Examples! Get insider tips and tricks for success.
Sell Your IA For $10 a pop!
Happy to give you $10 for every IA so we can give it away for free!
Top IA examples. Learn and excel.
Outstanding EE examples. Draft with confidence.
High-scoring IOs. Enhance your performance.
Exemplary TOK essays. Master your writing.
Top TOK exhibitions. Impress in assessments.
Explore How To Model A Swimmer's Motion And Calculate Terminal Velocity For Safe Pool Depths With Our IB Mathematics AI HL Sample IA.
Unlock The Secrets Of Trigonometry And Calculus With This In-Depth IA On Temperature And Wind Speed Trends Over A Decade. Discover The Intricate Connections Today.
"Discover How Volumes Of Revolution Can Calculate Hot Air Balloon Volume In This Sample IA For IB Maths AI HL – Unlock Insights And Enhance Your Understanding Now!"
Discover How Employee Numbers Influence Profit Margins In Gems And Jewelers Of Ahmadabad. Unlock Insights With Our IB Mathematics AI HL Study.
Discover How To Master IB Mathematics AI HL Through Our Detailed Guide On Volleyball Projectile Motion And Trajectory Equations.
Unlock The Secrets Of Quadratic Air Resistance And Its Impact On Shot Put Trajectories With Our Comprehensive IB Mathematics AI HL IA.
Discover How Road Banking Influences Driving Safety And Efficiency In Our Comprehensive IB Mathematics AI HL Investigation.
Unlock The Secrets Of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Stock Price Surge Amid Ebola Outbreaks In South-Eastern Guinea With Our In-Depth Analysis.
Discover How Mathematical Modelling Unravels The Intricate Pathways Of Planes In Our Latest IB Mathematics AI HL Sample IA.
Discover How To Model The Radioactive Decay From The Chernobyl Incident In Our Comprehensive IB Mathematics AI HL Sample IA.
Discover How To Model Singapore's Population Using The Logistic Model And Identify Its Carrying Capacity With Our Detailed IB Mathematics AI HL Sample IA.
Generating ToK exhibition objects was hard. QBIX AI makes it easy.
IMAGES
COMMENTS
IA Idea 1 - Modeling Statistics. Modeling statistics is a pretty broad concept for an IA, but it can refer to any project where a change in statistics is presented in a visually effective manner. An example of modeling is presenting the rate at which a country's population changes relative to external factors.
Maths IA - 300 Maths Exploration Topics: Scroll down this page to find over 300 examples of maths IA exploration topics and ideas for IB mathematics students doing their internal assessment (IA) coursework. Topics include Algebra and Number (proof), Geometry, Calculus, Statistics and Probability, Physics, and links with other subjects.
Come up with a working research question: Every IA needs to have a research question to streamline the exploration and provide direction to the essay. As with the topic, the research question needs to be specific but just wide enough to give you enough material to fill the said 6-12 pages. ... I need help finding a math IA HL topic related need ...
Maths and Time: Exploring ideas regarding time dilation. Plotting Planets: Using log functions to track planets! So there we have it: 50 IB Maths IA topic ideas to give you a head-start for attacking this piece of IB coursework! We also have similar ideas for Biology, Chemistry, Economics, History, Physics, TOK… and many many more tips and ...
Modelling financial market with Chaos theory (received mark: 15/20) IA Maths HL 6. High scoring IB Maths Internal Assessment examples. See what past students did and make your Maths IA perfect by learning from examiner commented examples!
These IB Math AA IA ideas and research questions aim to inspire your exploration, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application in diverse fields. Higher Level (SL) IB Math AA IA Ideas. For Higher Level (HL) students, the challenge intensifies. Your IA should reflect a deeper understanding of complex concepts.
Some students make links between Math and other subjects - a good way to combine knowledge from your other IB courses! Here are examples with details of potential research questions that could inspire your Mathematics IA: 1 - Investigating the properties of fractals and their relationship to chaos theory.
You are at the right place - The Ultimate Guide to IB Math IA! This article covers IB Math IA rubrics, process key pointers, the structure of the investigation, and interesting IB Math IA topics that will stimulate your mind and help you begin your exploration! You should also know about the updated course structure of IB Mathematics.
The first criterion is about the presentation, with the aim of assessing the general organization and coherence of your IA. Although students tend to focus on the complexity of math that their exploration demonstrates, a full 4 points are rewarded for the clarity of your explanations and structure. In order to score in the top range here, make ...
Place Order. IB Math HL IA Topics. Writing an Internal Assessment is an important part of the IB Math program. An IA is a research paper, which must be written on a topic in Mathematics. It is an opportunity to explore a specific topic in-depth and showcase your knowledge and understanding of mathematics. When choosing a topic for your IA, it ...
IB maths exploration (IA) ideas www.aeteaching.com [email protected] +34 637 035 159 Maths IA - Maths Exploration Topics Important Be aware that this page gets a large amount of traffic from IB students - do not simply copy arti cles. This will almost certainly be spotted by the IB moderators and could result in you failing your diploma.
Explore The Secrets Of Closed Knight's Tours On 3 x 2k Chess Boards In This Comprehensive IB Math AA HL IA Sample, Perfect For Aspiring Mathematicians. Mathematics AA HL. 6/7. 143 Likes. 29 mins read. 5660 words. English. Math AA HL IA.
adequate mathematical level. The following is a guide that wil. help you ace your Maths IA. Note that the IA requirements and structure is very similar in the new and old maths syllabus, so while this guide is created for the new syllabus it is relevant whether you're studying Maths AI SL/HL, Maths AA. L/HL, Maths HL, or Maths SL!Let's.
tentative deadlines for math hl iA (Class of 2020) ... Student research and brainstorm of interested topics Brainstorm and return to school in the fall with 3 potential topics and a short description for each. Using your topic and abstract, generate an outline with an essential question of exploration, including at least 3 subtopics and info ...
Advice for IB Math IA - choosing a research question, topic. In this post I will be sharing my opinion on selection of topic for Math IA. Truth is, different schools have different guidance on this. For example, I know a school that bans Graph and Game theory for selection (I'm against such a policy). HL students should not be pursuing a topic ...
Maths IA - 300 Maths Exploration Topics: Scroll down this page to find over 300 examples of maths IA exploration topics and ideas for IB mathematics students doing their internal assessment (IA) coursework. ... (SL and HL). Algebra and number. 1) Modular arithmetic - This technique is used throughout Number Theory. For example, Mod 3 means ...
Here is a list of 25 possible topics that serve as great math IA ideas. And keep in mind that in a math IA, it is more important to pick a topic that genuinely motivates you to display personal engagement than to pick something that sounds harder but does not resonate with you. 25 Unique Math IA Ideas. Arc lengths from integration techniques ...
Ib maths tutor at Ibstudies help students to secure full marks HL/SL maths IA, 20/20, and here we are providing some guidance that can assist you when writing up your final IB maths IA. accomplishing a higher maths IA mark. 1: IB maths tutor in Gurgaon help you to find the top 20 topics of maths IA. Find a topic you always seem to question, how ...
teacher that any mathematics in your report is correct. Your teacher will not give mathematical answers or corrections, but can indicate where any errors have been made or where improvement is needed. Mathematical Exploration HL Student Checklist Is your report written entirely by yourself and trying to avoid simply replicating work and ideas
Topics with a focus on math can be chosen from Economics, Physics or in general, Engineering and Social Sciences. For example, calculus is used in physics and engineering extensively. You can narrow down one or two such uses that you would like to explore mathematically. However, the research question and subsequently your IA and EE should ...
11 votes, 10 comments. Hellloooo. I am trying to work on my Math IA (outline due next week 😬), but I have no idea where to start. ... Choose a math topic, formulate a research question, and study it using math for your Math IA, much like a scientific investigation. ... Exam Discussion: Physics HL ...
Mathematics AI HL IA Examples. Score a home run on your Mathematics AI HL with our exclusive collection of Free IA Examples! Get insider tips and tricks for success. Sell Your IA For $10 a pop! Happy to give you $10 for every IA so we can give it away for free! Top IA examples. Learn and excel. Outstanding EE examples.
Here are some research questions that I have. How can divisibility tests be used to determine if a number is a palindromic number? "How does Euler's Identity relate to complex numbers and the unit circle, and what implications does it have for the field of mathematics?" "How does the relationship between the exponential and logarithmic ...