Hergert Numbers origami

I should have posted this a couple weeks ago, but I was busy putting up the Hergert Numbers Facebook page.

The fine work in the above photo is by Michael Kunz, a student in my Calculus class this semester. Michael makes at least one origami figure each day during class to turn in as his "most important thing we learned in class today" minute paper.

So, a couple weeks ago, we were covering Hergert Numbers in class so he made me a couple origami figures with Hergert Numbers on them to represent the most important thing from that day's class.

Besides working on the Facebook page, I was also delayed simply because I kept forgetting to bring them home. Once I finally got them in my house, they sat on the kitchen counter for a couple weeks before I bothered to snap some photos. In other words, basic procrastination made it about three weeks from their creation to appearing here.

Tomorrow, I'm off to the annual conference of the Illinois Mathematics Association of Community Colleges (IMACC) where I'll be giving a talk that will feature a brief promo for the Hergert Numbers at the end.

I'll also be donating a t-shirt to the IMACC Scholarship Fund raffle. I'm sure that will sell a lot of tickets!

Hergert Numbers & the Calculus Dog!

Last night, Dr. Tim Pennings of Hope College in Michigan stopped by Beloit College to give a talk titled "Do Dogs Know Calculus?" where he told the story of Elvis, his 10-year old Welsh Corgi, and his natural tendency to mimic a well-known Calculus exercise while playing fetch in Lake Michigan.

And, of course, the Hergert Numbers were there to see it all! Here's Elizabeth Meena with Tim & Elvis after the presentation. Elizabeth's shirt caught the attention of several audience members. There was some talk of getting Elvis his own Hergert Numbers doggie sweater, but I'm not sure we can get the full definition on there since he's not all that big. I'll have to talk to the folks at Tom Harmer's (the current makers of the t-shirts).

Today, Elvis is off to Madison Area Technical College for another presentation of his fabulous skills. With all of the media attention on the state capitol in Madison these days, we just need to get Elvis to the protests wearing a Hergert Numbers shirt and we'll have national exposure for sure!

Hergert Numbers now available in polos!

Tonight we did a late Christmas gift exchange with Mrs. Hergertnumbers family and I received a Hergert Numbers polo shirt (from the Mrs. of course)! This is like Hergert Numbers formal wear. I don't know if this shirt is quite wacky enough for Wacky Shirt Wednesday, but it's much appreciated! I now have Hergert Numbers apparel for any occasion.

It's too small to read in this picture, but that red line on the chest is the Hergert Numbers URL. Did you notice the Hergert Numbers bobblehead in the background?

Merry Christmas and Spread the Word!

Hergert Numbers in Lecture Notes!

This fall, the Hergert Numbers movement took a giant leap forward. The definition has now been included in the lecture notes posted online by Professor Steve Kifowit of Prairie State College for his Calculus class. Steve's definition is a little more formally worded than the t-shirts, but he checked with me to be sure it captures the spirit and intent of the Hergert number concept.

Now, all we need is for Steve to develop his notes into a full-fledged Calculus textbook and we'll be on our way!

Hergert Numbers Birthday Cake!

Happy Birthday to me!

Tonight, I celebrated my birthday with my family in the best way I know how - a Hergert Numbers birthday cake. It was delicious! I really enjoyed the "ert" portion of the cake. Tomorrow night, I may have to go for some "Herg".

In case you're wondering what birthday this is, just find the Hergert Number for f(x)=x^3-129x^2+12x-14

I also wore my Hergert Numbers baseball cap all day long at RVC since that was an early birthday present.

Thanks to all who have supported the Hergert Numbers movement this year. Send me your pictures!

Hergert Numbers in Boston!

How did you spend your Veteran's Day this year? I got up bright and early and headed out to the oldest ballpark in America - Fenway Park in Boston - to spread the word. It was a chilly morning (as you can see by my bright red nose), but I temporarily removed my jacket to display my Hergert Numbers spirit for the official tour photo.

As many of you know, I was in Boston for the 2010 AMATYC national conference where 1285 math teachers had gathered to learn about and share all things mathematics. I couldn't think of a better time to continue my quest to popularize the term Hergert numbers. So, I printed up business cards to give out to colleagues I met throughout the conference. It's too early to tell how much they helped, but it sure made for a convenient conversation starter.

I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a photo with my HN shirt or hat on the Harvard Bridge where the smoot marks are painted, but I only got there at night and it may have been a little dangerous to lie down on the bridge sidewalk for the proper pose with all the bicycle traffic. On the other hand, it'll give me something to shoot for the next time I'm in Beantown.

Hergert Numbers in the JCSM!

This post is long overdue. Back in June, the last steel beam was put in place in the Jacobs Center for Science and Math on the Rock Valley College campus. To honor the milestone, the college let those who will be occupying the building sign the beam before it was put installed. I couldn't help but add a plug for the Hergert Numbers movement with my signature.

It's ironic that I'm doing this while in Boston at the national conference for the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges trying to spread the word far and wide. Unfortunately, my best picture so far is not digital, so you'll have to wait until I get back to Rockford and can scan it before I can put it up. I guarantee that it won't take me 5 months like this post, so check back soon!