Module 7 Discussion Forum on Number Theory

Assessment

This activity will assess the following learning objective:

Identify and define factors and multiples of whole numbers, and apply this understanding to solve problems.

Forum Instructions

[ADOPTING INSTRUCTOR: Remove or Edit the following instructions as desired].

In a post below, respond to the following prompt. Then, you must respond to (X) of your classmates' posts. After you post a response, you will be able to see other responses. You are not required to post more than once, but feel free to respond to other posts and engage with your classmates[Edit previous three sentences to suit forum function/requirements].

Your [first] post is due on [day of week] by [time] CST. Your response to another student is due on [day of week] by [time] CST. [Adjust for number of posts required.]

Your response should be at least [length requirement in words, sentences, or paragraphs] long. This includes responses to other students' posts. [Include previous sentence if necessary.] A simple “I agree” or “Yes” or “LOL” will not count. Please think about the questions and your peers' responses and reply thoughtfully and courteously, according to netiquette rules. Use good English grammar, correct punctuation, and complete sentences. While the posts will mostly be judged by their thoughtfulness and completeness, I reserve the right to take off points for grammatical errors, especially if they interfere with the clarity of the post.

Prompt

Is Your Number Abundant, Perfect, or Deficient?

Natural numbers can be classified by the sum of their proper factors (all positive divisors except the number itself) into three groups: perfect numbers, where the sum of the proper factors equals the number (e.g., 28); abundant numbers, where the sum is greater than the number (e.g., 12); and deficient numbers, where the sum is less than the number (e.g., 10).

For your initial post, choose a number between 10 and 100. List all of its proper factors and calculate their sum. Then, decide whether your number is abundant, perfect, or deficient, and explain your reasoning in a few sentences.

After posting, read a classmate’s response and reply to their post. In your reply, compare your number to theirs by reflecting on which one is more abundant or more deficient. You might also comment on whether anything surprised you about their result or the patterns you noticed.

You’re also welcome to explore further: Can you find another perfect number besides 28? Or do you notice any interesting patterns when comparing abundant or deficient numbers?

DETAILS FOR THE ADAPTING INSTRUCTOR - REMOVE BEFORE PUBLISHING TO STUDENTS:

A forum for discussion promotes peer-to-peer and student-instructor interaction. Questions should be thought provoking and encourage detailed analysis of module topics. Include a rubric.

If you do not want students to see other responses before they post, set type to "Q and A forum." For this type, you must create a post first for students to respond.

Subscription: Set to Auto.

Due dates: You cannot set due dates for forums, so be sure to tell students when to post above. These dates will not appear on the Moodle calendar.

Ratings: will place the forum in the gradebook. You can set a maximum grade. Restricting ratings to a date range only affects when you can grade, and not when the activity is available to students.

Activity completion: You can select completion criteria and an expected completed date.