B Number Theory Image: Hooks for Elementary Courses

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Effective hooks for an elementary number theory course can include visually engaging images like graphs showing the distribution of prime numbers or twin primes. Incorporating themes of encryption can also captivate students, with resources like the 3blue1brown YouTube series providing appealing visual representations of complex numbers and the Riemann function. Additionally, exploring the relationship between spirals and prime numbers can serve as an intriguing visual aid. These strategies aim to enhance student motivation and interest in number theory. Utilizing these images can make the subject more relatable and exciting for learners.
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Are there any good images that can be used as a hook for an elementary number theory course?
 
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matqkks said:
Are there any good images that can be used as a hook for an elementary number theory course?
Are you concerned that number theory itself ain't sexy enough?
 
It is sexy enough but I am looking for something which will have an impact and motivate students.
 
Number theory is basically the theory of primes, so you could use their distribution graph, or that of twins, or just print out a large prime.

Another idea is something around encryption.
 
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You might find some ideas on the 3blue1brown youtube series. He does some beautiful representations of numbers on the complex plane including the Riemann function and other cool stuff.

There was one on spirals and the apparent connection to prime numbers.

 
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Thread 'Trigonometry problem of interest'

Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
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