Over the course of the year in Calculus, we will be given different problems, called "Spy Problems," to solve, and present to the class in a creative way. These are the visual elements I created to accompany the math for each project.


The Prompt:Spy Problem 1
The hero of a popular spy story, Captain Calculus, hasescaped from the secret headquarters of an international diamond-smuggling ringin the tiny Mediterranean country of El-Lipsa. Driving a stolen milk truck at72 km/hr, the spy has a 40 minute head start on his pursuers, who are chasinghim in a Ferrari going at 168 km/hr. The distance from the smuggler'sheadquarters in El-Lipsa to the border, and freedom, is 83.3 km.


With the problem being rather simple, I wanted to expand on the creative aspect of the project. This is my first spy problem of the year. It's a quick animation I created in Photoshop and After Effects through a one week period. Enjoy!              

*Note that "Unger" was intentional, not a typo (it was a reference to another Calculus teacher at my school)                                                                                                        

 

The Prompt: Spy Problem 2
Ourfriend, the spy (who escaped from the diamond-smugglers in Problem #1), is on asecret mission in space. An encounter with an enemy agent leaves him with amild concussion that causes him to forget where he is. Fortunately, he somehowremembers (from his high school calculus class, no doubt) the formula for theheight of a projectile. Therefore, to deduce his whereabouts, he throws a rockdirectly upwards (from ground level) and makes two observations to enable himto determine the value of g for thislocation.
WHERE IS OUR HERO?


Here's a quick sample of the sequel to this project! (A pop-up book constructed in roughly two hours):

The Prompt: Spy Problem 3
Itis noon. Our hero, the spy, having just returned from Mars, is having lunch atthe famous floating restaurant, McD’s, on Lake Titicaca. While waiting for hislunch to arrive with his female acquaintance, the lovely Miss D. D’nominator,he received a call on his cell phone. He is informed that a band of terroristshas placed a time bomb that is set to explode at the airport at 1:00 pm. Hispresent location at McD’s is 36 miles from the nearest point N on the shoreline,and 28 miles down the road is the airport, A. He jumps onto a jet ski whichtravels at 50 mph on water, and he programs his Harley to meet him at the pointthat he lands on the shoreline. The Harley travels at 85 mph. If our hero wantsto arrive at the airport in the shortest possible time,
HOWLONG DOES HE HAVE TO DIFFUSE THE BOMB?

I created the video in approximately 3 days, using Adobe After Effects and Adobe Photoshop.

The Prompt: Spy Problem 3
It is noon. Our hero, the spy, having just returned from Mars, is having lunch at the famous floating restaurant, McD’s, on Lake Titicaca. While waiting for his lunch to arrive with his female acquaintance, the lovely Miss D. D’nominator, he received a call on his cell phone. He is informed that a band of terrorists has placed a time bomb that is set to explode at the airport at 1:00 pm. His present location at McD’s is 36 miles from the nearest point N on the shoreline, and 28 miles down the road is the airport, A. He jumps onto a jet ski which travels at 50 mph on water, and he programs his Harley to meet him at the point that he lands on the shoreline. The Harley travels at 85 mph. If our hero wants to arrive at the airport in the shortest possible time,
HOW LONG DOES HE HAVE TO DIFFUSE THE BOMB?

I created the video in approximately 3 days, using Adobe After Effects and Adobe Photoshop.

 

The Prompt: Spy Problem 6

I created the video in approximately 1 days, using Adobe After Effects and Adobe Photoshop. Watch in HD!