Math reflection letter
Part 1:
My strengths on the CAHSEE in the math section was probably the probability problems. For example, there are 3 red marbles, 5 green marbles, if I reached in the bag... those were really easy since we did similar problems at the beginning of the semester.
For unfamiliar problems that I had no idea how to do, I tried the process of elimination. I would cancel out all the ones that I knew didn't make any sense giving me a better chance.
One habit of a mathematician I used was to be confident, patient and persistent. When doing problems that I haven't seen it a couple years it was difficult to remember the concept. I would always second guess myself but I know that your first guess is more reliable.
I think I need to learn finding the slope because it was very difficult for me to figure our if it was a positive or negative slop decrease.
Part 2:
Colleges:
-Santa Cruz
I will take the test as soon as I can and as many times as possible so I can do better each time.
I will take an extra class out side of high school to practice for the testings.
My strengths on the CAHSEE in the math section was probably the probability problems. For example, there are 3 red marbles, 5 green marbles, if I reached in the bag... those were really easy since we did similar problems at the beginning of the semester.
For unfamiliar problems that I had no idea how to do, I tried the process of elimination. I would cancel out all the ones that I knew didn't make any sense giving me a better chance.
One habit of a mathematician I used was to be confident, patient and persistent. When doing problems that I haven't seen it a couple years it was difficult to remember the concept. I would always second guess myself but I know that your first guess is more reliable.
I think I need to learn finding the slope because it was very difficult for me to figure our if it was a positive or negative slop decrease.
Part 2:
Colleges:
-Santa Cruz
- SAT Critical Reading: 470 / 610
- SAT Math: 490 / 620
- SAT Writing: 470 / 610
- ACT Composite: 20 / 26
- ACT English: 19 / 26
- ACT Math: 20 / 27
- SAT Critical Reading: 440 / 550
- SAT Math: 460 / 590
- SAT Writing: - / -
- ACT Composite: 18 / 24
- ACT English: 17 / 24
- ACT Math: 18 / 26
- SAT Critical Reading: 440 / 550
- SAT Math: 460 / 590
- SAT Writing: - / -
- ACT Composite: 15 / 20
- ACT English: 14 / 20
- ACT Math: 16 / 22
I will take the test as soon as I can and as many times as possible so I can do better each time.
I will take an extra class out side of high school to practice for the testings.
POW 2: A Sticky Gum Problem
This problem has three questions.
1.Ms. Hernandez and her twins come across a gumball machine with 2 colors in it, red and white. Each gumball costs 1 penny and her twins want the same color gumball. In the worst case scenario what is the most she will need to spen
2. The next day Ms. Hernandez and her twins come across another gumball machine. The gumballs still cost the same and her twins still want the same color, but this time there is 3 different gumball colors, red, white and blue. In the worst case scenario what is the most she will need to spend?
3.The next day Mr. Hodges comes along with his triplets to the gumball machine that has 3 colors. His triplets all want the same color. In the worst case scenario what is the most he will need to spend?
I started off by working out each problem. I made a T chart. Then I changed one of the variables, Kids or number of gumball colors. (Never change the the Penny amount) I worked with my group until we found a equation
For the overall problem, I drew out actual gumballs and colored them in to the appropriate color. I found the limit of the probability of receiving the amount and color of the gumballs the kids wanted. Once I finished problem one, all the other problems came a lot easier.
Through the problem I learned how to set up a problems like these. Once you complete one part of the problem it helps with the next and there is a pattern. I deserve a 10/10 because I finished the problem with 100% effort and was able to complete the whole thing.
Look for patterns is defiantly a major part of this problem because all the questions are similar in a way because all you have to do between problems is to switch a couple numbers around.
Visualize is also important because when working on this problem, you get stuck in these patterns on paper, writing all these numbers on paper messes with your mind. So times you have to turn your eyes off the paper and visualize the actual problem in real life and you will be surprised how much it helps.
Pow 1/ 1-2-3-4 puzzle
The problem is a basic problem using the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4. The basic goal of this problem was to find all the different ways of using the number using multiplication, addition, subtraction, division, etc. The only few rules were you can only use each number once and you had to use every number and you the answer has to be below 25.
I started basic with 1+2+3+4. Then I went down number by number and changed plus to minus. Just like 1+2+3-4, then 1+2-3-4.....
After writing these out, I got in a rhythm and it was all a pattern. I soon I was finished with one pattern, I found the next patter by starting with 1x2x3x4. Then going down number by number and changing each multiplication sign with a addition sign then a subtraction sign. Just like 1x2x3+4, then 1x2x3-4...... After I finished all the patterns I thought of I went through everyone and checked to see if there was random once I missed just by looking at them.
I think this problem to me was just a way to remind myself there always is one way of doing something. In math class, sometimes you get stuck in a rut of doing all these problem similar wars. In this problem you forced to try it different ways. One habit that I used most in this problem was probably staying organized. Since sometimes you are writing the smiler thing over and over and you get stuck in a pattern. You can make simple mistakes and it can result in big mistakes. Also when you stay organized it is easy to read and when looking back over everything for any mistakes it's easy to read.
I started basic with 1+2+3+4. Then I went down number by number and changed plus to minus. Just like 1+2+3-4, then 1+2-3-4.....
After writing these out, I got in a rhythm and it was all a pattern. I soon I was finished with one pattern, I found the next patter by starting with 1x2x3x4. Then going down number by number and changing each multiplication sign with a addition sign then a subtraction sign. Just like 1x2x3+4, then 1x2x3-4...... After I finished all the patterns I thought of I went through everyone and checked to see if there was random once I missed just by looking at them.
I think this problem to me was just a way to remind myself there always is one way of doing something. In math class, sometimes you get stuck in a rut of doing all these problem similar wars. In this problem you forced to try it different ways. One habit that I used most in this problem was probably staying organized. Since sometimes you are writing the smiler thing over and over and you get stuck in a pattern. You can make simple mistakes and it can result in big mistakes. Also when you stay organized it is easy to read and when looking back over everything for any mistakes it's easy to read.
sObama inauguration
The purpose was to find an estimate to how many people were at the Obama inauguration using scales.
We first needed to observe the aerial photo of the area by looking where were the plots of people. Then we needed to find the actual distance from the White House to the Washington monument in real life measurements which is 2,300 meters. Since we found the total distance we needed to scale it to image. We found the scale 8 meters in real life is 1 cm on paper. So we measured the area where the people were and took the scale of the total area in real life and scaled it down to paper. Then we found how many people can fit in a certain area. Our final estimate was 1.12 million people. Two habits of mathematician that describes me on this project was by looking for patterns because when you measured the spaces where people stand, some areas were very similar in sizes so you wouldn't have to do the math twice. It would be a lot easier to do it once and then multiply it by 2. The second habit would have to be persistent, because if you mess up in one area and can lead to many more mistakes when doing the math of other measurements.
We first needed to observe the aerial photo of the area by looking where were the plots of people. Then we needed to find the actual distance from the White House to the Washington monument in real life measurements which is 2,300 meters. Since we found the total distance we needed to scale it to image. We found the scale 8 meters in real life is 1 cm on paper. So we measured the area where the people were and took the scale of the total area in real life and scaled it down to paper. Then we found how many people can fit in a certain area. Our final estimate was 1.12 million people. Two habits of mathematician that describes me on this project was by looking for patterns because when you measured the spaces where people stand, some areas were very similar in sizes so you wouldn't have to do the math twice. It would be a lot easier to do it once and then multiply it by 2. The second habit would have to be persistent, because if you mess up in one area and can lead to many more mistakes when doing the math of other measurements.