Hard Math Concepts... "The Fairest Of Them All"

12/17/2012

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     If there is one class I regret taking (even though I didn't really have a choice) it would (sooooooooooooooooooooooo) be Algebra. I call it math because I don't like saying Algebra... plus I'm still getting out of that elementary student inside me. "Math" is really tricky for me because not only does it deal with numbers, you deal with signs and letters which all have names, that you have to remember. Like "subtract" for instance, if you never learned what the word subtract meant, you'd be in a lot of trouble by second grade! Not to mention seventh! One concept that was the hardest for me to learn was probably the linear equations unit.
     This was hard for me because in elementary school, we didn't do a lot of graphing, we learned about coordinates and where the might range from looking at them, but we never figured out how to use an equation to graph. One way that was really easy to remember how to graph was to remember that "What does y equal?! (y =) mx + b." It's a song that has the beat and tune of "YMCA." It a really annoying song that is one YouTube, that once you hear it, you'll always remember it! Y is you answer. M is what your slope or steepness of line is. X is just the variable, its what changes the answer. B is where the line hits the y axis. So they are all pretty easy to remember once studied!
     After a while of hearing the song (CONSTANTLY!!!!!) I was able to remember how to graph a line using an equation. I am really glad I asked questions because all "math" does, is builds upon itself. If I didn't ask, I could have a really bad grade in that class and not learn anything. So next time someone needs you to graph a line based on an equation, you'll know what to do!
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Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

12/10/2012

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     Did you know that when you were little, you liked to draw!? No, just kidding, but honestly you did make sort of silly little lines all intertwined in some sort of shape. Your parents and family called it scribbling. Really, you drew all sorts of lines all with special names. Parallel lines are lines that are right across from each other. They never touch or intersect... ever, for as long as they go on. We all know lines never end. Perpendicular lines are lines that cross to make the letter "T," it's more of a cross really. You now it is a perpendicular line, though, when all the corners of the lines are 90 degrees! 
     Each of these lines have certain rules though. Like what if you have two coordinates and you need to figure out if the coordinates are perpendicular when graphed or parallel. Well, here are the two simple rules, if the coordinates are ( 2, 3) and you want them to be parallel make it look like this ( - 1/2, 3). You basically switch the "m" in "y = mx +b" to its complete opposite! If you want them to be perpendicular, change the "b" to a different number. You see?! Good Luck!
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2 Dots and An Equation

12/3/2012

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 Picture this... You are sitting in class and your teacher asks you to make an equation of two coordinates. Oh! You have no idea how! Oh well, just throw that thought away! No, don't, just kidding. You need to make that equation so you can have that happy little A+! To get that A+ however, there are some steps! Here's how...
Delta Y over Delta X. What the heck is it! Well what's "y"? It's the vertical line that is on you graph. So that means "x" is the horizontal line on your graph. So let's say that the teacher's coordinates he gives you are (4, 6) and (3, 5). Just do delta y over delta x. So even though you have x and y in one coordinate (4, 6) is going to stand for Delta y. In "Delta Y over Delta X" over = subtract. So (3, 5) is going to be your Delta X and will be subtracted from you Delta Y.
      Your answer should be (1, 1) because once you've subtracted  the coordinates from one another that should be your answer. So do you know what (1 ,1) is? Well, in the equation, y = mx + b, (1,1) is m. Plug in the number an figure out b. Y = 5, X = 3, and M = 1 (because 1 divided by 1 is 1.)  
    Sometimes things seem really tricky because the directions have too many words or numbers in them. A lot of the time, the questions might be tricky, but a lot of the time, they're not! Sometimes you just have to read the questions over and over again until you finally get it. And if you can't get it, then ask a teacher, friend(s), or even your parents. They all know what to do and so do you. Oh! You might want to know what happened to you in the story! Well, here it is...
     Your teacher is disappointed because a lot of the student's paper's he's graded have been incorrect. He comes up to you and takes your paper. A small smile lights up across his face as you wait impatiently. He writes something on your paper then drops in it the center of your desk and walks to the next student. What did you do wrong? You hold your paper in the air and look at what he wrote. In red ink there sits a small, simple, but the best A+ ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then you ride away on a purple unicorn! 

Here's the technical equation for your "mathmatical" life, 
Student + Confusing Math(Teacher) 
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