[BBS] [Text/image]

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

Hey everyone, I think my math teacher isn't very smart. Should she be teaching math to people? My homework says to "find X", but it's right there! Or maybe she knows math, but she's just really bad at hide and go seek. It's not like the X is hiding really well or anything.

See? Look!

[Attached is an image of one of Luki's homework problems and Luki's solution to the problem. Had she actually been paying attention in class instead of drawing bunnies beating stick figures up, she might have learned how she was supposed to "find" X. As is, she thinks her teacher isn't very observant]




(ooc: An oldie, but couldn't resist. It IS how Luki would find X. ^_~ Ignore the stuff at the bottom. XD)

Comments

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

That should be the answer, shouldn't it?

- Ryu

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

That's what I think, but the teacher says it's all wrong. I think she just doesn't want to admit she sucks at finding things.

~Luki

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

Did you ask her to explain why it's wrong?

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

She said if I paid attention instead of drawing on my notes in class, I would know why it's wrong.

[dragon-savior.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess that's your answer.

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

That's not a good answer!

[whiplashings.livejournal.com]

When a math problem asks you to find 'x', they mean to find the numerical equivalent to which 'x' should be. In this problem, 'x' is the hypotenuse of a triangle, which you have to follow a formula to find. To find the hypotenuse of a triangle, you have to follow a simple formula called the 'Pythagorean Theorem', displayed here:

a^2+b^2=c^2

'a' and 'b' are the two legs of the triangle, which would be '4' and '3'. 'c' is the hypotenuse of the triangle, which would be 'x'. Therefore, to find 'x', you will have to solve this formula:

3^2+4^2=x^2

Does that make sense?

Quistis Trepe
SeeD Rank A

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

Then why don't they just say it your way? If they say 'find X' and then it's right there on the paper, it looks like a really stupid question.

-Luki

[whiplashings.livejournal.com]

Well, technically you are still finding 'x' through my explanation. I supposed the textbooks assume that everyone knows to find the numeric equivalent rather than to repeat the thorough explanation with every set of directions. Though, your instructor should have explained this during their lecture.

Quistis Trepe
SeeD Rank A

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

I...think maybe I was in the bathroom while she explained that part.

[whiplashings.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's understandable. Next time, perhaps ask the Instructor if you've missed any important points in the lesson during your break. I'm sure they'd be more than willing to help.

Quistis Trepe
SeeD Rank A

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'll do my best. [Or rather, she'll start off trying to do her best and they daydream instead, but it's a start]

[fierybluebird]

I think she's bad at hide and go seek personally.

But x is supposed to represent the unknown of a number that you can find out from the other numbers there.

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

They should just ask the questions the right way in the first place.

[fierybluebird]

It was probably explained in class. Did you fall asleep early?

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

No. I was drawing while the teacher was talking because it was boring!

[fierybluebird]

I think that means I called it.

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

I guess so. As long as I can pass the class, I don't really care if I do well. I can do all the math you need for money things.

[fierybluebird]

Oh, you'd be surprised how often geometry comes in handy. Besides, you'll need it for other classes.

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

Eh? Like what?

[fierybluebird]

Well physics needs it, chemistry needs algebra, computers use trigonometry. But in real life, you can't even repair a ship if you don't know geometry.

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

What about for fighting? I'm not going to do a job with physics or chemistry or anything like that. Mama made Noki and me to fight!

[fierybluebird]

Okay you've got you and Noki against 50 men all your strength. But you're at the top of a hill and they have to charge up. Now if you're smart, you can make traps to get rid of a bunch of them. Like sharp logs that will trample them. To set up the logs, you make a triangular ramp set up on a stick that you can pull out with string. Now that stick with the rope is three logs high, and it covers, 4 logs on the ground, how many logs can you put on the top of the ramp?

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

Um...twelve?

[fierybluebird]

... No.

Okay, "x" marks the spot, right. So in this case it's the "hypotenuse" which is the longest side. You can't find it by multiplying because it's not that much longer, it's only a little longer.

Do you know how to cube things?

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

Cubing is...2x2 and 3x3 and 4x4 and so on, right? The number times the number?

[fierybluebird]

Right! Good job. The number multiplied by itself. So in this case you want to multiply the 3 by itself -- so you get 9, and the four by itself so that you get: ____

This is where you'd fill it in.

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

That's easy! Sixteen!

[fierybluebird]

Okay now add that with the other side's 9.

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

Twenty five!

[fierybluebird]

Okay! Now the very last step. In order to find the length that x represents; what is the cube root of 25 -- or basically, what is the number that multiplied by itself creates 25?

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

Five!

So x is five?

[fierybluebird]

Yes!

See? It's almost fun sometimes, right?

[dangerousthings.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't go that far. But at least I won't get in trouble with the teacher now because I'll know how to do my homework.

[fierybluebird]

Better than nothing anyway.