Reflections
4/9/15 - Unit 3 Reflection: Area, Volume, and Measurement
What content/skills have been the most interesting to you in this unit?
I'd say the most interesting things for me this unit have definitely been the optimization problems. Mostly because of the real world application. A good example of one of them was the POW. From what I imagine, someone in real life would have done this sort of problem for their job with the same goal. I really like problems like these because they really make you think and therefor they are the type of problem that interested me and I would like to do more of.
And how has this helped you grow in the area of mathematics?
I think that these kind of problem solving equations are the real tests of mathematical understanding. It's one thing to fill out a worksheet of math equations, but it is another to apply it to a complex problem and come up with your own solution. I really think that POWs are really helpful as both a challenge and a test of understanding for a subject.
I'd say the most interesting things for me this unit have definitely been the optimization problems. Mostly because of the real world application. A good example of one of them was the POW. From what I imagine, someone in real life would have done this sort of problem for their job with the same goal. I really like problems like these because they really make you think and therefor they are the type of problem that interested me and I would like to do more of.
And how has this helped you grow in the area of mathematics?
I think that these kind of problem solving equations are the real tests of mathematical understanding. It's one thing to fill out a worksheet of math equations, but it is another to apply it to a complex problem and come up with your own solution. I really think that POWs are really helpful as both a challenge and a test of understanding for a subject.
3/3/15 - Unit 2 Reflection: Shadows, Similarity, and Right Triangle Trigonemtry
Q1: What has been the work you are most proud of in this unit?
This unit I think I have performed really well on tests and quizzes that have summed up topics we have covered in class. I am most proud of these because of how well I have done on them; I have not gotten anything less than an A- which I think really shows how well I have understood and applied the subject matter. I think I have done really well in this unit but I think that the quizzes and tests are the only real evidence of that.
Q2: What skills are you developing in geometry/math?
I think this unit the skills I have developed most are my trigonometry skills; as I had already done some basic geometry last year, trigonometry was the only real concept I hadn't ever touched before. I think I have progresses a ton from not even knowing what trig was to having confident mastery of right angle trig problems and concepts and a good idea and amount of practice for applying those skills to real-world scenarios.
Q3: Choose one topic: similarity (ratios) or trigonometry. Explain what it is. Provide an example of how it is used in mathematics to solve problems. State an application of the topic in the adult world that interests you.
Trigonometry is the study of angles and sides in triangles and how they relate to eachother using a set series of functions. Trigonometry deals with three main ratios; Sine, Cosine, and Tangent that are all used in different instances to solve for missing angles and sides in triangle. I think that trig most definitely has a ton of real world applications but one that I find really interesting and helpful and that we have even practiced quite a bit is solving for the height of an object with the mere variables of distance from and angle to.
This unit I think I have performed really well on tests and quizzes that have summed up topics we have covered in class. I am most proud of these because of how well I have done on them; I have not gotten anything less than an A- which I think really shows how well I have understood and applied the subject matter. I think I have done really well in this unit but I think that the quizzes and tests are the only real evidence of that.
Q2: What skills are you developing in geometry/math?
I think this unit the skills I have developed most are my trigonometry skills; as I had already done some basic geometry last year, trigonometry was the only real concept I hadn't ever touched before. I think I have progresses a ton from not even knowing what trig was to having confident mastery of right angle trig problems and concepts and a good idea and amount of practice for applying those skills to real-world scenarios.
Q3: Choose one topic: similarity (ratios) or trigonometry. Explain what it is. Provide an example of how it is used in mathematics to solve problems. State an application of the topic in the adult world that interests you.
Trigonometry is the study of angles and sides in triangles and how they relate to eachother using a set series of functions. Trigonometry deals with three main ratios; Sine, Cosine, and Tangent that are all used in different instances to solve for missing angles and sides in triangle. I think that trig most definitely has a ton of real world applications but one that I find really interesting and helpful and that we have even practiced quite a bit is solving for the height of an object with the mere variables of distance from and angle to.