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In the overview of this module, we saw how a linear equation can be applicable to the grocery store expenditure. Think about 3 different examples where you can formulate 3 different linear equations. Then, share those examples and linear equations. Include the x-intercept and y-intercept of each of your linear equations. Comment on the validity of the other students’ linear equations. None of your linear equations must have expenditure as the variable. (Think beyond the grocery store example.) Example from module description: Suppose that you go to a grocery store to buy some cola bottles. Your expenditure depends on how much you spend on gas and how many bottles you buy at the grocery store. The amount you spend on gas does not depend on how many bottles you buy, but the amount you spend in the grocery store does. Hence, your gas expenditure can be considered fixed cost, and your cola bottles’ expenditure can be considered variable cost. Now, suppose also that your gas expenditure for each trip to the grocery store is $3, and the selling price of each cola bottle is $2. If your total expenditure is expressed as y, and the number of cola bottles is expressed as x, then one can say that y = 3 + 2x.



Example 1. Suppose it is girl scout cookie season. :) You have committed to buy ten boxes of cookies from your own daughter, and also to buy three boxes from every other girl scout that comes to your door selling cookies. The total amount of cookies you buy does not depend on how many boxes you buy from each girl, but on the number of girls that come to your door. Therefore, the cookies you buy from your own daughter can be considered fixed, and the cookies from other girl scouts can be considered variable. If your total cookie purchase (in boxes) is expressed as y, and the number of girl scouts you buy cookies from is expressed as x, then y = 10 + 3x.

• Solving the x-intercept for y = 10 + 3x (y = 0)
  
  0 = 10 + 3x
  
  -10 = 3x
  
  -(10/3) = x
  
  -3.33 = x
  
  x-intercept is (-3.33, 0)


• Solving the y-intercept for y = 10 + 3x (x = 0)
  
  y = 10 + 3*0
  
  y = 10 + 0
  
  y = 10
  
  y-intercept is (0, 10)

Example 2. Suppose that you are considering carpooling to reduce your 20 mile per day commute to two miles per day to a carpool meetup spot, plus the once or twice weekly full commute when it's your turn to drive (based on a five day work week). The total number of miles you drive per week does not depend on how many miles in your commute, but on the frequency you have to make that drive. Therefore, the mileage to your carpool meetup is fixed, and the mileage for the rest of the week is variable. If your total weekly mileage is expressed as y, and the frequency you drive the carpool all the way is expressed as x, then y = 2*5 + 20x.

• Solving the x-intercept for y = 2*5 + 20x (y = 0)
  
  0 = 2*5 + 20x
  
  0 = 10 + 20x
  
  -10 = 20x
  
  -(10/20) = x
  
  -0.5 = x
  
  x-intercept is (-0.5, 0)


• Solving the y-intercept for y = 2*5 + 20x (x = 0)
  
  y = 2*5 + 20*0
  
  y = 10 + 0
  
  y = 10
  
  y-intercept is (0, 10)

Example 3. Suppose that you are enrolled in an eleven-week graduate class, and are scheduled to complete ten homework assignments, twenty online discussions, and one final exam (31 total assignments). Suppose also that you alot two hours for easy assignments and four hours for difficult assignments. The total number of hours you need to plan for your schoolwork does not depend on the number of assignments, but on how many of them are easy and how many are difficult. If the total number of hours you need to expend on your assignments is expressed as y, and the number of assignments that are difficult is expressed as x, then y = 2(31-x) + 4x.

• Solving the x-intercept for y = 2(31-x) + 4x (y = 0)
  
  0 = 2(31-x) + 4x
  
  0 = 2*31 - 2x + 4x
  
  0 = 62 + 2x
  
  -62 = 2x
  
  -(62/2) = x
  
  -31 = x
  
  x-intercept is (-31, 0)


• Solving the y-intercept for y = 2(31-x) + 4x (x = 0)
  
  y = 2(31-0) + 4*0
  
  y = 2*31 + 0
  
  y = 62
  
  y-intercept is (0, 62)

Week One: Algebra Review & Linear Equations. Shit.



Algebra Review:

~Natural Numbers. Ok, got it.

~Whole Numbers. Ok, got it.

~Rational Numbers. Ok.

~Irrational Numbers. Wtf.



Properties of Real Numbers:

~Commutative, Associative, Identity, Inverse, Distributive. Had to refresh my memory, but ok.



Polynomials. Ok.

Addition & Subtraction. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! :)

Rules of Parenthesis. I remember those.

Multiplication & the FOIL Method: First, Outside, Inside, Last. Had to re-learn that. Shit.

Order of Operations. Thanks to building Excel formulas, I know that.



Properties of Exponents:

~Product, Quotient, Power of a Power, Product of a Power, Quotient to a Power, Zero Exponent, Negative Exponent, Inverse. WTF!! Shit!



Radicals. Huh?

Factoring. Simplifying - I can get w/that.

Greatest Common Factor. There's a formula for that? I always did that in my head, formula makes no sense. What's a "prime" factor?

Factoring Patterns. "When factoring polynomials there are common patterns easily recognizable..." Easily recognizable MY ASS.



Properties of Rational Expressions:

~Cancellation, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction. Ok.



Rectangular Coordinates and Linear Equations. Thanks to Excel, this is not totally foreign.

Point-Slope Form. I f'ing hate Algebra.

Slope-Intercept Form. Who needs math anyway.



Business Applications of Linear Equations. Finally, maybe this can be made useful somehow.

~Forecasting. Supply & Demand makes sense - but these formulas?!? Shit!

~Break-even Analysis. "Suppose that you are selling popcorn." Yeah, suppose that. I don't need math to sell popcorn.



THIS SEMESTER IS GONNA SUCK. :{

Smileys Shortcuts for Facebook Chat are very popular in young generation. By using these Emoticons we can say our feeling and expression more live than only use Text. The major drawback to these smiley faces is that site does not allow direct entry of the emoticons. Instead, you have to know and remember the facebook emoticon shortcuts and codes and type them in where you need them.


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Once upon a time, while JR was at boot camp, I succeeded in losing a rather significant amount of weight. I remember a colleage referring to me as "the incredible shrinking Stephanie" and I think I'm due another round of that! Just look at this recent picture:

I'm short, and fat! I am hoping this photo, combined with the uncomfortable fit of most of the clothes in my closet, will help motivate and propel me into some sort of fitness/weight-loss regimine. There's this nice 2½-mile lake trail - right in my neighborhood! I really need to get out there. Me and Sydney. 5am. I remember how good it feels to start my day with exercise.

photo & words: Adrian Crispin