This week was pretty easy. It was super chill having little homework and not having class on Friday due to homecoming. We did take a test earlier this week and it was really easy. The test was over limits, which while I understand them and the concept quite well, I am still searching for the reason why we are learning about them. Salt and pepper functions are similar to limits to me because I don't see why we are learning about them. They really are fascinating how the f(x) values are determined by whether the x value is rational or not. However, seriously? They seem ridiculous and I can not think of a single real world application.
On Wednesday we started an activity using the chrome books in class in which we created parabolas and did applications with them. It took Alex and I a bit to figure out how to use the software and get what we had in mind onto the screen, but using a bit of common sense we worked it out. The goal was to take a fixed point on the parabola, another point, this time sliding, and connect the two points with a line. When the points were away from each other, the result of a line connecting them was a secant line. The line was inside of the curve. As the sliding point got closer, and closer, and closer the the fixed point, the line connecting the points became less and less inside of the line. Once the points became the same point, the result was a tangent line, touching the circle at only one point and not two. We were then supposed t find the slope of the line through this point. All of this somehow relates to the difference quotient; something I have never understood. No offense to Mr. Mac but I didn't think he did a great job of explaining it to us. It was one of those things where you just do it, like a zombie, not knowing what it really means. I have yet to have that light bulb moment where I really understand everything but it is coming. Ps. I can't figure out how to put the gifs on this blog.. technology is confusing.
On Wednesday we started an activity using the chrome books in class in which we created parabolas and did applications with them. It took Alex and I a bit to figure out how to use the software and get what we had in mind onto the screen, but using a bit of common sense we worked it out. The goal was to take a fixed point on the parabola, another point, this time sliding, and connect the two points with a line. When the points were away from each other, the result of a line connecting them was a secant line. The line was inside of the curve. As the sliding point got closer, and closer, and closer the the fixed point, the line connecting the points became less and less inside of the line. Once the points became the same point, the result was a tangent line, touching the circle at only one point and not two. We were then supposed t find the slope of the line through this point. All of this somehow relates to the difference quotient; something I have never understood. No offense to Mr. Mac but I didn't think he did a great job of explaining it to us. It was one of those things where you just do it, like a zombie, not knowing what it really means. I have yet to have that light bulb moment where I really understand everything but it is coming. Ps. I can't figure out how to put the gifs on this blog.. technology is confusing.