Category: equations
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Evaluating energy efficiency claims
Artifact This (or other) energy efficient light bulb package(s). So many opportunities here, depending on how targeted you want to be. Or, if you prefer, what kind of problem you plan to facilitate. There’s a clear nod to systems of linear equations (when one compares the time of payoff). There’s also an opportunity for some…
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Underground parking spots cost $30000-$50000 to build in D.C. This smells like a systems problem.
Artifact The Washington City Paper has a (rather lengthy) post on parking in D.C. Fair warning: it’s pretty wonky with zoning rules, ordinances, etc. However, the numbers caught my eye: … An underground parking spot costs between $30,000 and $50,000 to build, and residents pay for it one way or another. … “Let’s say it’s…
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A stop-sign vs. a stoplight; when does each make sense? (Part 2, Math modeling)
I know it’s been a while since we visited this, but quick recap: We want to figure out when it is appropriate to have a stop-sign at an intersection versus a stoplight. In Part 1, we made some assumptions about stop-sign wait time modeling and developed an equation that gave us the total wait time…
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Let’s graph this and/or make it better; What constitutes a “blown game?”
A few minutes ago the other day, NPR’s Mike Pesca tweeted his mathematical rule as to what constitutes a “blown game” in basketball. That means if at any time a team is winning by (# of minutes left in the game)+4, and loses, that’s a “blown game.” There are 48 minutes in a NBA game…
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A stop-sign vs. a stoplight ; when does each make sense? (Part 1, Math Modeling)
Artifact Can we use math modeling and/or equations to answer the question of when it becomes advantageous to install a stoplight vs. a stop-sign? Can we “ambush” students by having them create equations without really knowing it? What are some of the things we need to know about this? Guiding Questions How long does a…
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The Wacky Algebra of NFL Passer Rating
Artifact The following formula calculates NFL Passer rating. (wiki) (note: each component has a predetermined MAX and MIN value that appeared to be pulled out of thin air.) Personally, I would simply present this equation to students at the beginning of class and let them stare at it a while and try to figure some…
emergent math 