Last Updated: 5/22/14
Encyclopedia project
Polynomials and art
Semester 1 POL Reflection
This semester
I am most proud of solving the Lila problem in the linear programming
project. (See project below.) I am proud of this accomplishment because I had
originally solved the problem with ease, but one day Effi (my teacher) made a
comment that very few people ever get the problem right. To say the least, my
curiosity was sparked. How could only a few people correctly solve a problem that
was so straight-forward to solve in the first place? I consulted with my
classmates and all of them had been getting a similar answer to my own, but
each varied by around 1 and ½ difference. Upon further inspection, I thought
about how the problem corresponded to the real-world because, after all, math
is just a numerical representation of our universe. I eventually came to the
conclusion that my answer was incorrect because it made no sense in real life,
similar to being in two places at once, it just didn't fit. Logically, Lila could make more money. However, algebraically, I wasn't coming up with the most amount of money Lila could make. After a long
night’s perseverance, I was able to determine that by changing one point on my
graph, I could improve the maximum profit Lila could make, which was the goal
of this problem. This obstacle taught me that if a problem doesn’t make sense
in real life, you should probably take another look.
The problem also taught me that I am very driven to do things correctly. Now, in most circumstances this drive is a good thing, but also could be negative. I spent many hours working on this one problem instead of focusing on other work or just being a teenager, which everyone needs to do once in a while. Although I am happy that I underwent this process, I need to understand that it’s okay to fail as long as I try my best within reason. I look forward to applying these new lessons to all of my math this second semester.
The problem also taught me that I am very driven to do things correctly. Now, in most circumstances this drive is a good thing, but also could be negative. I spent many hours working on this one problem instead of focusing on other work or just being a teenager, which everyone needs to do once in a while. Although I am happy that I underwent this process, I need to understand that it’s okay to fail as long as I try my best within reason. I look forward to applying these new lessons to all of my math this second semester.