Metacognition: MetroMedia Cable Math Project

The most recent project I have done was a math project we were assigned just last week. The project was based on a problem from our textbook; the problem was about installing cable to a family's house and finding the total cost of cable while placing the cable at different lengths along the road and through the customer's yard. The project required much ingenuity and many different processes of thought. I had to think very logically to solve the problems, but my logic was a little askew. I failed to comprehend how to substitute for a variable in the specific equation and for that reason, my answers were initially off. Then, I was aided by a classmate who showed me where and why I was wrong. I was surprised, because I usually understand problems like this one, but I forgot to use the Pythagorean Theorem. For another part of the project, I had to make a graph, with the assistance of my calculator, but I still needed to understand what the graph meant. I knew what the x value and y value stood for, but knowing thier relationship was key. The goal of the project was to find the minimum cost of installing the cable, and the length of cable that corresponded with the minimum value. I thought that if I could locate the minimum on my graph, I would be able to find the answer. I was correct and I used my graph to solve the problem. I then did a writeup to present my work and answer, but I was challenged by my teacher to make my writeup as creative as possible. I thoroughly described how I did my work and I put some serious thought into how to best present my project. In the end, I was required to combine logic and creativity to make the best of this project.

Blogging Around

My first comment was on Anna's blog about Assef and Bellatrix Lestrange, and how their childhoods, lives and beliefs on "less worthy or pure" people are shockingly similar:

Anna, I agree with you 100%; I thought of this connection too. You point out how Assef and Bellatrix both enjoy killing and torturing; how they are being commanded by others but how they are so adept at commanding. I also want to point out how in the end, they were bested by others of an opposite alignment, in both cases good people who were acting purely in the defense of others (Sohrab and Mrs. Weasley). Both Assef and Bellatrix had a warped belief of what was the good thing to do; Assef thought that joining the Taliban was his call from God and that Bellatrix thought doing Voldemort's bidding was the highest calling. I really enjoyed reading your blog, because as I stated earlier, I thought of this connection too and you came up with many points I missed, and those points made me realize the incredible similarity between these two characters.

My second response was to Alex's blog about Afghanistan and how NATO supports the United States' occupation of the country:

Alex, I think that you nailed those connections you made to Kite Runner and Charlie Wilson's War. I agree with you on the fact that our intervention may cause harm to this country but I hope it does not. In the article, President Obama said, “This is not an American battle, this is a Nato mission,”. Assuming that we can hold the president to his words, then I think its safe to trust that if there is a third party (NATO) involved, that it will not allow the situation in Afghanistan to get out of hand, and that, like Mr. Williams said, it will encourage construction/government/education projects after the US leaves Afghanistan. But this, we can only hope.