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.