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How much sleep do you get? Energy is a key component for success and this month's book by Tony Schwartz (no relation) highlights the importance of personal energy and renewal for life and work. The Math Confidence audio is on peak performance factors for Math. The video is about absolute value and the FAQ is Why Take Math? |
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Recommended Reading
 Tony Schwartz is the founder of the Energy Project that works with people and organizations to fuel energy, excitement, focus and productivity. The four keys in the subtitle are Sustainability/Physical, Security/Emotional, Self-Expression/Mental and Significance/Spiritual. Schwartz recommends working in 90 minute increments and scheduling in deliberate breaks. He also promotes getting enough sleep and taking breaks to reenergize. This re-release's title is a positive spin on the previous title "The Way We're Working Isn't Working".
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Absolute Value
Students first learn absolute value in middle school as the distance from zero. So |5| = |-5| = 5. In high school, absolute value is combined with algebra and inequalities.
Many specifications can be written with absolute value such as an acceptable measurement within a certain range -- for example 4.75 Volts - 5.25 Volts could be the desired power supply voltage for a computer chip. This could be expressed as 5 +/- 0.25 Volts and could be written as |x - 5| is less than or equal to .25. By writing this with an absolute value, we take into account that the amount could be over or under by as much as .25 and still be within spec.
Coolmath Absolute Value
Absolute Value Inequalities on Purplemath
Solving Absolute Value Graphs on the Graphing Calculator
Data Sheet for 54LS74 Computer Chip |
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FAQ: Why Take Math?
Even nontechnical positions like advertising are appreciating quantitative skills according to the New York Times Ad Companies Face a Widening Talent Gap. The actual Math one learns in school may or may not be used on the job, but the process of learning and doing Math teaches problem solving and critical thinking as well as persistence. These skills are useful in work and in life.
Why Must I Learn Math? by Mark Karadimos
Why Should We Take Math?
Achieve on Do All High School Students Need Challenging Math?
If you have a question that you would like featured, please send an email to Robin. |
