I wrote in an earlier post that I’m going to apply to get into the Tokyo Marathon next March. I still plan on doing that (they should start accepting applications within a few weeks), but I’ve decided that even if I don’t get in, I’ll still go to Japan next March to run a marathon. There are a couple of backup marathons in Japan in March that I can choose from. I was considering training for and running a half marathon this fall, but I just can’t get motivated for a half marathon anymore. After two Boston Marathons, the only thing I can get motivated for now is something big, and travelling to Japan to run a marathon qualifies as something big. I’m looking forward to the trip no matter which marathon I run, but I really hope it’s the Tokyo Marathon – I’ll find out in October if I was accepted.

Tags: marathon, marathons, Boston Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, running

I finished writing the multiple-choice questions for sequences and series, and now I’m writing multiple-choice questions for algebra II. I’m covering topics such as solving absolute value and quadratic equations and inequalities both graphically and algebraically, investigating the relationship between the zeros of a function and the factors of a polynomial, and working with systems of equations and inequalities. Also, I just signed my largest contract ever, which guarantees to keep me busy virtually every day (including weekends) from now until the beginning of September. This is a pretty big deal. I can now safely say that mathematics writing has ceased being just a hobby for me and is now a full-fledged job.

Tags: math, mathematics

I finished writing the multiple-choice questions for conic sections, and now I’m writing multiple-choice questions for sequences and series. The questions I'm writing cover topics such as representing the general term of an arithmetic or geometric sequence, calculating the partial sum of an arithmetic and geometric series, determining the sum of an infinite, converging geometric series, and using recursion to represent and describe an arithmetic or geometric sequence. If it sounds complicated, it really isn’t. The formulas are pretty simple, and once you have them memorized, it’s pretty easy to answer the questions. After I’m finished writing the questions on sequences and series, I have yet more questions to write. I’m a very busy person these days!

Tags: math, mathematics

I just finished writing some multiple-choice questions for logarithmic functions, and now I’m working on writing multiple-choice questions for conic sections. The questions I worked on today involved representing conic sections with graphs, verbal statements, and equations, translating among these representations, and extracting information about the conic sections, such as vertices, foci, radii, and major and minor axis lengths. I also wrote questions that involved describing how the changes in the parameters of conic sections altered their shapes and positions. Just in case you’re wondering, there are four types of conic sections: circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. A circle is really just a special type of ellipse, so really there are only three types. If you’re interested, you can read more here.

Tags: math, mathematics

I just finished writing yet another practice test for the mathematics portion of the SAT for one of my clients, and now I’m working on writing multiple-choice questions on logarithmic functions for another one of my clients. The questions I worked on today involved representing logarithmic expressions in exponential form and vice-versa, as well as using the properties of logarithms related to powers, products, quotients, and changing of the base. I’ll be working all weekend, but I do plan to take some time out to go see the movie Holly at the Drexel. It looks pretty interesting, especially since it’s set in Vietnam, a place I’d like to visit someday.

Tags: math, mathematics, Holly, Drexel