I recently finished writing a chapter about using algebra for data analysis. Topics included gathering and plotting data that can be modeled with linear and quadratic functions, curve fitting, linear and quadratic regression, issues when using data to explore the relationship between two variables, and the difference between correlation and causation. This was the last chapter included in the big contract that I signed a couple months ago. I’m already working on something new, and I have a number of possible leads for work in the near future. In addition, I’m tutoring students in ACT/SAT exam-prep, so I’m definitely keeping busy!

Tags: math, mathematics

I’m glad to say that all three men representing the USA in the men’s Olympic marathon finished. Dathan Ritzenhein finished ninth, Ryan Hall finished tenth, and Brian Sell finished twenty-second. There were some high hopes, especially for Ryan Hall, but he actually ran a very smart race. The only reason he didn’t finish higher is because of some incredible performances by some of the other runners. Also, after seven marathons, I finally bought my first running watch with a heart monitor. The heart monitor has already given me some very interesting data that I’ll use to slightly alter my workouts. I’ll officially start training for my marathon in Japan in just a couple months!

Tags: marathon, marathons, Olympics, The Olympics, running

Well, unfortunately, only one out of the three women representing the USA in the women’s Olympic marathon finished. Deena Kastor dropped out of the race early on due to a foot injury, and Magdalena Lewy Boulet dropped out soon after with a knee injury. However, Blake Russell did finish the marathon, so congratulations to her. It must be a dream come true to finish an Olympic marathon. I was getting kind of angry watching the race, because NBC kept interrupting it with commercials. Even with only a couple miles to go, they were cutting away to promote their fall TV programs. I thought it was very disrespectful to the athletes. Don’t forget about the men’s Olympic marathon on Saturday at 7:30 PM – it should be good!

Tags: marathon, marathons, Olympics, The Olympics, running

I just finished writing a chapter on data analysis (i.e. statistics). Topics included collecting samples from two different populations, calculating means and standard deviations of sets of data, using means and standard deviations to compare data sets, comparing means and standard deviations of random samples with corresponding population parameters, and comparing sample means with each other and with population distribution. This was the first time I wrote about many of these topics, so this chapter was a bit more challenging than the previous chapters. I did take a statistics course at Hawaii Loa College, but that was a while ago, so I had to refresh my memory.

Tags: math, mathematics

The Olympics have now started, and I’m definitely looking forward to the women’s marathon and the men’s marathon. The women’s marathon is at 7:30 PM Eastern time on Saturday, August 16th, and the men’s marathon is at 7:30 PM Eastern time on Saturday, August, 23rd. Representing the USA for the women are Deena Kastor (one of the stars of the movie Spirit of the Marathon), Magdalena Lewy Boulet (the woman I met while going through security at the airport when coming home from the Boston Marathon), and Blake Russell. Representing the USA for the men are Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhien, and Brian Sell. It will be interesting to see how the marathon runners handle the heat and the pollution. I can’t wait to watch!

Tags: marathon, marathons, Olympics, The Olympics, running

I’m done with the chapter I was writing on quadratic functions, and I’m now writing a chapter on inverse functions. Topics include characteristics of functions and their inverses, determining inverses of linear functions, quadratic functions, power functions, and functions in the form f(x) = a/x, exploring graphs of functions and their inverses, and using composition to verify that functions are inverses of each other.

Also, even though I said in my last post that I won’t have time to read any more books for a while, I just ordered What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. I’m sure it will motivate me for my marathon in Japan next March.

Tags: math, mathematics, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami, book, books