I went to a CD store in Arlington this past Saturday and was able to find something good to listen to -- guitarist Jonathan Butler's second album from 1987. (Yes, I still buy CDs when they're on sale.) Before I found the CD I wanted I came across another CD that was on sale-- Mariah Carey's 1990 debut album, which is already in my collection. Both CDs were in the $3.99 sale bin.
Mr. Butler's CD was marked down from $6.99.... Ms. Carey's was marked down from $4.00! That's right... one penny less! Yeah, a real sale!
So that got me thinking... Hopefully most of you know the tricks that marketing plays on us, especially when it comes to gas prices. When your station posts a price in large numbers (like $3.26) there's a small 9 after it (usually as a superscript). Just know you're really paying $3.27 a gallon and you'll have a little less in the pocketbook then intended.
Also, wait for something to go on sale... It just might drop ONE WHOLE CENT and you can get some of that gas money back!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Happy Sequence Day!
Today is October 11, 2012, or 10/11/12. How many more times do you expect for something like this to happen again in your lifetime?
Sunday, September 30, 2012
The Final Score Predictor
It's my first post in quite some time. Maybe I'll do a little better this time around with another weird numerical observation...
So I went to the Duncanville-Cedar Hill football game this past Friday. Both teams have a place in my heart as I currently work at DHS and I spent 7 years in CH. The Longhorns won 44-27 as they stopped a late comeback by the Panthers.
I'm driving home last night and realized something.... When you add the digits in Friday's score (4 + 4 + 2 + 7), you get 17, which is equal to the deficit the Panthers had at the end of the game. I then tried other scores near to this one:
45-27 gives us 4 + 5 + 2 + 7 = 18
46-27 gives us 4 + 6 + 2 + 7 = 19
41-27 gives us 4 + 1 + 2 + 7 = 14
Notice that my scores all had 27 as the losing score and had a number in the 40s as the winning score. This works for all of them!
But how about this: what if 18 was the losing the score? What would all the inning scores have to be for this to work? The 30s!
33-18 gives us 3 + 3 + 1 + 8 = 15, which matches the deficit of the score!
How about 36? 45? Does 9 work?
Yes they do! It's amazing how much multiples of 9 play an important part in number thinking.
So next time somebody asks you for a score and they tell you that the losing score is a multiple of 9, share this with them!
And tell them Swish sent you as a winner!
So I went to the Duncanville-Cedar Hill football game this past Friday. Both teams have a place in my heart as I currently work at DHS and I spent 7 years in CH. The Longhorns won 44-27 as they stopped a late comeback by the Panthers.
I'm driving home last night and realized something.... When you add the digits in Friday's score (4 + 4 + 2 + 7), you get 17, which is equal to the deficit the Panthers had at the end of the game. I then tried other scores near to this one:
45-27 gives us 4 + 5 + 2 + 7 = 18
46-27 gives us 4 + 6 + 2 + 7 = 19
41-27 gives us 4 + 1 + 2 + 7 = 14
Notice that my scores all had 27 as the losing score and had a number in the 40s as the winning score. This works for all of them!
But how about this: what if 18 was the losing the score? What would all the inning scores have to be for this to work? The 30s!
33-18 gives us 3 + 3 + 1 + 8 = 15, which matches the deficit of the score!
How about 36? 45? Does 9 work?
Yes they do! It's amazing how much multiples of 9 play an important part in number thinking.
So next time somebody asks you for a score and they tell you that the losing score is a multiple of 9, share this with them!
And tell them Swish sent you as a winner!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Ladies and Gentleman... The Houston Worldwalkers!
Throughout this school year, I have been providing online challenges to my students. With a certain basketball team coming to the Metroplex this weekend, I decided to write a question involving systems of equations and involving families going to see the team.
Names were changed to protect the innocent and the copyrighted.
I look forward to hearing answers from some of you. Enjoy!
The Question...
The Houston Worldwalkers are a comedy basketball team that is coming to town this weekend to play against the European All-Stars. Many families will be attending the Worldwalkers’ show and must pay for adult tickets (for those aged 13 and over) and child tickets (aged 12 and under). All taxes are included in the prices for each type of ticket. The Martinez family has four adults and two children and will be paying $131 in tickets. The Griffin family will be paying $112.30 for two adults and four children to attend the show. The MacGillicudy family will also be going to the event. They have the same number of adults and children in their family. If the MacGillicudy family has $300 to spend on tickets, what is the maximum number of people (total adults and children) the MacGillicudy family has without going over their budget?
Names were changed to protect the innocent and the copyrighted.
I look forward to hearing answers from some of you. Enjoy!
The Question...
The Houston Worldwalkers are a comedy basketball team that is coming to town this weekend to play against the European All-Stars. Many families will be attending the Worldwalkers’ show and must pay for adult tickets (for those aged 13 and over) and child tickets (aged 12 and under). All taxes are included in the prices for each type of ticket. The Martinez family has four adults and two children and will be paying $131 in tickets. The Griffin family will be paying $112.30 for two adults and four children to attend the show. The MacGillicudy family will also be going to the event. They have the same number of adults and children in their family. If the MacGillicudy family has $300 to spend on tickets, what is the maximum number of people (total adults and children) the MacGillicudy family has without going over their budget?
Monday, January 2, 2012
I Promise It's True
Hey folks... first of all, Happy New Year! I hope to return to this blog to give you some mathematical insight that you can take with you through your everyday life.
Now, suppose I gave you these two mathematical statements...
1) 401 * 5 = 13 + 1998
2) 4022/2 = 1000 + 1005
I am telling you these statements are both true. Can you explain why?
Have a wonderful evening and I hope to hear some responses.
Now, suppose I gave you these two mathematical statements...
1) 401 * 5 = 13 + 1998
2) 4022/2 = 1000 + 1005
I am telling you these statements are both true. Can you explain why?
Have a wonderful evening and I hope to hear some responses.
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