DylanFisher

Math
October23,2015
If there is one habit of a mathematician that I'd like to improve upon, it's
Hypothesizing/Experimenting, at least in the context I used it in. The assignment was "Just
Count the Pegs." This assignment was a challenge in and of itself, but it tested my skills in
hypothesizing. I think this was because I didn't quite understand the concept quite yet. In this
assignment, we tested ways to find the area (square units) of random geometric shapes on
geoboard paper. In this problem, we experimented with different equations to find out howthe
number geoboard pages that touched the shape was linked to the area by any means. I think
someofussucceeded,butIdidn't.Ihavepicturesofthework.
As you can see, I started by counting the pegs and comparing the results to the actual
areas of the shapes. This didn't work very well, but someofuswerecomingupwithequations.
This didn't work very well for me, either. Equations have never been my strongest area in
algebraandgeometry.Ineverreallyreachedaconclusion.
I don't have any current goals to improve in the habit, mainly because I'm excellent at
experimenting in other contexts. However, I can grow intheareaofequationsand geometryby
practicingandpreparing. AsI preparefortheSAT,Imaycomeacrosssimilarproblems,whichI
will practice with. I don't have any other goals, really. The thing I have to improve in is not
necessarily the habit itself, but the area of math I was using it in. The reason the habit of
experimenting and hypothesizing is important intheworkworldisbecausemanysuccessesonly
happen because of constant experimentation. We wouldn't have the iPhone OR the Android
phones today, were itnotforexperimentingandhypothesizing. Withoutit,we'dlikelystillbein
theDarkAges.