Math Write Ups
During freshman year, I took honors calculus from Dr. Loveless. Despite his name, he was an excellent instructor and mentor. As part of our homework, we were assigned math write ups, which were designed for us to apply the tools of calculus to rather creative story problems.
A Mathematical Birthday Cake
This problem gave us a cake in the shape of an isosceles triangle. It was our job to cut it in the shape of the largest possible parabola.
How Far is it to the Horizon?
As the title describes, we were asked in this assignment to figure out the distance to the horizon
Scoring the Russian Revolution
In Honors 398 B, we examined how the Russian composers of the early twentieth century dealt with the environment of surveillance during the early and middle stages of the Russian Revolution. Specifically, we took a look at the works of Dmitiri Shostakovich, and how the emotions of the time were interwoven into the framework of his compositions.
Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony was written in a time in his life when he was under deep scrutiny by the Stalinist regime, which came after the banning of his Opera, Lady Macbeth, which was considered obscene by the Soviet government. In this work, Shostakovich writes in such a way that makes Stalin and his supporters believe he is expressing appreciation for the regime. Here is a video of the last movement of this symphony:
Honors 100 - Introduction to the Honors Program
Interdisciplinary Statement
Before I took Honors 100, the word “interdisciplinary” was not something I thought about on a regular basis. However, being introduced to how different fields are able to deal with something like the Gulf Oil Spill got me to think. Scientists create ways to physically deal with the problem; law makers set down guidelines that try to prevent future disasters, and artists depict the Oil Spill in ways that other people cannot describe with mere words. If various disciplines can come together and handle the same situation, why couldn’t other situations be handled in an interdisciplinary way?
During Autumn Quarter all my classes were basically math and science. One might be tempted to say that you don’t need to know how to write when you’re doing math and science, but this is far from the case. In just like any other field, you need to really know how to communicate effectively in math and science. In fact, as I worked through my problem sets I was surprised at how much writing I had to do.
I had the great opportunity to participate in Biology 106, which is sponsored by the UW-HHMI Biology Fellows Program. As part of the class we learned to think like scientists. In thinking like scientists, we were taught how to formulate the correct hypotheses based on obesrvations and design the correct types of experiments. Along with all of this, one thing we did was analyze research papers. This made me realize even more how much scientists have to be able to write effectively. I saw that you can be a really good scientist, but if you don’t draw on the interdisciplinary skill of connecting your work through communication to other people, then your work is almost for naught.
Speaking of connecting with people, this made me think about how I can be effective in my future career as a family physician. In fact, what is health care? Is it just giving people drugs to make them feel better? These are questions that I have said “no” to. As I grow, I realize more and more that health care transcends being able to prescribe the correct medication or being able to remove that tumor. I’ve grown to understand that health care involves connecting with people in a meaningful way - being able to put a smile on some body’s face. I believe that the doctor who’s patients are happy to see him is the better doctor.
I can safely say that health care is more than just doctors and nurses applying science. There is also a social aspect to it. Moreover, health care is more than just doctors and nurses. It also involves musicians, artists, engineers, and people in the computer sciences. All of these fields come together to better the health of people by designing things that try to make everyday life better and by coming up with new ways of therapy.
In the past, the word “Interdisciplinary” was not something I thought about everyday, but now I see that it is the rule. When different disciplines come together in a synergistic way to handle a given situation, who knows what the limits are.
During Autumn Quarter all my classes were basically math and science. One might be tempted to say that you don’t need to know how to write when you’re doing math and science, but this is far from the case. In just like any other field, you need to really know how to communicate effectively in math and science. In fact, as I worked through my problem sets I was surprised at how much writing I had to do.
I had the great opportunity to participate in Biology 106, which is sponsored by the UW-HHMI Biology Fellows Program. As part of the class we learned to think like scientists. In thinking like scientists, we were taught how to formulate the correct hypotheses based on obesrvations and design the correct types of experiments. Along with all of this, one thing we did was analyze research papers. This made me realize even more how much scientists have to be able to write effectively. I saw that you can be a really good scientist, but if you don’t draw on the interdisciplinary skill of connecting your work through communication to other people, then your work is almost for naught.
Speaking of connecting with people, this made me think about how I can be effective in my future career as a family physician. In fact, what is health care? Is it just giving people drugs to make them feel better? These are questions that I have said “no” to. As I grow, I realize more and more that health care transcends being able to prescribe the correct medication or being able to remove that tumor. I’ve grown to understand that health care involves connecting with people in a meaningful way - being able to put a smile on some body’s face. I believe that the doctor who’s patients are happy to see him is the better doctor.
I can safely say that health care is more than just doctors and nurses applying science. There is also a social aspect to it. Moreover, health care is more than just doctors and nurses. It also involves musicians, artists, engineers, and people in the computer sciences. All of these fields come together to better the health of people by designing things that try to make everyday life better and by coming up with new ways of therapy.
In the past, the word “Interdisciplinary” was not something I thought about everyday, but now I see that it is the rule. When different disciplines come together in a synergistic way to handle a given situation, who knows what the limits are.
Interdisciplinary Dictionary
Incidence - The frequency with which something happens.
Intrinsic - Belonging to something as one of the basic and essential features that make it what it is.
Supervene - To follow something closely, either as a consequence or in contrast; to supersede; to be dependent on an earlier event; to be dependent on something else for existence or truth.
Extrinsic - Coming or operating from outside something.
Anthropocentric - Regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, esp. as opposed to God or animals.
Value - The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance or preciousness of something.
Utilitarian - Doctrine that the useful is the good; especially as elaborated by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill; the aim was said to be the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Conceptual Engineering - The practice of identifying the machinery, equipment, supplies and facilities necessary to operate a project.
Evaluate - To assess or appraise the quality of ones skills and performance.
Holistic - Characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explainable only by reference to the whole.
Reflective - Of quiet thought or contemplation.
Think - Using or exercising the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments.
Understanding - An individual's perception or judgment of a situation.
Imagination - The ability to form mental perceptions of things, events, or ideas.
Intuition - Instinctively knowing something without using rational processes.
Meta-cognition - Knowledge of your own thoughts and the factors that influence your thinking.
Portfolio - Contents that represents one’s works, especially those that are creative.
Amorphous - Describes anything without any clear shape, form, or structure.
Canon - A set of artistic works established as genuine and complete, e.g. the works of a particular writer, painter, or movie-maker.
Vociferous - Describes shouting in a noisy and determined way.
Megalomaniacal - An obsession with grandiose things or actions.
Orthodoxy - The quality of adhering to traditional and accepted practices.
Supplicant - Describes someone who petitions for something earnestly.
Iconoclast - Describes someone who seeks overthrow traditional beliefs.
Sentimental - Being influenced by emotions.
Sycopantic - Describes a person that is prone to excessive anxiety.
Bacillus - Any of the many types of bacteria.
Peripatetic - Someone who habitually walks from place to place.
Intrinsic - Belonging to something as one of the basic and essential features that make it what it is.
Supervene - To follow something closely, either as a consequence or in contrast; to supersede; to be dependent on an earlier event; to be dependent on something else for existence or truth.
Extrinsic - Coming or operating from outside something.
Anthropocentric - Regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, esp. as opposed to God or animals.
Value - The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance or preciousness of something.
Utilitarian - Doctrine that the useful is the good; especially as elaborated by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill; the aim was said to be the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Conceptual Engineering - The practice of identifying the machinery, equipment, supplies and facilities necessary to operate a project.
Evaluate - To assess or appraise the quality of ones skills and performance.
Holistic - Characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explainable only by reference to the whole.
Reflective - Of quiet thought or contemplation.
Think - Using or exercising the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments.
Understanding - An individual's perception or judgment of a situation.
Imagination - The ability to form mental perceptions of things, events, or ideas.
Intuition - Instinctively knowing something without using rational processes.
Meta-cognition - Knowledge of your own thoughts and the factors that influence your thinking.
Portfolio - Contents that represents one’s works, especially those that are creative.
Amorphous - Describes anything without any clear shape, form, or structure.
Canon - A set of artistic works established as genuine and complete, e.g. the works of a particular writer, painter, or movie-maker.
Vociferous - Describes shouting in a noisy and determined way.
Megalomaniacal - An obsession with grandiose things or actions.
Orthodoxy - The quality of adhering to traditional and accepted practices.
Supplicant - Describes someone who petitions for something earnestly.
Iconoclast - Describes someone who seeks overthrow traditional beliefs.
Sentimental - Being influenced by emotions.
Sycopantic - Describes a person that is prone to excessive anxiety.
Bacillus - Any of the many types of bacteria.
Peripatetic - Someone who habitually walks from place to place.