Sunday, January 31, 2010

POW Extra Credit

No POW due this week but I found this great problem in the book I'm reading right now- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon (don't go to the book b/c the answer is right there)

Monty Hall Problem
You are on a game show on television. On this game show the idea is to win a car as a prize. The game show host shows you three doors. He says that there is a car behind one of the doors and there are goats behind the other two doors. He asks you to pick a door. You pick a door but the door is not opened. Then the game show host opens one of the doors you didn't pick to show a goat (because he knows what is behind the doors). Then he says that you have one final chance to change your mind before the doors are opened and you get a car or a goat. So he asks you if you want to change your mind and pick the other unopened door instead. What should you do?

Why should you do what you do? Show/prove how you got your answer (describe in detail, write an equation or draw a table)

Monday, January 25, 2010

POW #11

Fair Die

A fair die is tossed four times. What is the probability that it lands with either 5 or 6 on top at least once?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Your December Vocabulary Definitions

Quiz = Friday, January 22nd

  1. Creed~ (n) a system/main points of religious beliefs; a set of beliefs that guides someone’s actions.
  2. Tacit~( adj) implied; unspoken but understood
  3. Erudition~(n) advanced learning or scholarship
  4. Squalid~(adj) an extremely dirty/unpleasant place due to poverty; wretched, gross; foul
  5. Palpable~(adj) obvious, apparent, tangible
  6. Prodigal~(adj) recklessly extravagant, having or giving on a lavish scale (over the top)
  7. Jubilant~(adj) great joy or triumph, rejoicing (super happy)
  8. Charlatan~(n) a cheat, con artist, imposter, a person who pretends to have knowledge/skill
  9. Emphatic~(adj) strongly expressive, forcefully insistent
  10. Circumvent~(v) to go around or bypass
  11. Perspicacious~(adj.) having keen/sharp mental perception/understanding; observant
  12. Malleable~(adj.) adaptable/can be shaped; easily influenced: pliable
  13. Portend~(v) to be a sign/a warning that is likely to happen (as an omen)
  14. Inclined~(v) to favor; at a slope (physical); to lean towards doing something
  15. Materialize~(v) to emerge; to come into being; to become real/concrete
  16. Havoc~(n) disaster; confusion; disorder; devastation; destruction; chaos
  17. Befuddled~(v) perplexed; bewildered; baffled; dazed; confused
  18. Quip~(n) a witty/sarcastic remark
  19. Magnanimous~(adj.) generous/forgiving towards a rival/someone less powerful:
  20. Serendipitous~(adj.) happy/lucky event; random good fortune

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Catapult Sites

Here are a few catapult sites I found that will help you begin your research:

I ordered one of these books for class:
http://building-a-catapult.com/index2.html


I like The Ogre Catapult on this page:


Monday, January 4, 2010

Darwin Puzzle

Given our genetics unit in science, I found this Darwin puzzle appropriate. Try it out...there are several puzzles and various different levels to try.


Good luck!
Darin