Time to start doing math again

I awoke last night from uneasy dreams not to find myself transformed into a monstrous vermon, but to find it wasn't real.  When I was in graduate school for psychology, I developed a love for statistics (weird, huh?).  I took all the stats classes in the psychology department.  Then I took all the stats classes in the school of education (or nearly all).  Finally, I decided to start taking classes in the math department and to get a master's degree in mathematical statistics.  Alas, I hadn't taken calculus since high school (or any math other than stats, for that matter).  The department required two semesters of single variable calculus, a course on multivariable calculus, a course on differential equations, a course on linear algebra, a course in computer programming (I took two, because they were so fun), and a course in calculus-based statistics.  So, I worked my way through the pre-requisites.  I excelled in stats and computers, but always had trouble with the math.  However, sometimes I could do well in the math classes when I could incorporate the computer.  In differential equations, I modeled the transverse vibrations of a beam using a piece of software called MAPLE, common in math circles but not so common anywhere else.  I've been out of grad school for over six years now.  In my dream last night, I was talking to the undergraduate advisor from the math department; I always liked him a lot.  He was a white haired man as long as I knew him; now, he let his hair grow long and he died it dark, but the white was coming in such that he looked salt-and-pepper.  Apparently, I was in my last semester of graduate school and none of my funding options came through, so I was not teaching anything and not taking any classes.  I was also informed I needed one more math class and two more stats classes, so I had to take classes again. The math class was a pre-requisite to the stats class, but the first stats and the last math could be taken concurrently.  So, I scoured the catalog, and my DiffEq teacher was teaching a class on computer programming for math people for which I registered.  I also took the first stats class (which was a biostats class that covered a lot of what I already knew).  I was a bit nervous about the computer class.  In addition to classes I was taking, the math department decided they'd have me teach a class in "statistical modeling and algebra," though call it "university algebra."  In real life, when I was doing my stats degree, they had me teach "university algebra," and I expected never to do it again -- but I was.  Anyway, I woke up a bit disconcerted and went to check that I indeed have my degree; I did.  Then, I looked to see if such a class was offered; it was not.  But, I'd like to be better and the math and not fear said situation.  So, I pulled my calculus book off my self and said to myself, "Self, it's time to start doing math again."  I pulled down my calculus book, opened to the first problem (#1 on page 35), and this is where I am:

Problem #1:

Classify each function as a power function, root function, polynomial function (state its degree), algebraic function, trigonometric function, exponential function, or logarithmic function.

1 (a) f(x) = ⁵√ X
   (b) g(x) = √(1-x⁵)
   (c)  h(x) = x⁹ + x⁴
   (d)  r(x)  = (x²+1) / (x²+x)
   (e) s(x) = tan 2x
   (f) t(x) = log₁₀x

ANSWERS:

(a)  Root
(b)  Algebraic
(c)  Polynomial of degree 9
(d)  At first glance, I thought Algebraic, but realized that the denominator could be factored as x(x²+1).  Written, that way, it's easy to see how the numerator and the second term cancel, leaving me with r(x) = 1/x.  That's a Rational function (and my high school pre-calculus teacher, Chuck Hanes [who worked for NASA before they moved him so much he had to stop working for NASA and decided to teach high school would call a "ya hee ya ha").  I guess I'm remembering some stuff after all..
(e)  Trigonometric
(f)  Logarithmic

That was easy -- but it's chapter 1.  Then, I realized I started in section 2 of chapter 1.  Tomorrow, I'll go back and work on section 1.

I think it's time to start using this blog again.

The Move Starts Now

The movers are here! Or, at least moving the truck around the corner -- will be any second. Things will be moving along soon. I talked to John last night -- could barely hear him, but okay -- we have a free night in Vegas! Also, Maura's giving John a ride to the airport, so that's good. Anyway, by this time tomorrow, I imagine my landlord will be checking out my apartment before I go the direction of my belongings. More to come...

The Barn

A farmer walked into his barn and saw that his brown chicken was acting very strangely. Apparently, the farmer was milking the brown cow earlier that day, and had left his stool near the cow. The chicken had hopped up on the stool and was standing behind the cow. It appeared as if the chicken were thrusting into the cow. It could've been a scene from a nature show or something like it -- perhaps some other show one could download from the internet, if that was your persuasion. The farmer exclaimed:

Brown-chicken-brown-cow

Dunno if this comes across on the internet, or if you have to hear it. Let me know.

Revised Route

View Larger Map

It is done

My teaching at Cal State Fullerton is all but done. I was officially teaching two summer school classes -- introductory and advanced statistics. However, I was unofficially teaching three; three of my students needed to learn multilevel modeling, so I said if I teach 3 or I teach 15 it makes no difference, provided there is nothing to grade; I've been teaching a varying number of students multilevel modeling on Thursday afternoons -- followed by sushi. Unfortunately, there was one week I had to miss so next week is my last class to give. But, all my official teaching work is done; grades are complete and all I have to do is turn in the sheet next week.

In the past few days, people asking for statistics consulting have been coming out of the wood work! I have a job I'm about to do when I finish this post, another project coming in from the same people, and more data coming in from someone else -- AND, that's from today alone. I also have three things to finish up before the end of next week, each of which will take an afternoon -- I'm thinking of taking one entire day -- early AM to late PM, and hammering them all out, but we'll see how that goes.

It's been an exhausting week. I think it's about time to twiddle with the fist statistical model and turn in; tomorrow, the weekend starts -- I will be sleeping in.

It's also time to start packing. I eagerly await John's arrival and the return trek.

Money, It's a Gas...

Vohs, Meade and Goode (2008) produced a study where they stated "Merely activating the concept of money changes personal and interpersonal behavior." It's a great article and I'm going to comment on it more -- but for the time being, I have to run to class and teach. Here's the link if you're interested:

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/120087448/HTMLSTART