Today, quadratic equations and their graphs (parabolas) occupy my mind. Before you sigh deeply and stop reading, let me explain why this field of study is so important. Any time you multiply two things (for example, money/time, speed/time, or length/breadth) there is a possibility that a quadratic equation could be produced! Certainly, there are many occasions when mathematicians and scientists would use quadratic equations to analyse a particular situation. There are also many physical processes that behave according to a quadratic/parabolic pattern ... the most obvious one would be the path that a ball follows when it is tossed in the air (neglecting air resistance, of course). The study of quadratic equations and their parabolas also affords us an opportunity to develop some very powerful (algebraic) analytical skills (algebra) and some very clever graphing skills. This is why, a few months ago, I began to produce a series of YouTube videos based on the theme of Quadratic Equations and their Parabolas. I had to direct my attention to other matters but am now trying to complete this series ... so watch out for a steady flow of them! If you are currently struggling with learning about these things, or even if you never understood them in school but would now like to learn more, let me suggest that you could benefit from watching the videos. Did I hear a sigh or a sharp intake of breath?
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 00:01:22 +0000