It's lonely at the intellectual top...

footfootfoot · 09-27-2011, 07:52 PM

Just out of curiosity, are you able to figure out the following math problems?

If you have a rectangle measuring 4" wide by 5" tall and you scale it down to 3.125" wide, what would the resultant height be?

Suppose you had a rectangle measuring 2.75" wide by 4" tall and you wanted to scale it up to 3.125" wide what would the resultant height be?

You needn't post the answers, just vote if you would know how to figure this problem out.

Happy Monkey · 09-27-2011, 07:56 PM

I would use the ancient Muslim magic of al-jabr.

ZenGum · 09-27-2011, 08:20 PM

Yes.

Doing long multiplication and long division on a piece of paper. Okay I cheated and used a calculator on one sum, and then checked the others.

Of course, I'm so superior, I'd use the metric system. :P

glatt · 09-27-2011, 08:35 PM

It's a pretty simple algebra problem. And really the only kind of algebra I ever do any more. I figure out the answer to this exact problem more times than you can imagine. Change the inches to pixels and think about enlarging/reducing images and you've got the same question.

4/5 = 3.125/x
solve for x

wolf · 09-27-2011, 09:02 PM

Yes, of course. But these days I'd feed the measurements into Irfanview and let it work it out.

I am so smart I'm lazy.

glatt · 09-27-2011, 09:12 PM

That works great if you are dealing with one picture, but if you have two or more pictures, and you are trying to combine them and keep them in relative scale to each other so that components of the picture match, you need to do a little of this math.

DanaC · 09-28-2011, 04:25 AM

My mind slides off that sort of thing. I used to be pretty good at algebra when I was around 11 years od. But nowadays. Nope. Something in my brain just shuts down when presented with something like that.

infinite monkey · 09-28-2011, 08:30 AM

I did OK in algebra, but it was one of the things that didn't come naturally to me. I nailed (and LOVED) geometry though. I wonder if it was a left brain/right brain thing. I always wonder how I would fare if I took math placement testing that the students take. Probably not stellar. When I briefly considered graduate school last year, I got a book of sample GRE questions from the library. I still did well on the verbal reasoning questions.

Maths? Not so much.

Oh, and I'm going to start saying 'maths' because it makes sense. It's short for mathematics. We don't say, in the US, "I have to take mathematic (no S intended) this year." Therefore, maths is correct.

So it is said, so it shall be done.

Spexxvet · 09-28-2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

Oh, and I'm going to start saying 'maths' because it makes sense. It's short for mathematics. We don't say, in the US, "I have to take mathematic (no S intended) this year." Therefore, maths is correct.

So it is said, so it shall be done.

Are you going to start saying "Home Ecs", because it's short for Home Economics?

Not there's such a thing as Home Ec anymore.

Having shown my age, I'll go get my slide rule and calculate some sides.

Sundae · 09-28-2011, 02:30 PM

I can and will work at maths until I have the right answer.
If you have the time then I have the patience.

I am better at mental arithmatic than my mother and sister, just because I have deliberately learned my "number-bonds". I have specific tools. If I had to sit down and do it in the way I was taught, I would come up with the incorrect answer pretty much every time, but I can work around that.

Oh and my division is tricky.

I'm better at calculating percentages than some people I know. Not on the Cellar of course, just in general life. It might take me a while, but I can come up with something to prove one menu discount option is better than another. But I need a pen and paper.
I can work out a 10, 15 or 20 % tip though

No-one will ever love me for my maths skills.
But I can proof-read like a demon.
Again, not here, because it's not really necessary for typos and occasional errors (in my posts). But it is something that comes naturally, as opposed to having to sweat over it.

I'm in no way an intellectual.
But an innate maths ability does not feature in that self-reckoning.

ZenGum · 09-28-2011, 08:31 PM

Can't help but notice this thread is lonlier that it's clone.

monster · 09-28-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

I did OK in algebra, but it was one of the things that didn't come naturally to me. I nailed (and LOVED) geometry though.

Hebe feels the same

sexobon · 09-28-2011, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Can't help but notice this thread is lonlier that it's clone.

Perhaps it needs more pretenders.

ZenGum · 09-28-2011, 09:27 PM

I'm not very well today.

infinite monkey · 09-28-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

Are you going to start saying "Home Ecs", because it's short for Home Economics?

Not there's such a thing as Home Ec anymore.

Having shown my age, I'll go get my slide rule and calculate some sides.

Crap. My slide rule is in my Trapper Keeper and I left it at HOME.

Home Ec is different. Math(s) is a word that stands alone. If you were describing just plain old economics, you wouldn't call it either 'ec' or 'ecs'.

View Poll Results: Can you figure these questions out?
No, I was absent the years we did math(s)	1	5.00%
Do I really look that stupid?	2	10.00%
Some people have different skill sets, the question is invalid.	3	15.00%
Yes, I was there when we did math(s)	14	70.00%
Voters: 20. You may not vote on this poll

09-27-2011, 07:52 PM	#1
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	It's lonely at the intellectual top... Just out of curiosity, are you able to figure out the following math problems? If you have a rectangle measuring 4" wide by 5" tall and you scale it down to 3.125" wide, what would the resultant height be? Suppose you had a rectangle measuring 2.75" wide by 4" tall and you wanted to scale it up to 3.125" wide what would the resultant height be? You needn't post the answers, just vote if you would know how to figure this problem out. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

09-27-2011, 07:56 PM	#2
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	I would use the ancient Muslim magic of al-jabr. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

09-27-2011, 08:20 PM	#3
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Yes. Doing long multiplication and long division on a piece of paper. Okay I cheated and used a calculator on one sum, and then checked the others. Of course, I'm so superior, I'd use the metric system. :P __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

09-27-2011, 09:02 PM	#5
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Yes, of course. But these days I'd feed the measurements into Irfanview and let it work it out. I am so smart I'm lazy. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

09-27-2011, 08:35 PM	#4
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	It's a pretty simple algebra problem. And really the only kind of algebra I ever do any more. I figure out the answer to this exact problem more times than you can imagine. Change the inches to pixels and think about enlarging/reducing images and you've got the same question. 4/5 = 3.125/x solve for x

09-27-2011, 09:12 PM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	That works great if you are dealing with one picture, but if you have two or more pictures, and you are trying to combine them and keep them in relative scale to each other so that components of the picture match, you need to do a little of this math.

09-28-2011, 08:30 AM	#8
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	I did OK in algebra, but it was one of the things that didn't come naturally to me. I nailed (and LOVED) geometry though. I wonder if it was a left brain/right brain thing. I always wonder how I would fare if I took math placement testing that the students take. Probably not stellar. When I briefly considered graduate school last year, I got a book of sample GRE questions from the library. I still did well on the verbal reasoning questions. Maths? Not so much. Oh, and I'm going to start saying 'maths' because it makes sense. It's short for mathematics. We don't say, in the US, "I have to take mathematic (no S intended) this year." Therefore, maths is correct. So it is said, so it shall be done.

09-28-2011, 02:30 PM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I can and will work at maths until I have the right answer. If you have the time then I have the patience. I am better at mental arithmatic than my mother and sister, just because I have deliberately learned my "number-bonds". I have specific tools. If I had to sit down and do it in the way I was taught, I would come up with the incorrect answer pretty much every time, but I can work around that. Oh and my division is tricky. I'm better at calculating percentages than some people I know. Not on the Cellar of course, just in general life. It might take me a while, but I can come up with something to prove one menu discount option is better than another. But I need a pen and paper. I can work out a 10, 15 or 20 % tip though No-one will ever love me for my maths skills. But I can proof-read like a demon. Again, not here, because it's not really necessary for typos and occasional errors (in my posts). But it is something that comes naturally, as opposed to having to sweat over it. I'm in no way an intellectual. But an innate maths ability does not feature in that self-reckoning. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

09-28-2011, 08:31 PM	#11
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Can't help but notice this thread is lonlier that it's clone. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

09-28-2011, 09:27 PM	#14
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I'm not very well today. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

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