August 23

Thursday August 23, 2007 6:30 am Lethbridge

It is +8 C with a high forecast of +19 C. Sunrise 6:33 Sunset 20:35 Hours of daylight: 14:02

A. Morning Musings

6:30 am

Now to just sit here for a few minutes and sip my coffee.

This is very pleasant. Here are a few thoughts:

the wireless DCC system that I have had my eye on for my model train layout is now being advertised as having a shipping date of September. I have been waiting for this for almost 6 months. It will be good to get back to this hobby and to actually get my trains running.
I should set up a couple of tables for my non-fiction books that is similar to the one I have for my fiction books. This would allow me to keep track of which books should still be read. For example, Roger Penrose's "The Road to Reality" and Avner Ash & Robert Gross's "Fearless Symmetry".
We need to get back to some serious bird watching. Seeing the Greater Yellowlegs yesterday was a real thrill. I also want to do more background reading on bird life.
Life Style needs a little improvement: both diet and exercise need attention
Fountain pens under control. I now have 3 (Pelikan Tradition M250, Lamy 2000, Shaeffer Prelude)
mathematics: I need to set up a few priorities -
- calculus
- symmetry
- algebra
calculus: I now have a template for learning and making notes. I am still working through problems that are considered to be pre-requisites. This is not a worry. Much of this material is basic algebra involving the manipulation of polynomial expressions. I also need to brush up on basic trig and logarithmic functions.
symmetry: on hold for the moment
algebra: the latest book I bought, "A Transition to Advanced Mathematics" looks like a gem.

Immediate	Description	Time
Literature	Continue reading "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers	1 hr
Mathematics	Complete notes for week 5b of "The Humongous Book of Calculus Problems"	1 hr
Mathematics	Complete exercises p. 3-4 from "The Mathematics Survival Kit"	1 hr

C. Actual Learning Activities

8:00 am

Mathematics 50

August 23, 2007

Link to Calculus Learning Schedule

8:00 am

This will be my first activity with the Weiner book. This corresponds to other activities that were included in Session 10. I am back to using my Pelican Tradition M250 with Waterman Florida Blue ink.

calculus

This was a worthwhile first exercise. I learned about the phrase "rationalize" and I even understood why this is an important activity when one is evaluating limits. This was an excellent supplement to the Kelley material. The timing is also good as it fits with the current topic for Session 10.

I have had a closer look at the first few sections of Weiner's "The Mathematics Survival Kit". There are 7 more sections on poynomials and factoring. This will be my new priority as I try to get the activities for this book in synchrony with those of Kelley. The real goal at the moment is to re-establish my skills and my understanding of polynomials. Already I feel much better about this than I did a couple of weeks ago. It is a bit embarrasing to realize just how much I have forgotten. On the other hand, the learning is much easier and more substantive than it was 40 years ago.

Even though I have only completed the first section from Weiner, already I can feel my confidence growing - I will soon be able to handle anything that is thrown at me about polynomials, operations with polynomials, and solving basic algebraic equations. It is a nice feeling.

Link to Calculus Learning Schedule

8:50 PM

The sound of rain outside is a delight. I can't remember when I last heard it - it has been a hot, dry summer. This will be good for the lawn and flowers, but terrible for the farmers who are trying to harvest their crops.