The Encyclopedia Project
Reflection:
During this project, I gained a new insight to how polynomial functions have been used throughout history and how they are used in the modern world today. The Bezier Curve is the equation that is used in computer graphics and design to model a smooth curve. This equation is most commonly used when creating curves in animation and user interface design. If I were to go back and do this project again, I would elaborate more on the de Casteljau’s algorithm created by the mathematician Paul de Casteljau and how he came up with the algorithm that helped form the Bezier Curve. The de Casteljau algorithm was the building block the Pierre Bezier used when he created the Bezier Curve and was the basis for where these smooth curves came from. In the future, something that I think could be added to this project would be an application of the topic that we research. Instead of researching the history or a profession that uses a certain topic in math, each person could pick a profession in their assigned math topic and replicate a model of how it is used in that profession.
What would you do differently if you exhibited this project again?
Because I did not have enough time to create and interactive exhibit for my presentation, I think it made it much more difficult for other people to understand what the Bezier Curve was and how it worked. If I were to exhibit this project again, I would make an interactive display for my project that would demonstrate how the Bezier Curve works in animation and design.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses going into next year?
Going into next year, I believe my strength will be that I am able to stay on top of my work and assignments and not turn things in late. So far in my high school career I have completed and turned in all of my assignments and I will continue this going into next year. A weakness that I foresee is that I will not fully understand everything based on how quickly we learn new content then move on.
What have you learned about mathematics through the encyclopedia project?
In this project, I have learned the history behind the curves (Bezier Curves) that are used in computer programs, graphic design, and in creating designs for cars. I learned about how the topic of polynomial functions is much broader than I originally thought. Polynomial functions is not just the equations and curved lines that a person can graph, it's also Bezier Curves, Zernike Polynomials and it is also used in professions such as aeorspace engineering, chemistry, veterinary, and may more.
What have you learned about yourself as a person through this project:
After doing this project, I have learned that I struggle with talking about and explaining math because I have a hard time know what to talk about and what to not talk about in a math topic. I have also learned that I don't understand a math topic as well when I have to write and explain it instead of learn the equation and use it.
What do you need to do for exhibition preparation to be able to show your audience at exhibition what you did and learned?
To prepare for the exhibition, I would like to have a teacher explain Bezier Curves to me completely to ensure that I understand exactly what I need to.
Semester Exam Project
What did you think of this project?
I really enjoyed doing this project because I liked getting to create problems. I enjoyed getting to challenge myself by creating and solving math problems that were harder than some that we were doing in class. I also like the idea of my peers and I getting to create the problems that will be on the exam.
How are you going to study for the exam?
I am going to study for the exam by doing practice problems from each chapter and section that we have studied to make sure that I understand everything that we have worked on. I also plan to study each night leading up to the first day of the exam and the night before the second part of the exam.
Semester Reflection:
Overall the semester went well for me and that it was successful. For the most part I understood everything that we learned and I was able to keep up on the homework and the tests. A weakness for me was during the weeks when we would learn multiple subjects in a week, I had trouble understanding each subject before we would more on to the next one.