The Boffins Portal Team 
Any solid object or 3D figure has a surface area. This is the total sum that is found by adding up the area of all its sides. For example, a cylinder has 3 sides: To get the surface area, you must get the separate areas of each side and add them all up. You can …
An inverse variation is a kind of relationship where one value increases while the other one decreases. For example, if one quantity increases while the other decreases, the quantities can have an inverse relationship. Inverse variation is the opposite of direct variation, where there is a linear relationship between two variables. An inverse variation relationship …
Whenever we have items or events following each other in a given order, we call this a sequence. Arithmetic sequences are a special type of sequence that deals with numbers. Also known as arithmetic progression, it consists of numbers ordered with each term having a common difference d with the successive term. The sequence has …
Optimization has become a buzzword today. The world is all about optimization. When something is optimized, it is at its ‘best. Engineers are constantly looking for ways to get the best performance out of machines. Athletes look for ways to get their bodies to perform at the best level. We look for ways to push …
Deontology is a theory of ethics that suggests that actions can either be bad or good when judged based on a clear set of rules. This theory suggests that actions that follow the set of prescribed rules are ethical or good and those that do not are considered unethical or bad. The word is derived …
In statistics, researchers depend on hypotheses to make inferences. These are statements that assume that something about a population (a parameter) is true. But how confident are they that it is true? This is where hypothesis testing comes in… Hypothesis testing helps you to make an inference about if your specific findings are true or …
Increase is an exciting word to most people. But compound interest is a special kind of increase that has been described as magic. Compound interest works by adding earned interest to the original amount (principal) so that both the principal and interest earn interest. To achieve this, each time interest is earned it should be …
In behavioral psychology, the operant conditioning theory is critical in comprehending how animals and humans learn new behavior. From instrumental learning experiments, we learn that the consequence of an action determines if a person will repeat the action in the future. Operant conditioning can be employed in experimental settings such as labs, natural settings, and …
One of the most thrilling encounters with ellipses is in a room of the National Statuary Hall of Washington D. C. The oval-shaped room introduces you to a whispering chamber where sound can travel along the walls in a unique way due to its elliptical shape. Ellipses are special figures resembling circles. They are like …
When a data point or observation falls outside the normal range, it is considered by data scientists as an outlier. They are what most people would simply refer to as being too big or too small in comparison to what is considered normal. Outliers are therefore considered to be rare or unusual occurrences. Outliers can …