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 …
Increase is an exciting word to most people, and compound interest is a special kind of increase often described as almost magical. Instead of earning interest only on the original amount, compound interest adds the interest you earn back to the principal so that both the principal and the new interest start earning more. Each …
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 …
In mathematics, shapes can be transformed in different ways to create new positions or orientations on a plane. These transformations include reflection, translation, dilation, and rotation, each describing a unique kind of movement or change. Today, we focus on reflection and how it appears in everyday life. A reflection is a transformation that flips a …
A derivative in mathematics can be defined as a measure of the rate at which a function will change with respect to a variable. Derivatives are the rates at which variables or factors of interest change. Derivatives in mathematics are often used in solving problems such as differential equations. They are also commonly used in …
An equation is any algebraic expression that has two parts set up to be equal to each other through an equal sign. Examples are: x + 4=10 x + 5=y There are many kinds of equations but linear equations are the simplest and most common ones. It is a special type of equation that contains …
Rotation is a mathematical concept that involves the turning of a shape about a fixed point. It is a type of transformation that results in the change of the position of the shape in a clockwise (through a positive angle of rotation) or counterclockwise (through a negative angle of rotation) direction. The object and its …
A ray in geometry can be defined as any line that has an endpoint called a point of origin and extends forever in a single direction. As it travels toward infinity, the ray can also pass through many other points. Rays are usually represented with an arrowhead at one end to indicate their direction of …
Dilation is taking place around us all the time. From pupil enlargement to forensics, it is a fixture of our environment. In geometry, whenever figures are allowed to change, flip, move or undergo a change in their shape, we say they have been transformed. Dilations are a special kind of transformation that makes a figure …
Rational functions are defined as functions that can be written as the ratio of two polynomial functions i.e. f(x) = P(x) /Q(x). The functions are known as being ‘rational’ because one of the polynomial functions is divided by the other just like in a ratio. With rational functions, the denominator can never be equal to …