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I am up and finished dressing. Though I am sick still I am trying my hardest to stay in school all day. You know cause I love everyone in school.

Unlike many other mathematics classes that I have completed during my four years at SLA, Statistics with Ms. Thompson brings something different. A quadratic equation or second derivative isn't as apparent to a human in everyday life as statistics.  With that, Ms. Thompson has always created a requirement for real life application in our benchmark projects. My favorite statistics benchmark of the year must have been our third quarter benchmark, which required the class to apply our knowledge of probability to the real world.

            In order to accomplish this, Shanice Braxton (my partner) and I decided to find the probability of the Philadelphia Phillies winning the World Series. Before the MLB season started, there was a lot of talk on the Phillies being a favorable team to win the championship so we had to do the math. When dealing with probability, there are two types, theoretical and experimental. Because the Phillies were not actually playing, we had to choose theoretical probability and use past winnings and loses of the team’s franchise history. Therefore, to our surprise the Philadelphia Phillies only had approximately 1.5% of winning the World Series! Besides the mathematics, we represented our data graphically by creating a venn-diagram. Instead of creating a simple venn-diagram of two intersecting circles, we created a diagram of concentric circles (circles within circles) to show that winning the World Series is dependent of going to the World Series, while that is simultaneously dependant upon being in the playoff season to begin with. Other graphics were later added to contribute to our pamphlets design and presentation.

All in all, this project gave us incentive to inquire about probability and present those findings. It also gave us the ability to research and collaborate on applying statistical concepts to the real life situations. Although the theoretical probability of the Phillies winning the World Series is slim, anything can happen and we continue to cheer for them.

whaddup widd it?
now im going to sleeeeeep(:​

In my previous blogs I wanted to know about why people do this to the animals and the research that I just found gave me some reasons why they do this. Some act on sadistic desires, some act unintentionally, some harming pets with there carelessness. One of the main topics why is systemic the choices we make as a collective. People abuse children’s pets to coerce them into sexual abuse or to keep the children quiet about them the parent’s crudity to them. Also the children harm the animals because they want to take our there anger on another victim.

 

Ways you can help if you know this is happening or not, help the organizations retrieve the animals left behind. If you know someone who cannot take care of there pet find someone who can or call an animal association. If people have problems with animals try and help them through it, everything you do helps.

 

Pets are a big part of people lives did you know that a child in the U.S is more likely to have a pet then live stay at home father. Did you know that most American Homes have pets then children? Did you know every year 100 million animals die in experiments and tests? Did you know that 70% of the abusers also committed other crimes?  The Internet is one of the biggest sources to find out facts about this topic. This still will be happening even if we are saving some. So if more people know then they can help to. This is my last blog post there was two more about animal cruelly, what I should do is continue my research and find out more because this an strong topic and not only is it with animals but also with children and it should stop now. 

http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/cruelty_database/statistics/classifications.php 

http://animalcrueltyfacts.net/

http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/tags/animal+abuse/default.aspx

http://www.americanhumane.org/interaction/support-the-bond/fact-sheets/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html

http://www.animalcrueltyfacts.net/statistics

​A musical sound is called a tone, and is produced by air vibrating a certain number of times per second. These vibrations are called waves.The number of times that a sound wave vibrates in a second is called its frequency and is measured in Hertz.  High notes have a higher frequency than lower notes and this changes their shape.

When a xylophone it hits it vibrates and displaces the air molecules. There is a very transfer of energy as the xylophone switches from potential to kinetic energy. When sound waves collide they either bounce(reflect) or bend(refract). To change the pitch of a xylophone you change the size and density of the bars(keys). 

I plan to make my xylophone out of copper or pvc pipe. Which ever produces the better sound and can be sustained. I will play my instrument like everyone else does with this type of instrument; a mallet. 

​I have decided to make a water xylophone.  

1. The friction between the rotating glass and one’s wet finger creates a slight level of friction. This friction creates a vibration in the bowl, which then redirects the vibration’s frequency towards the user.

2. The pitch of the instrument is changed by using an instrument with a different bowl shape/size that produces a frequency equivalent to the specific note.

3. The materials necessary to construct the instrument include numerous glass bowls, a spindle mechanism, and a small container of water. Playing the instrument involves  changing my thumb from one bowl to the next. I plan to complete the instrument as soon as possible.

4. I currently have no additional questions.

I struggled through a death, a viewing, a funeral
Whilst being the hand that others gripped,
But didn't have your hand to hold as hot tears fell from my eyes
And sobs ripped so thoroughly through my throat that I could barely speak.
I didn't have your strong arms to protect me from violent shaking
Or your soft lips to kiss away the hammering in my head.
I was one to be had, but had no one, not even you.

Sound is produced by the vibrations of the strings. The thicker the string the stronger the pitch. The energy that's being transferred from the strings cause a vibration throughout and creates sound waves. I'm changing the pitch by changing the strings by using smaller ones thin ones an thicker ones they all have a different type of pitch whether its high or low or average. The most important physical characteristic in my instrument is the strings which creates the sounds. I will be using the strings or rubber bands to help create the sound overall and I will be using wood possible and some tuning tools to help keep the strings in place and altogether. I will play my instrument using my fingers or a pick to pluck at the strings. I plan on using my class time effectively too help design my instrument and I plan to use outside time as well to help me as well.

So, a thumb piano is an interesting instrument and can make some beautiful music if you know how to play it. Sometimes, the tines are attached to just a piece of wood. However, it is better to use a hollow piece of wood and then a hole in that box. In order to play the instrument, you pluck a series of tines attached to the top of the box, which then vibrate. This vibration is caught in the hollow box and released through the hole. You can cover the hole and uncover it to make interesting sounds. To change the pitch, you must change the tines. Usually, the longest tine is in the middle, with the tines then getting shorter to the left and to the right. The shorter tines have a higher pitch. So, in order to change the pitch of the tines, you have to change the length of the tines. Changing the box simply changes how long the sound resonates (as with the tuning forks). To make the instrument, you need pieces of wood to construct the box, and a piece of small pipe to attach the tines. The tines, though, are a little tricky. I read around and it said that you should use a rake to get the tines. I'm still looking for an alternate way to get the tines. I'll probably use the tip of my nail instead of the fat part of my thumb to pluck the tines, to make a sharper sound. The hardest part of this project will be making the tines the right length, so I'll get the box out of the way early so I have time to work on the tines. I just need to figure out what lengths to make the tines... I may have to figure this out with experimenting though.

There's this guy who's a family friend of ours except we don't like him that much. With that said he's not really a family friend he's just friends with our family friends, and since he's such a dick he has no friends and latches on to us. He constantly insults and puts down other people. He's also extremely pessimistic and bitches about everyone and everything. Anyways, I receive a text from this douchebag who ask what my house number is because he thinks he's right outside. I'm like what the fuck? So i got outside to find him parking his 1980's vespa outside our house. He then asks if he can get a drink. I get him a glass of water and know I'll have to make small talk with him which is really hard for me to do because we just don't relate at all. As we "chat" he bitches about everything and then insults me and tells me I should be driving (coming from a guy who drives a fucking Vespa). As some time goes by my mom comes home and I ditch her with him, to go work on my capstone.
I felt bad, but she understands. I'm seeing a movie with this dick next Tuesday. Wish me luck

Pianos create sound when the player presses a key which triggers a hammer to strike a string. When the hammer strikes the string, it causes a vibration in the string which causes the air molecules to hit each other, making a sound. At this point, a damper is released, causing the string to continue to vibrate. When the key is released, the damper stops the string from vibrating, stopping the sound. ​Pianos pitches and dynamics can be changed depending how the player plays it.The pitch can be changed by pressing a key that strikes either a thicker or thinner string. The volume can be changed by pressing the key either lighter or heavier. I could actually build this instrument by replacing the strings for xylophone bars, which would minimize the amount of materials I would need to build it. I would need wood for the casing, some felt, and various screws. The felt is for the hammer, which causes a softer sound when it hits the xylophone bar. The xylophone bars are what are going to vibrate to make the sound. The wood is used for the casing, the hammer, and the entire action. The screws are going to be used for the action. I will be playing the instrument by pressing the keys which will trigger the hammer to strike the xylophone bar. I will be going to VK's room everyday after school to build it. I will also try to schedule days when I can meet up with Quach (the member who had the highest score for access to materials) so I could build it. 

I would have to say the first benchmark was my favorite benchmark. Our main task was to calculate the consumer price index for various stores. I worked in a group with Dyamond Logan, Camille Granby, and James Smith, which by the way was the best group of people I worked with for a math assignment. We all went to different markets and jot down the regular price and sale price of 25 items and calculate the 5-Number Summary and IQR. Once we completed that, we looked at the distribution of our store, observed the significance between regular and sale price, and compared our mean prices to other stores. 
I have gained valuable statistical data throughout this project because I learned how to calculate the 5-number summary, interquartile range, mean and standard deviation. Along with that I learned how to graph data on box plots and histograms. I honestly enjoyed doing every step of this project because I really understood what I had to complete and I was excited that I could do all the math and equations all by myself.  It was a big accomplishment.

Inquiry: I inquired what grocery store would have the lowest and the highest prices on our items.

Research: I researched information on what consumer price index is and how it’s useful and effective for the costumer.

Collaboration: I collaborated with Dyamond, Camille, James, and a few of the employees at Pathmart.

Presentation: My group and I presented our work and on keynote and the presentation went well.

Reflection: I worked very hard on this benchmark and I feel as though it was the most in compelling subject that we worked on. 

Flute:

After further research into how it is that a flute functions and creates sound, I found that my initial opinion, the one concerning the length of the pipe and the concentration of the air molecules. I initially believed that the concentration of air molecules altered the frequency of the sound waves. This, in turn, creates a deeper or higher pitch when it comes to musical notes or other sounds. The less energy that the molecules transferring the wave have, the lower the pitch, because the frequency is lower. When I put my plans into action, I am hoping to create my flute out of either PVC pipe or copper pipe, depending upon the materials that I can gain access to. I'm planning on placing the holes used to create notes about 15.24cm from one end, then about 2.5cm apart afterward. The hope is that such a design would allow me to play it just like a regular flute. The only real remaining question that I have is whether or not I'll be able to get aid in learning how to play it.

Of the four benchmarks we've completed so far this year, my favorite would have to be the grocery store benchmark from the first quarter. I enjoy doing work that may have an affect on my life rather than solving problem after problem and submitting my answers for your approval. Of the four benchmarks, the grocery store and study guide benchmarks were the only two that had some sort of impact on my life (other than improving my math skills). Even though this benchmark involved some of the most basic statistics topics we've learned, it still did a good job of challenging me. At this point in the year, we were learning about univariate data as well as some basic ways to visualize that data we had collected (histograms, stem & leaf plots, and box & whisker plots). We took what we had learned about how to collect and visualize data, and we were able to apply it by comparing the prices of certain items at grocery stores in order to determine which stores were the cheapest.

Inquiry: Our initial question was, what are the cheapest grocery stores in the city of Philadelphia?
Research: We researched by having each group member go to their individual grocery store and gather prices for 25 different items.
Collaboration: After each group member had gathered their information, we were able to compare results with each other and together we came up with graphs showing which stores were the cheapest.
Presentation: We presented our results in front of our classmates.
Reflection: Not only did we each have to write a reflection for the benchmark, but we also now know what stores to shop at as well as which products to buy if we are focusing on saving money.

Today after school, I spent almost 2 hours in Vk's room finishing my capstone.  I have never hated steel-belted tires more in my life. At least, I'll never have to mess with them again (unless of course, I choose to)!

The Flute:

The flute is an instrument that interests me because woodwind instruments seem fairly easy to manipulate to me. In addition to this, there is a lot you can test as far as sound waves are concerned. They act as a sort of large tuning fork, and therefore testing for them can be done with a fair amount of efficiency. When playing the flute, the player essentially alters the length of the pipe by covering or opening the holes that are spaced over the length of it. This, in turn, changes the note that one plays. So depending on what combination of holes are covered and are not, when the player blows into the primary hole on one end or the other, he or she can play a note, creating different kinds of music. Now the reason for this, presumably, is because altering the length of the pipe alters the concentration of the air molecules. This, in turn, alters the amount of vibration that they are allowed, and the consequence of this is an alteration in the frequency of the sound wave that is released. 

​A thumb piano produces a sound by the vibrations of the metal pieces. It travels into the hollowed out box through the sound hold like a piano and makes a sound. The longer the piece vibrates the longer the note is held. The thumb piano consists of different length, flat metal pieces. You can change the lengths and tune it by undoing the bar holding them down and moving the pieced back and forth to the correct tune and pitch. For the box I'll be using wooden boards I'll cut and shape for the correct size. Then i'll take some pieces of spring metal from a rake and use that as the keys. A metal bar to hold down the pieces with screws for tuning.

A thumb piano produces a sound by the vibrations of the metal pieces. It travels into the hollowed out box through the sound hold like a piano and makes a sound. The longer the piece vibrates the longer the note is held. The thumb piano consists of different length, flat metal pieces. You can change the lengths and tune it by undoing the bar holding them down and moving the pieced back and forth to the correct tune and pitch. For the box I'll be using wooden boards I'll cut and shape for the correct size. Then i'll take some pieces of spring metal from a rake and use that as the keys. A metal bar to hold down the pieces with screws for tuning.

A thumb piano produces a sound by the vibrations of the metal pieces. It travels into the hollowed out box through the sound hold like a piano and makes a sound. The longer the piece vibrates the longer the note is held. The thumb piano consists of different length, flat metal pieces. You can change the lengths and tune it by undoing the bar holding them down and moving the pieced back and forth to the correct tune and pitch. For the box I'll be using wooden boards I'll cut and shape for the correct size. Then i'll take some pieces of spring metal from a rake and use that as the keys. A metal bar to hold down the pieces with screws for tuning.