Sunday, January 24, 2010

Prime Factorisation (continues...)


Q1.Textbook p9 #25:
The Prime factorisation of a number is 2^4 X 3^5 X 7^2 X 11.
Write down 3 factors of the number that are greater than 100.
(Hint: 16 X 11 = 176, which is a factor.)

Answer:
2^4 X 3^5 X 7^2 X 11= 2 095 632

(a)2^4 X 7^2=784
(b)3^5 X 11=2 673
(c)7^2 X 11=539


Q2.Textbook p9 #26:
The Prime factorisation of two numbers are 2 X 3^2 X 7^3 X 13 and 3 X 7^2 X 13^3 X 17 .
Write down 3 common factors of the numbers.

Answer:
2 X 3^2 X 7^3 X 13=80 262
3 X 7^2 X 13^3 X 17=5 490 303

and I'm stuck here...




Prime Numbers:Textbook p8 #24

I agree with the claim. An even number can never be a prime number as all even numbers are divisible by 2. So prime numbers are always odd numbers(not assuming all odd numbers are primes, eg.9. But instead of 9+9=18, we can have 5+5+5+3+18). So, when we add up 2 similar odd numbers(or 4 or 6 or 8, etc.), the resulting answer will be an even number(adding 2 similar numbers is like multiplying the number by 2, which will result in an even number). That is why every even number greater than 2 can be expressed as a sum of prime numbers.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

12 January: Numbers as a Language

I think the Mayan numerals are easy to remember. They are basically just dots and lines. For example, the number "0" is shaped like and oval with a curved line drawn across it. It is actually a picture of a shell. The number "1" is just a dot, and number "2" is 2 dots. And it goes on all the way till 5, where it is a horizontal line. but this is just the basics...

Just as we have place values like tens, hundreds and so on, the Mayans also have what is like our place values. But theirs is according to the number "1", number "20", and the number "400". For example, 35 would be written as one dot above five dots, which are in turn atop two lines.
The first dot represents "one twenty" or "1×20", which is added to five dots and two bars, or thirteen. Now that's simple enough.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Communication

Communication is important because we may have to convey messages from one another in this fast-paced society of ours. if we cannot even express ourselves to other people, how can we make them appreciate what we are trying to do? Without communication, the world would be like a ghost town, with everyone living in solitude. That is why communication is so important.

Of course, there are various forms of communication we can choose from. But my personal favorite is by email. Emails are usually free of charge, and messages travel very fast across the globe. The recipient would probably receive the message 2 seconds after it is sent, compared to sending letters by post as it would take 2 weeks.

To deal with different situations, different forms of communication is required. For instant, if it is someone overseas whom you want to communicate with, the email is preferred over a call on the telephone as overseas phone calls can be very expensive, especially if they are used frequently.

Some difficulties I face when communicating with others is that I think people do not know what I am trying to say, perhaps because I speak in Singlish most of the time and I always do not seem to be serious. But I think I should speak more proper English so I would be easier to understand.


Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Amazing Race

Hi again! I feel that the meaning of expanding learning network is trying to learn more, like today at The Amazing Race. We were kind of lost at the end of the race. We all had no idea of how to get to Blk 310, Clementi. and everyone were arguing like cats and dogs. No one even "expanded their learning network by asking for help from passers-by, which was a big mistake and make us come in 4th in the race. And that is a perfect depiction of EXPANDING your learning network.

I feel that this value is important as in SST, we will have to meet a lot of new people, and we have to communicate and learn from them as well. It will benefit me in my learning experience here, in this case.

And that's all for now!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Reflection On Team-Building Activities

Hi everyone! I did team building challenges today and I finally understood the true meaning of "Forging Excellence". It is about doing your very best in everything, even if you don't do well in it.

Of course, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Not to brag about it, I think I am a smart person and I can help solve almost any problems in a flash.(Like I said, I'm not boasting.) So... that's my strength that helps me succeed in many things I do.

I think everyone should have a "Never Give Up" spirit and persevere in whatever they are trying to accomplish. It could be anything...from studies to sports...from cooking to
painting. Yep, that's it.

One person can make a difference. Yes, I know. You might be thinking only I can make a difference, but, no, everyone can. I feel that I can help my team (or class) succeed by keeping them together and not spend so much time on discussions. So that's all I have to say.

Bye folks!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Bridge-building project

I feel that working as a team in my class is very new to me. I haven't been involved in group activities since the start of the PSLE last year. This new class gave me the shivers at first because I had no idea what to expect from my new classmates.

We don't interact so much as we are not familiar with one another, yet. We don't even know one another well, let alone work together. But I think I interact well with the team.

I think I would contribute more to future activities as I have to admit I haven't been doing too much this time round. Of course, it was probably I was unsure what to do.

As I was saying, because it was my first time working with my group, I was very uncomfortable with working with them, but I think I won't be so shy with them anymore.

How I felt in the creation of my first blog in Blogger

Whew! What an experience! Well... actually, this is my second time blogging. You see, I have a second blog at this url: detectivecheng.multiply.com.

I stopped using that account ever since I had set foot on SST. Luckily, I had first-hand experience at this, otherwise I would be called a swaku. But even if I had no idea how to blog, the teachers are friendly enough to help me. One thing you should know about me, is that I've got no internet connection so I'd hang out at school, after school, or head off to someone else's place to do work.

To create this blog, I encountered a lot of difficulties. There was a point where they said I had attempted to create 2 account using the same computer, and the website kind of thought I was a spammer, and so it stopped me.

I feel blogging is a good way to connect with people round the globe. But I think I might have problems accessing my blog at times so I hope you teachers won't mind me.

And I'm in Sec 1-01.

SST first post

I feel very surprised about getting into SST as there were about 500 applicants and only 200 of them would be chosen. I was not expecting it at all. One of my friends back in Primary School had not got into the school and his results were very good. I thought that it might have been his Mother Tongue that caused him to lose his place in the school as he had never been too keen on Chinese.

Image from: fr.fotolia.com