The Golden Ratio (aka: Lowering your Self Esteem)

The Golden Ratio is a mathematical term, describing proportion and roughly calculates to 1.6180339887. It is also represented by the Greek letter "phi".

The Golden Ratio got its name due to its constant involvement in beauty and perfection. Interestingly, most objects that humans deem aesthetically pleasing, adhere to the Golden Ratio. For example, the proportions in the structure of a nautilus' shell follows the ratio.

The Golden Ratio even appears throughout manmade structures like the Parthenon.

Even in everyday life, humans compare what they see to an ingrained yet subconscious Golden Ratio. This is where we get the notion of "mathematical beauty". In a mathematically beautiful face, every proportion from the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and in-between, matches up perfectly to the Golden Ratio.

Only a few requirements for being mathematically beautiful:

• eye line half way down the face
• length in-between eyes=width of nose
• tops of ears in line with eyebrows, bottoms of ear lobes in line with bottom of nose
• when smiling, corners of mouth are in line with centers of pupils

other terms:

• Phi
• Divine Proportion
• Golden Mean
• Golden Number

Copyrighting

here's the link to the original math questionaire: http://amanda-k-brannin.blogspot.com/2009/09/amanda-and-maisies-supah-dupah-math.html

i'm just an educational-questionaire thief like that.

Collaboraaaation with Amanda

1. Why do people hate math?

People don't hate math (duh, no one hates math), they hate learning it. The process to get an answer takes so long, and people don't inherently speak the "language" of math. Another reason why people may not like math, is because they think they will never use it in life. Usually adults look back and regret not paying attention to their math lessons, because it would have made their jobs easier.

2. Do you like or hate math and why? (before Booker T and after)

Amanda- I neither like nor hate math. I've learned in my past, to hate math, but it was just because I didn't think it was important, plus, some of my teachers didn't make it so interesting. Now that I've come to Booker T. , I like it a little more than before because of my teacher and how she teaches it. She shows us how we would use it in art, which is why we are at this school in the first place. Thank you Mrs. J!

Maisie-I actually really like math (don't hurt me). This is because it is so straight forward, and there is almost always one answer, and you just have to learn the steps. and BAM. it's correct.

3. Do you think math is important for "artists"?

As visual artists, we think that math is definitely important for artists to learn. For example: in order to be a good artist, we have to have a knowledge from all different sources-including our other academics. But there's a lot of straight up math that goes into art anyway, such as scale factor in designing and planning (there's such a thing as "mathematical beauty" using the golden ratio for faces and most any other composition: http://www.advocateenterprise.org/img/vitruvian.jpghttp://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMT669/Student.Folders/Frietag.Mark/Homepage/Goldenratio/image19.gifhttp://news.puggal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/golden-ratio-face1.gif
and for fun the dove beauty commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

4. How can math education improve?

we believe that there are no bland subjects, only bland teachers. the key to having fun (or staying awake) in math is having an energetic teacher that gets the class involved, and gives examples of real life situations that what they are learning applies to. our recommendation: hire really good teachers.TAHDAH!

The Magic and Fun of Linear Correlation

In our most recent Algebra class, we learned about data points, linear correlation and standard deviation/the distance between the points and the actual slope of the line.
Discovering the line in relation to your data (done on your trusty graphing calculator) is highly useful for discerning whether your data makes any sense and allows you to confirm trends. If the data points are all directly on the line, you know that you have a consistancy in whatever you are observing. If the data points gather around the general direction of your line, then that's o.k. too. Concern should only occur when you get sporadic points all over your graph-which indicates that you are recording very random things.

We also learned about Integral Theory, where the shape, color, size etc. represent different characteristics of each point such as the ethnicity or wealth of a country.
Ms. J showed us an interesting video about how to not make data boring : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVimVzgtD6w

another mathy link:
there are these things called fractals, which can be constructed through mathematical equations (sometimes on graphs). I guess it's also qualifies as art. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjZFD6MCmPA&feature=related

Book Suggestions to Anyone Interested

A Separate Peace: best characters. saddest plot. read now.
Wuthering Heights: 'tis gothic. like my cathedral.

9-9-9

el gasp!

Upbeat Tidings

happy Labor Day everyone, even though it's only Sunday. I'm just excited about having a blog okay?

Altar of Glib aka Homework

I just viewed the blog "Altar of Glib", where artsy fanatics gather.
Upon examining the paintings and sculptures, I really do admire the organic theme of the online gallery.

Welcome to the World

So this is the first post on my first blog. Excitement level is rising