The Question

Here is a question from a math problem that I found in an old jacket that I used to wear. (In fact it was a Hawks jacket. I was probably the only one in central NJ with one back in 1995 but anyway.)


8. Ingrid takes 4 clients to dinner. the check amounts to $160. She wishes to leave a tip of %15. To find this amount, Ingrid computes %10 of the check. She then takes half of that number. She adds the two numbers.

A. Use a calculator to compute %15 of the check.
B. Compute the tip using Ingrid's method.
C. Compare the answers to A and B and explain why they are the same of different.

(Here is the answer I gave.)

A and B are the same because if you take the two answers and you average them in a combination that can really blow your mind. If you take A and put it to Charles theory you will find that you will get a completely wrong answer. Although there is no Charles Theory I am just proving a point. A is a complicated question. It seems that numbers are numbers and there are so many numbers in the numerical system that if we kept counting we would die before getting to the last number. B is one of the hardest questions in the whole number system.


Hence the reason why I was a terrible math student. Oddly enough I use Ingid's method when computing a tip at a restaurant which I guess in an odd way is me learning something all those years ago. And so the answer to A is $24. B is $24 and they are the same. My only problem is they are different because the methods used to determine %15 of $160 are figured through different means. Sure that's not what the question is asking but it is possible that question C is the very reason why I gave the answer that I did.

The worst college sports school in America?

I just have to share this with everyone who might be reading this blog but after visiting my college website I found an article written by an espn reporter about the worst college sports program in America. Yes, the New School is #1. Part of me chuckles but part of me is embarrassed. I know I'm many things but anyone who knows me knows that I like sports. Not just one or two but lots of sports. I was highly involved in athletics in high-school and have sustained a competitive road running attitude since high-school. Besides that I've been known to sacrifice precious hours of sleep to see the San Jose Sharks play a triple overtime playoff game (only to lose), see the Mets play west coast road trips, and watch Germany battle Brazil in the world cup in Asia some years back.

The New School student body doesn't care so much about sports. There are many people at my school who do occasionally watch a sporting event of some kind and there is a large proportion of students who exercise. But the New School has no football, basketball, soccer, running or anything kind of team. In central New Jersey there is Rutgers University, which in the past few years seems more concerned about certain athletics that certain academics, but the student body comes together over sporting events. Then there is the plethora of intramural activities that Rutgers offers and if you have the time you can make some friends over a simple activity. The New School on the other hand falls short in that respect.

Check out the article by Kieran Darcy and you'll get to learn a little bit about some of the alternative sporting things that the New School has to offer.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=darcy/090216