The "help Travis LaPlante pass math in college" Thread

[Juggernaut GO]

HI ! I AM TRAVIS LAPLANTE, for some insane reason I decided to go back to college at 29 years old.  Ok, so the government decided to pay me a lot of money to go  back...   So many insane titties all over, It's like I'm constantly in a girls gone wild video every day, only before the actual party. 

Political science:I can bullshit my way through government discussions
physics: I can copy answers from the girl that sits next to me
Geography: I actually know a little bit about this

BUT, unfortunately, I am a retard, and I can not comprehend math at all. 

SO:
I know there are many people far smarter then I in the ways of math so here are a few puzzles for you to figure out, and help me at the same time:

How do I find T in the following equations?
 
1: 10=25(.5) ^t/11   T being an exponent there
2: 3000=1200(1+.069\12) ^(12T)


How would I find x in the following equation?

X=1500(1+.06/4) ^4

Any advice would be helpful!

[oneofchaos]

Alright travis, since kid with glasses isn't around:

1.  Lets divide both sides by 25.  10/25 = (.5)^(t/11) <- PUT PARENTHESES!
take the log of both sides.  Log (.4) = log (.5)^(t/11)
now because of awesome mathematical rules, we can move t/11 in front of log(.5).
log(.4)/(log(.5) = t/11.  So you get two nasty numbers, the negative will cancel, and multiply that by 11.
I get t = 14.541209 (hopefully is accurate enough for your purposes)

2.  we shall start off the same way as we did in the first one.
3000/1200 = (1 + .069/12)^12T
now we take the log of both sides
log(2.5)=log(1+.069/12)^12T
because of math being cool we can bring down the 12T in front of the log(1+.069/12)
log(2.5)/(log(1.069/12) = 12T
T = 13.3177181

Verify both of my answers by plugging them in for T.  Now you owe me a favor of holding a vintage tournament i can actually attend.

Edit: tricky little bastard had another question after I answered your two numbered ones!

you sure this is the question???

x = 1500(1+.06/4)^4??  if it is, it's only a matter of button mashing on any scientific calculator. 
x = 1 592.04533

[Juggernaut GO]

explain to me the reasoning of using a log function in the equations, is it to get the variable out of the exponent?

I guess, step by step show me how I would get the variable T to a place where I can solve for it.


I really forget order of operations and all that shit so I'm sure I knew how to do this at some point.

[oneofchaos]

alright the point of a logarithm is to essentially solve for a variable in the exponent. 

Logarithm definition.

if X = b^y, then Log(y) = log(x)/log(b)
handy rule to know--> Log(p^c) = c(log(p)) ie: whatever your argument inside the logarithm is raised too, you can multiply it outside the log instead

order of operations is easiest remembered by PEMDAS (please excuse my dumbass sibling)- parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction.

First equation:

10=25(.5)^(t/11)  I want to isolate the base that t is attached too, so we divide by 25
.4 =(.5)^(t/11) Now we are stuck without logarithms, we have a variable in the exponent looking down at us smiling
now we will take the log of both sides, and use that rule I mentioned above
log(.4) = log(.5^(t/11))  (remember that rule I told you about?)
log(.4)= log(.5)*(t/11) (now we isolate for t)
log(.4)/log(.5) * 11 = t (you will need a calculator to figure out 90% of logarithms


Second equation u gave me (we have the same exact "problem", just bigger numbers

3000 = 1200(1 + .069/12)^12T lets isolate the base of T
3000/1200 = (1 + .069/12)^12T
2.5 = (1+.069/12)^12T now lets use the log
log(2.5) = log(1 + .069/12)^12T (once again, never forget this rule)
log(2.5) = log(1+.069/12)*12T (lets isolate for T
log(2.5)/(log(1+.069/12)*1/12 = T

this good?

[T00L]

Man oh man i'm glad i'm talented. Fuck math.

[Juggernaut GO]

and this is an entry level math course in the first week...

what    the     fuck

[oneofchaos]

I've got calculus 3 and linear algebra right now, being a freshmen in a class of juniors is sooo fun!

[LordHomerCat]

What kind of degree are you working at Travis?  Hopefully something Liberal Arts or this is going to get a lot harder =p

[Juggernaut GO]

political science, luckily this is the only math course I will need to take.  I had some decent transfer credits from 2000 when I was last in school, I just came up short on 1 math for some reason.

[oneofchaos]

we will get you through this!

[LotusHead]

I've got calculus 3 and linear algebra right now, being a freshmen in a class of juniors is sooo fun!

I'm a credentialed math teacher but OneOfChaos has is spot on.

[M.Solymossy]

I'm in Discrete Mathematics right now, and it is hell.   It's all propositions and truth tables.   

[LordHomerCat]

I'm in Discrete Mathematics right now, and it is hell.   It's all propositions and truth tables.   

I <3 Logic so much.  I would do propositional logic over anything with derivatives and integrals any time.  Also anything with geometry sucks.

[Dr.KnowMaD]

I always thought that geometry's formulas where a lot better than most math curriculums, though I would never take anything more than Logic if possible.  Go, go Logic.


Dr.KnowMaD

[oneofchaos]

Travis I think the best approach to this class from what I've seen is to remember to use logs when your solving for an exponent.  The only exception might be something like:
2^x = 8, where we can rewrite 8 as 2^3.  When the bases are equal, we can set the exponents equal to each other.  So we would wind up with
2^x=2^3
x = 3

Also when you see Log(something), the base of the logarithm is usually 10 unless it is defined as being something else

[Implacable]

Travis, for me, what always helped with logarithms was to remember the following, written like I said them in my head:

Log sub b of n = p

And b to the p = n

Written in equation form:

log_bn = p

b^p = n

That's what got me through PreCalc. 

[Juggernaut GO]

thanks for all the help so far, I imagine this thread will get bigger as the class goes on :>

[oneofchaos]

I'm always here to help a fellow 5/3 attacker that cannot be blocked by walls. I just lost a game on workstation playing belcher vs shops.  Stupid tinder wall can't block juggernaut...sigh.

[Juggernaut GO]

Thanks for the help last semester, especially to Dave & Ray.  I ended up with 2 A's and 2 A-.  First person in my family to ever make the deans list with a 3.85 gpa :>

[oneofchaos]

Awesome congrats!  Wish I could say the same about my freshmen year.  Electrical engineering kinda killed me, but I am ready for a rematch. 

[Implacable]

Wow, Travis, very proud.  Nice work, holmes.

[nataz]

Travis my man, I'm proud. Great job.