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November 5, 2019 by Astronut Leave a Comment

Math and a Snuggle Sack

Oklahoma Sooners Snuggle Sack with Machine Embroiidery
My BFF modeling the Oklahoma Sooners Snuggle Sack I made her.

When people think of sewing, I’m pretty sure they don’t think of math. They think of pretty fabric, patterns, quilting, and making cool custom garments. Sewing, though, is a lot of math.

Although patterns state the yardage required for a given size and width of fabric, oftentimes adjustments must be made. If the fabric has a nap or one-way design, extra fabric will be required.

In my case, I have been making Snuggle Sacks for special friends and family for a few years. Tonight, I started making another one. One of the components required is insulation. I usually use Thinsulate. I had some leftover Thinsulate from a project I’d completed over the summer. Since the insulation is sandwiched between the inner and outer Snuggle Sack layers, it will never be seen. This was an opportunity to use up my Thinsulate scraps. First, I had to see how much I needed.

Oklahoma Sooners Machine Embroidery Snuggle Sack
My BFF and I modeling the outside of her Snuggle Sack.

To do this, I calculated the area of the completed Snuggle Sack. I then measured the length and width of each of my scraps of Thinsulate. I then calculated the area of each scrap of Thinsulate. Then, I started subtracting the areas of the Thinsulate scraps from the total area needed, to see if I had enough. It turns out I have plenty of Thinsulate, with a bit leftover. But, if I hadn’t applied my math skills to the problem, I might have just bought more Thinsulate, and spent more money and had more fabric laying around the house.

And that’s just one simple example of using math in a sewing project and how STEM Education is used in everyday life.

Thanks for joining me. I hope to see you soon.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Machine Embroidery, Math, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Sooners, sewing, Snuggle Sack, Thinsulate

November 2, 2019 by Astronut Leave a Comment

You Might be a Professional Tutor if …

I moved to this home six months ago. I had had many of my possessions in storage for over 11 years (LONG story). Although I had most of my tutoring books with me where I’d lived before here, I didn’t realize how many books I had until I unpacked them.

When I’d toured this house, I was thrilled to see the built in bookshelves next to the fireplace. I was so happy that I wouldn’t need to buy or assemble bookshelves. I was certain that the approximately 15 linear feet of bookshelf space would be more than sufficient for my collection of physics, math, chemistry, space, astronomy, database and software books. Boy, was I wrong!!!!

Sandy Eulitt’s Physics, Math, and Chemistry tutoring book collection

Here are the books I have not yet unpacked, as I don’t have room to store them.

Sandy Eulitt’s still packed Physics and Math tutoring textbooks
And yet still more of Sandy Eulitt’s Physics, Math, and Engineering Tutoring textbooks

The question now is, what do I do with all these books I have not yet unpacked? I had to buy a tall bookshelf to store my “recreational reading” books, and I am out of floor space for another bookshelf. What to do, what to do. Bonus round, a dear friend of mine and former physics and astronomy professor offered me her textbook collection recently. Ugh. Is there a 12 Step program for withdrawing from textbook collecting? If not, I might have to start one.

Thanks for reading and have a happy day!!!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

May 22, 2017 by Astronut Leave a Comment

PreCalculus Series & Sequences Review

PreCalculus Series and Sequences Review
There is a difference between Series and Sequences in Algebra 3/4 and PreCalculus (and in Calculus)

I am LOVING reviewing Series and Sequences from Algebra 3/4 and PreCalculus that I have done over the past few days. It keeps the neurons firing, and reminds me of math I haven’t used in a while.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Fibonacci, sequences, Series

May 20, 2017 by Astronut Leave a Comment

Series and Sequences refresher

Series, sequences, fibonacci
Fibonacci is in here, too!!!

I am thoroughly enjoying a quiet Saturday afternoon reviewing series and sequences ahead of tutoring a longtime student tomorrow. He has a pre-calculus test next week, and his mom insists that he meet with me before every exam. It is her way of double checking that her son really does know the material, and doesn’t blow his A (and GPA on those all-important high school transcripts needed for college admissions).

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Fibonacci, intermediate algebra, Pre-Calculus, sequences, Series

April 18, 2017 by Astronut Leave a Comment

Forgot my Pre-Calculus tutoring stuff

Did something last night I’d never done before: showed up to tutor a student with none of my tutoring stuff. I’d removed it from my car over the weekend, and didn’t realize it til I was at Costco yesterday afternoon. I was short on time, couldn’t get home to pick my stuff up, so I showed up on time and borrowed pencil and paper from my student. It was pre-calculus review of stuff we’d been over before, so I knew I was good. Still, I like having my books, papers, index cards, etc. with me, not to mention the Magic Pencil and Magic Eraser to help me out. I, fortunately, have a version of my MegaDork 2010 calculator on my phone that I can use, so I was safe there, too

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: book stand, clip case, Happy Eraser, HP 48GX, HP 50g, HP Calculator, index cards, lap desk, Magic Pencil, MegaDork 2010 Calculator, pencil case, Pre-Calculus, RPN

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Latest Blog Posts

  • New Method for solving Quadratic Equations
  • Math and a Snuggle Sack
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Popular Posts

  • New Method for solving Quadratic Equations February 11, 2020
  • Math and a Snuggle Sack November 5, 2019
  • You Might be a Professional Tutor if … November 2, 2019
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  • How Math Proofs Really Work November 20, 2018

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