Writing about math has helped me in many ways. The first way is due to typing practice. Along with everything else in computer class, writing these math blogs is good practice for my typing. Writing has also helped me in another way. Being able to write about math topics allows me to make sure that I understand the topic and that I know what I'm blogging about. Let's just say, it refreshes my mind on these topics and it allows me to not forget these topics.
          Basically, writing about math has helped me learn and understand things more about math. Math is my least favorite subject, but I still enjoy learning different things about. There's so many different topics in math, it's really incredible once you think about it. It's all one big picture connecting to every thing else in life. For example, this math blog is about how writing about math has helped me. It has helped me because it allowed me to remember all the things I already learned about or currently still learning about. What I'm trying to say that I think writing these math blogs are important because they refresh my memory on the things I have already learned. 
 
I have learned many different and challenging things in my 7th grade year in math. It's not really my favorite subject either, so that's what makes it more difficult. I really don't know which topic was the hardest for me though. I would have to say word problems in general. I really, really hate word problems. Some of the word problems involve a lot of thinking. I remember when we had to do this task about a goat, and we had to figure out how many lands of grass he could eat with the given amount of land. That was one of the hardest tasks I've done! After turning it in, I still don't understand it that well, but I tried my best. 
        Overcoming the challenge of solving word problems hasn't really been "achieved." I still have times when I really get stuck on word problems, but most of the time I do figure it out. It just takes me awhile to think about it, and it really gives my brain a tickle. Most of the word problems that is given to us for homework or class work involves solving for an unknown amount of something. It is also usually put into an equation, and also, in most cases, we have to create our own formula. If the word problem had a diagram to show the problem, that wouldn't be too difficult for me. But if the problem just had 90% of words and 10% of numbers, it would really be challenging for me. I learned that working hard and trying your best will pay off at the end. I feel so relieved when I finally get the answer to a word problem I have been working on for hours! 
 
Many people know that there are connections between math and science. But how? They are two different things with different names. Well, in science, there are a lot of formulas. There are also a lot in math. So that is one example of a connection between the two. There are also a lot of theories involved in science; math has that too. If you want to find something out using a formula, that involves science and math. Science and math have basic fundamentals. It is kind of hard to explain something that we are used to.  Basically, they are both the same.
      Another example of how these two subjects are connected involve solving things in math and science. In science, you use a lot of math to figure out scientific problems. So that's why it is important to understand math when doing science, especially in chemistry.
 
What are negative numbers and what are they used for? Well, you should know what negative numbers are by now, but incase you didn't, negative numbers are numbers below zero. Although it is below zero, it starts with negative one. A negative number is represented by a minus sign in front of the number. So what's its purpose? A negative number is used to represent anything below zero. For example, it can be seen in the weather forecast. If it's really really really blazing, cold, the temperature could be -1 degrees, because that is pretty cold!
           I have seen most negative numbers in equations. For example, while I was learning how to add and subtract negative integers, I learned that you can't subtract negative integers. When you subtract negative integers, you must change the operation to addition, and change the integer into a positive one. 
 
Our post today is explain the steps of solving the problem, 2x-7=15. This problem is an example of an multi-step equation because it involves more than one operation. Well anyway, the whole objective of the problem is to solve for x. The first thing you would do is add seven to the answer (15) and to itself (7). The reason why you would add the seven to both sides is because you have to get rid of it in order to have x by itself. It is in addition because you are doing the opposite of subtraction. Once you do that, the problem should now be, 2x=22.
     Before it was simplified, it was difficult to solve right? Now that it's simplified, you can easily solve it now. 2x=22. You divide 2 on both sides. So that means, you would put a line beneath 2x and 22 and have 2 under it. The line represents division. Once you do that, you are left with x and the answer. If you did this correctly, you should have gotten 11 as "x" because two times 11 equals 22. 
 
Last week's math topic was about two methods to convert a fraction to a decimal. This week's blog is about how to convert a decimal to a fraction. There are two simple ways to do it. The first way is to find out how many numbers are placed after the decimal, and what place it is in. For example, .12 would be 12/100 since the two is in the hundredths place. Another way you can convert a decimal to a fraction is by dividing it by the place number it is in.
         The method I prefer the most is just finding out what place number is in. I think it is very simple, and easy to use. I have been using that method ever since I learned it in elementary school. It is also not that confusing either once you understand your decimal places. It is an effcient way to convert the
 
There are many ways to convert a fraction to a decimal, but there are two easy ways that I prefer. The first way to convert a fraction to a decimal is by dividing. Everybody knows that a fraction has an upper number (numerator) and a bottom number (denominator). You would get a decimal by dividing numerator by the denominator. That's what a fraction really is anyway. The line between the two numbers actually stands for division. 
         For example, in the fraction 22/33, the top number will be divided by the bottom number. Another way you make a fraction into a decimal is making it into a percent first, then into a decimal. I prefer the dividing method because I'm very use to it and I have been using it ever since elementary. It is really easy and simple to remember. 
 
I think using percentages to plan the purchase of food in a ratio is better than using ratios. They are almost the same things, but I think using percentages would be easier. My reason for that is because it is easy to read. Everybody knows that any percent is out of 100, so basically, its like any portion out of a 100. That's pretty easy to realize and read. For example, if someone said they would like to order 40% of the platter of fried rice, they basically would basically almost half of it. 
          Another reason why it would be right to use percentages to plan the purchase of food because it isn't difficult math. Who would want to go through a lot of stress just to plan for food? Percentages are divided into correct parts, and I think it would be perfect for food because there is a lot of seperating and sectioning. 
 
You may have learned this topic in elementary. In case you have forgot, here is a blog post to refresh your memory! Lets say that there is a circle with a radius of 3 ft. To find the area, you would simply multiply Pi by R^2. So in this case, it would be 3.14 times 9. I got the 9 from the squaring 3. The area of the circle would be 28.26 ft. That wasn't too difficult, right? Now how do you find the circumference of a circle? That isn't difficult either!
       You can find out the circumference from using two measurements, the radius or the diameter. The diameter would be easier to use because it takes a fewer steps and it gets you the same answer if you use the radius. The formula for finding the circumference is c=3.14xD. In this case, the diameter would be 6 feet. Plug in the numbers then times by Pi. The formula for the radius is c=2x3.14xR. Plug in the numbers and use the formula. 
 
This blog will be all about Pi. I'm not talking about the pie that we eat for dessert, but the pi that is used in many problems in math! Pi is a number that has like 50 numbers in it; I think it goes on forever! The first 3 numbers of it is 3.14. That are all the numbers that I know in Pi. As a fraction, Pi is 22/7. I don't think I have used Pi in 7th grade pre-algebra yet, but I do remember using some of it in 6th grade. I remember that we used Pi to find the diameter and radius of a circle. That's all I could really think of right now when it comes to using Pi. 
          Why is Pi special, and what's so awesome about it? Well, if you're a math lover, I think you would know all about Pi, but for me, I don't. I think Pi is special and it's been used for a while now because it helps us solve certain problems, such as the one I stated in the 1st paragraph. I'm not certain of this, but I also think that Pi is the circumference of a circl