Got to Recall Everything (GRE)

…or the Graduate Record Exam.  Take your pick.

Since I’ve made the decision to go back to school this fall to work on a doctorate, I have to take this beautiful test next weekend.  Honestly, I think I’ll be OK.  I took a practice exam (or two), and they made me feel sufficiently dumb, so I think I’m prepared.

I guess I’m less worried about this than I should be.  That confidence (whether founded or not) comes from the fact that every day of my life (or at least those at work) is spent doing math and writing reports on a variety of subjects.  However, I think I’ll take one or two more practice exams, just to be sure.  My phiolosphy on testing has always been the same: You either know it or you don’t, and there comes a point when studying will give you no further advantage.  (I learned that while working on a minor in History.)

So…wish me luck.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed, too.

How does he do that…

So…I can do most two-digit by two-digit multiplication in my head. It’s a binomial expansion, pretty easy. Most people could use a process they learned at some point, FOIL (or some derivative thereof).

But this guy¹ takes it to a new level. If you haven’t seen this, watch it. It’s depressing, but it also gets at the relevance thing big time.  (Thanks to my aunt and uncle for sending this along.)

Starting Something New…

(cross-posted at Rethinking the Third R)

I like my blog.  It gives me an opportunity to talk about things related to math education that are important to me.  But sometimes I’ve got more to say, and it’s not always about math, and sometimes it’s not even about education.

Enter the new blog.  I’m excited about this, and hopefully it will keep my creativity flowing a bit more evenly.  Look around and comment.  I’m looking forward to this!  OF course, if you prefer the linearity of the old blog, it will still be around.  I’ve got a lot more to say about math education…