My Fifth Day of School.

It’s always the case that the first two weeks are a breeze. So far, that’s been the case. I’m in the library giving myself relaxation time, as I finished my first Calc III homework. Which, amusingly, has nothing to do with calculus. Just an introduction a three-dimensional coordinate plane system. I had a chance to do one of my favorite mathematical things: Factoring. Well, I suppose what I did is the opposite of that: Completing the square. Oh hell, I’ll show you.

4×2 + 4y2 + 4z2 – 8x + 16y = 1

Wait. Did I remember to follow through with that negative sign?

*checks*

*smacks forehead*

Thankfully, negatives are easy to change into positives. Ha ha.

Okay, so what’s really the point of the exercise? Show that equation is of a sphere, give the center point and the radius. Translation: Get it into the form

r2 = (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 + (z – l)2

x,y and z are the same x,y, and z that are in the first equation. What’s h, k, and l? That would be the center of the sphere, (h,k,l). How do you get the radius? The above equation is the general formula for a sphere. Take the free number on the other side of the equation (at the end) and take the square root.

This isn’t that hard. Once I realized I needed to divide everything by four, I sort of smacked my forehead. Only maybe half a page of work is required. I actually did this last night, but the first time I draw everything out and maybe leave out some work. Second run through, I make everything nice and neat and explain to death. Took me an hour for four problems last night, and the hour and a half to redo it in the library went rather fast.

Ha ha. How many people here need Algebra help? I have no life! : D

I’m sure I have a bunch of spanish homework, but I don’t feel like doing it here. Maybe tomorrow, haha. Maybe get myself here before class and do it then. I do need to listen to those damn mp3s. Maybe I should do all that tomorrow afternoon, then GOTO the library and do as much of the rest of the HW as I can. Better not put it off until Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday afternoon will be for more calc work!

Let’s see. I’ll probably get around to reading in my Unix book, and taking the shrinkwrap off the macro book. Might as well. Which is the precise reason I keep my ass on campus during this huge break between classes. I haven’t anything better to do except schoolwork. Ha ha.

I had cereal for breakfast. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that (gorging at my Grandma’s in Minnesota nonwithstanding). I’m bent on not wasting money in the food thingie here, so I made a PB&J quick before I left and brought it with me. Nevermind that it’s in my glove compartment. I made it this morning! IT’S STILL GOOD!

I think I’ll do that when I vacate. Then I’ll come back here and read, unless I just do it in the van.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand. I think I’ll vacate.