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FIRST DISCOURSE: solving word problems
Much of life presents complicated problems that require more than a one-step solution. For problems of this nature, a structured approach is often helpful to identify the desired results, the data provided and any other clues that might help get from the question to the answer.
One of my personal goal as a student is to model the thought processes i use in solving problems especially academic ones. My way may not be the most efficient but it has been effective for me, has helped some students and it may be possible that some of you have never been exposed to such approach. I am not sure that i was “taught” this method but more likely “caught” it from those who taught me. When i noticed students struggling with “solving” problems, i decided to put the process in writing as an attempt to teach first what i hope you catch later. So without further ado...
R Read the whole problem. Draw a picture of the problem, if appropriate, to help you understand the problem. Pay careful attention to relationships among variables or subjects. (It’s almost always easier to figure out how to get from what you know to what you want if you draw a picture).
Determine the goal. What is wanted? Write down everything you are asked to determine.
Are there any appropriate equations or processes needed to achieve the goal? What relations exist within the variables in the problems? Write the relations, equation and processes on paper. Use them to determine what approach is necessary to solve the problem. Without equations and processes, use the relations to develop an approach to solve the problem
Read the problem again and write down the relevant information. Diagram relations among all variables. Express the data in the terms of the defined relations or equation. When dealing with calculations, always numbers write units!
Substitute relations/data into governing (descriptive) processes or equations including their units if numbers.
Apply appropriate processes and/or do calculation ( making sure to carry and cancel all units as appropriate
THINK! Does the answer make sense? Is it within acceptable ranges?
With a model of this type, problems seem to disappear without even realising it. I hope it would facilitate your ability to solve problem, ease anxiety confronted with word problems and increase our confidence in your own problem solving skills and abilities.
SECOND DISCOURSE: sahyens
Science may have alleviated the miseries of disease and drudgery and provide an array of gadgeting for our convenience but it has left us in a world without wonder. Our sunsets have been reduced to wavelengths and frequencies. The complexities of the universe have been shredded into mathematical equations (x and y). It proclaims that earth and its inhabitants are a result of a cosmic accident. Scepticism has become a virtue, cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought, it looks for answers by probing our human foetuses, presumes to rearrange our DNA. It shatters the divine order of the world into smaller and smaller pieces in the quest for meaning and all it finds are more questions
Science proliferate weapons of mass destruction but religion beseeches leaders to use restrain. Science clone living creatures but religion reminds of the moral implication. Science murder babies in the name of research that would save lives but religion points out the fallacy of reasoning.
But surprisingly behind our back religion is the greatest advocate of scientific progress. This got me wondering
THRID DISCOURSE: true life
It’s generally accepted that life is difficult and hard. This is not true. Once the individual learns to control his thought and use his spirit in day-to-day life, all problems seem to vanish.
Luck is a self-inflicted state of mind caused by doing the right thing for the right reason and purpose while in a balanced state of mind. The process of maintaining the state of mind that produces luck in life can be learned and used by one. Once the balance of spirit and materials is understood and the ego is held under control, the human can live of continual happiness and academic excellence.
FOURTH DISCOURSE: the human mind
As we all know probably, human beings normally use a very small percentage of their brain power. However, if you put them in emotionally charged situation like physical trauma, extreme joy or fear or deep medication, all of a sudden their neurons start firing like crazy, resulting in massively enhanced mental clarity.
Remarkable solutions to seemingly impossible problems often occur in these moments clarity. It’s what gurus’ call higher consciousness. Biologists’ call it altered states. Psychologists’ call it super-sentience. And the religious call it answered prayer. Sometimes divine revelation simply means adjusting your brain to hear what your heart already knows!
FIFTH DISCOURSE: age
I feel that the idea of age means nothing when we consider that all of us have been young, middle-aged and old many times before. To think that one is better, smarter or more advanced than someone younger is incorrect. Evolution is learning. The process of thinking creates bolts of energy that forms into logical sequences of thought and creates knowledge. As knowledge becomes more complex, it transforms into wisdom learned from experience. It’s the wisdom learned from experience that creates spiritual growth. In order for spiritual energy to evolve, it must create material life that develops energy through thought engaged in experience. In essence maturity and wealth of knowledge lies in the levels of one’s thought.
FINAL DISCOURSE: altered religion
I think we have damaged a lot of men and women by saying ‘come to the altar brother and everything will be fine’ join the sisters’ forum and everything will work out’, ‘get in the choir you will be okay’ ‘pay your tithes you will see everything will be just great!’ the truth is some wounds stay with us all our lives. We may always be better, more fragile, more dependent and more vulnerable than other people because we have experienced a serious injury. Jesus still bears the scars from the cross. Religion has been a pain killer ingested; it only numbs the pain while hiding the cause of the pain.
