Singapore Math

Before 1980, Singapore relied upon imported text books and curriculum from surrounding countries to educate the masses within the mathematical field.

At that time Singapore's Curriculum Development Institute was founded and began to design and apply their own textbooks with their beginning and intermediate levels.

In this interest, the Education Ministry has focused its attention on new directives geared towards problem solving and trial and error methods for the student. This method invites and allows the student to take the subject on their own level and terms so that education is better facilitated. If there are any doubts as to the effectiveness of this implementation, they will be quickly dispersed if the records are examined.

Studies have shown that Singapore's already stellar mathematics reputation has been growing by leaps and bounds since adopting a focused response to needs within their system.
Something is being done right in the right places and the world is taking notice.
At the heart of this method lay a few essential premises. What is taught is built upon and not revisited with review. Mastery of basic skills is emphasized as the basis for future expansion and attention must be focused upon complete understanding along each step of the way.
Although upon initial inspection the process might seem slow and cumbersome, the end result is that the student advances at their specific pace and are not forced into confusion by per-determined advancement guidelines.
There is an intense focus on utilizing problem solving methods as it applies to skill development for the student. As the concepts are represented by familiar situations to the student, grasp of the concepts are recognized more easily and the sense of intellectual reward inspires more interest and excitement.
Gone is the need for repetitive and boring insistence within the classroom. Learning becomes an eager demand for more knowledge rather than being forced upon the student at an unrealistic rate.
Another consideration is to reach out to the students with a wider perspective than is classically determined to be adequate.

Studies have shown that the learning process is enhanced once the student can visualize the problem solving application without relying on the repetition of examples.

Focusing on the examination of the problem at hand in familiar terms recognizes easier extrapolation of the problem's solution. Singapore math is a prime example of applied technique that is working well for a society that has always laid claim to excellence. By all indications that reputation will do nothing but improve.

A Parent's Guide to Algebra's Basic Concepts - Why Division By Zero Is Undefined

We are almost ready to start solving equations! I know it seems that I've been saying that forever; but we have actually accomplished a great deal.
We have defined Algebra and looked at it's needed terminology.
We have reviewed all the sets of numbers we will be using.
We have gone into depth with all of the Algebraic properties and tools we will need to solve equations. So what's left? We just need to discuss some final issues that often cause students problems.
If we discuss these now, you will have an easier time when we actually encounter them.
Division by zero is undefined. You have probably heard your child quote this sentence.
Students understand what this means when dealing just with numbers (sort of) and they feel smart saying it.
But if you ask WHY division is undefined, they struggle for an explanation. And when working with the more complicated equations where it is extremely important to keep this thought in mind at all times, students don't understand how it applies. Hopefully, we can avoid their troubles.

Are 5/0 and 0/5 the same thing? They don't look the same.

Do they have the same "answer?" Most Algebra students think that both of these expressions have the value 0.
This is problematic.

Remember that fractions have two meanings.
The symbol 3/4 can mean the fraction three-fourths or it can indicate the division problem three divided by four.
First, let's look at some division examples with numbers: 10/2 = 5 or 21/7 = 3 or 48/8 = 6. It is important to remember that each of these problems can be checked by using the inverse operation of multiplication.

Multiply the bottom number (divisor) by the answer (quotient) and the product should be the top number (dividend). Let's check our examples: 10/2 = 5 because (2)(5) = 10 and 21/7 = 3 because (7)(3) = 21 and 48/8 = 6 because (8)(6) = 48. Now, let's revisit 0/5 and 5/0. For 0/5 we have to think (5) (?) = 0, so 0/5 = 0 because it checks, and it makes sense when you consider its meaning.

Zero is being divided into 5 parts.
It makes sense that there would be zero in each of the 5 parts.
For 5/0 we have to think about (0)(?) =5. This is problematic to say the least.

There is simply no answer to this.
Since zero times everything is zero, it is impossible to get 5.

And logically, it is impossible to divide 5 into NO parts.
Thus, we say that division by zero is undefined. This is the first case of "you can't do that" that isn't given a new symbol as its solution. The problem 0/0 is a special case of division by zero because there are several logical answers.

0/0 = 0 seems right because it checks.
But 0/0 = 1 also seems right if you remember that any number divided by itself is one and it checks also.
But then, so does 0/0 = 2 and 0/0=3 and 0/0=4, etc.
It would seem logical to say that 0/0 is infinity. Since all of these are logical but cannot all be true, we say that not only is 0/0 undefined, it is indeterminate.
By now you may be thinking that this is logical and easy, so why the fuss? At this point it is easy.

But as soon as we encounter expressions with variables in the denominator (on the bottom) of a fraction, the situation becomes more complicated.

Consider the fraction 5/y or the fraction 7/(a - 5).

We have said that variables can represent any number, but now that isn't quite true if the variable is in the denominator of a fraction. Now we must remember that division by zero is undefined and we must be sure to consider if there are any numbers that would cause the denominator to become zero.

For example, in our expression 5/y, y can have any value except zero.

Likewise, in the expression 7/(a - 5), a can have any value except.

.
.
5 since 5 - 5 = 0. As equations get more complicated, we must first consider if there are any values that cause the "undefined" problem.
Solving equations with variables in the denominator involve three steps: (1) determine if there are any values that will cause an "undefined" situation, (2) solve the equation, and (3) compare the number we think is the solution to the "cannot allow" numbers.
If our number is in that group of "cannot allow" numbers, then our equation has no solution.
Yes, equations often have no solution.
We will deal with this after we get into solving equations and graphing.
Then we will be able to understand why some equations don't have solutions.
Algebra students have difficulty remembering to do that first step so they end up with incorrect solutions.

PS3 Yellow Light - Your Options For a Fix

You basically have 2 options: Send it to Sony for repairs.
- If choose this you'll be out about $150 (unless your PS3 is still under warranty), - You will have to wait up to 6 weeks to have your PS3 back - Sony will erase the hard drive contents OR Fix it yourself.

Fix it myself? Yeah right.
No, really, you can do this.

All you need is a good repair guide.
Good guides have step-by-step instructions, pictures and maybe even videos. Some of these guides allow you to retain the hard drive contents and have one hour fixes.
A word of caution- Opening the PS3 case voids your warranty.
So for those who are still covered by the warranty, the best option may be to send it to Sony.
Benefits of using a repair guide - Many good guides cost a lot less than sending your PS3 to Sony - Fix PS3 yellow light much faster than sending to Sony.

Some repairs can take as little as one hour - Some guides cater to many problems that can happen with the PS3 so if you fix it, and another problem occurs later, you may be able to repair that problem also.
Compare this to sending it to Sony multiple times and paying around $150 every time If you are thinking of repairing your PS3 by yourself you MUST have a good repair guide otherwise you may be unable to repair it or even risk of damaging your PS3 further. A good guide will have step-by-step instructions, pictures and even videos.

Keep this in mind when you are looking for a guide.

The Importance of Fostering Children's Imagination, Creativity and Auditory Literacy

Children today are often over scheduled.

Between school time, various adult directed "enrichment," activities, and the demands of homework even those in the early grades of kindergarten through third, have very little free time left for day dreaming and independent play.

As important as school is for the learning of reading, writing and arithmetic as well as social skills, because most children's main interaction with adults involves an adult telling them what to do, they are growing up with a diminished ability to deal with undirected time.
This inability to be self-directing leaves them unsure of what to do when they have to entertain themselves.
Thus after their child has spent a very short time playing alone, mothers and fathers often hear the complaint, "I'm bored." The busy parent, who is also often over scheduled, will at this point, offer the suggestion that their child watch a little television or a children's movie. All this adult direction, coupled with the visual images supplied by television and/or movies, results in the loss or delayed development, of a child's independence, auditory literacy, imagination and creativity. If the pictures a child might create in his or her imagination, by listening to a short fairy tale or story are usurped by adult generated images, the child's ability to visualize is either not able to develop fully, or is lost through lack of use. When my children were young they spent hours listening to short fairy tales on cassette tapes created by their father and myself.
As a result they both were far ahead of their peers in terms of vocabulary development, comprehension and musical ability.

There have been numerous studies, which suggest that promoting auditory literacy increases a child's ability to learn foreign languages and also play musical instruments.

This was certainly the case with my own children, and those of my friends and acquaintances who were also raised either without, or with a severely limited amount time spent in front of the television or watching movies.
Just as children need to develop their auditory literacy, and visualizing ability through listening to short fairy tales, they also need to be allowed more unstructured self-directed time, so that they may learn to exercise their imaginations through, free play and even daydreaming. Providing a child with blank books (not coloring books) and papers of various colors and sizes to paint and draw on, gives them tools with which to create.
Items such as cardboard boxes, duct tape, glue, wood scraps, and whatever other imagination stimulating objects we can collect, are vitally important for the development of a child's independence and imaginative abilities.
These abilities form the core of all leadership and inventions. The development of these skills may not be very important if you want your children to be able to be one in an army of workers.
However, these skills are necessary if our children are to be fully prepared to meet the requirements of the twenty first century.

If we want our children to thrive, they must have the ability to communicate with people of other cultures and backgrounds, and they must know how to make their way in a world where self-direction, resilience, creative thinking, and resourcefulness are paramount.

Materials Management Or Material Master - SAP - MM

A number of master data files in MM require a significant amount of understanding, not only on the part of the SAP consultant but also on the part of the SAP customer.
When implementing SAP, customers are generally transitioning from one or more legacy systems. A key aspect of any implementation is the conversion of data to the master data files in SAP.
A fundamental indicator of a successful implementation is the level to which the data has been correctly converted into the SAP master data files. In this chapter, we will examine the master data files that are integral to the practice of MM.
The following sections examine each of the master data files in the MM module, and the necessary configuration steps for the creation of master data are described.

When customers implement SAP, they are often overwhelmed by the information contained in the Material Master file.

When customers examine their existing systems, such as BPICS, JDEdwards, or Lawson, they find that their product or material files contain a fraction of the data contained in the SAP Material Master. The Material Master transaction allows the users to enter all the information relevant to a particular item of material into the correct tables.

The Material Master is not just one file, but a number of tables that contain information that combined reflect all the information for that material.

Many tables are updated when information is entered into the Material Master transaction.

The Material Master transaction is structured so that there are entry screens for different functional information items such as Purchasing, Sales, or Accounting, but there is also an organizational dimension to data entry. The material information can be entered at each level of the organization, for example, at the levels of plant, storage location, or sales organization.
An issue that SAP customers can face when converting their item files over to the Material Master is whether to keep their legacy numbering scheme by continuing to enter their own material numbers.

Customers have the option of allowing SAP to automatically assign material numbers.
Often, legacy systems have meaningful material numbering. This numbering has usually been in place for some time, and employees are familiar with the numbering.

For the simplicity of maintenance, automatic assignment of material numbers is the best choice.

When working with your client, be aware that there are arguments to use and not to use a meaningful numbering scheme in SAP. The material number field is defined in configuration.

Using the Transaction OMSL or the navigation path IMG Logistics - General Material Master Basic Settings Define Output Format for Material Numbers.

The Evolution of Baby Safety Gates

Did you know one of the most common baby tragedies is also one of the most easily prevented? INTRODUCTION: Baby gates are used to stop babies, toddlers and even small pets from going to places where they might get hurt. Baby Safety Gates can be made of many types of material they can be Metal Baby Gates, Plastic Baby Gates, or Wooden Baby Gates.
The material you use will depend on the purpose of the gate and where you want to use it. These barriers can be used inside or outside the home. You should take into consideration the safety of the gate and the amount of strength a child has when considering your choice of gate.
Never use these barriers with children above two years of age. Beginnings of baby safety gates: One of the first patents for this barrier was in 1871 and was called the nursery gate.

It was considered a breakthrough in safety and technology at the time.
Despite the improvements in safety etc.

baby gates are still very similar to the original design.
They are based on a concertina aka accordion style and expand over the area that needs to be shut off.

The concertina style came into being in 1948.

Now they are equipped with a top bar that prevents the child from getting access to the V-shaped lattice and getting injured.
Three styles can be found in these barriers other than accordion, these are hardware mounted, pressure mounted and specialty. Variety of barriers: As mentioned these barriers can come in many materials. Metal Baby Safety Gates and Wooden Baby Safety Gates were the first to be sold to the public and later the Plastic Baby Safety Gates were introduced. They come in all different sizes these days and you should only use baby gates while your child is two years and under.

Safety first: Accordion gates have been considered unsafe due to their V-shaped lattice design and are no longer sold in the US.

The hardware mounted gate is fairly easily knocked down by an adventurous child so should only be used to barricade off rooms or a staircase that is going upward.
Pressure mounted baby gates are sturdier and often have a one-way opening device. Specialty gates are made to order and are generally used for wider or bigger openings than the standard measurements.

They cost a little more but are worth your child's safety.
As the materials and design of baby gates continues to change, as a parent you can be assured by the fact all baby gates must conform to standards established by the Juvenile Products Manufactures Association J.

P.
M.

A. and the Consumer Products Safety Commission C.P.

S.
C. CONCLUSION: The type of baby safety gates you need will depend on your child and where you are going to use it.
Hopefully the information in this article will help you choose a gate that will keep your child safe for their first 2 years of life and allow you to focus on other things, such as getting them to eat those vegetables.
Some children are very adventurous and others are quieter.
This should always be borne in mind when choosing a model for your needs.

Now these barriers are made with a child's safety in mind and have become useful devices for the home.

Employers Assume Too Much About Employee Skills With Microsoft Tools

For business owners whose employees must use the computer at work, there is a good chance that they use Microsoft Word and Excel at a minimum. It is important for business owners to understand that not all employees are using those tools with the optimum skills that they could be. Hint to business owners: it may be worth it for you to pay to have you employees take some Microsoft online training courses.
Because these tools are so common, many people have a tendency to assume that people know all that they do about how to use them. In fact, most people are self taught on how to use the tools.
They figure out how to accomplish the things that they use the tools for and they stick with it.

The problem is they may not have found the most efficient way to use the tool.

If they are using a method to accomplish a task that takes twice as long as someone who has been trained on the most efficient use of the tool, then they are costing their employers needless money. There are plenty of resources to receive online training for Microsoft products.

The small investment into the cost of the training and the time that it would take employees to go through the course on company time could well be made up and then some in the cost savings you will gain when your employees are able to accomplish tasks much quicker because they are properly trained and know the most efficient ways to get things done using the Microsoft tools.