An Introduction to Matrices

By Mr. Lance W.

Important terms to know:

    Element- is each value in the matrix.

    Row- the section of the matrix that goes horizontal.

    Column-  the section of the matrix that runs vertically.

    Dimensions- the number of boxes within the matrix.

Matrices are important in grouping data and are useful in solving many mathematical equations.

Place this data in a matrix:

    Madison is looking for a restaurant to take his prom date to before the dance.  Madison wants to have a nice meal, but the only date he could get was a really ugly girl, so he does not want to spend too much money or be in the car with her too long.  Lucky 32  is 8 miles away, cost about 50 dollars for two to eat, and has a food quality of 8.  Golden Corral is 15 miles away, cost 20 dollars for two to eat, and has a food quality of 6.  Bojangles' is 4 miles away, cost 15 dollars for two to eat, and has a food quality of 10.  What is the best choice based on quality, food, and shortest distance.   this is a picture of Madison's date.

    This problem works out nicely, when you look down the cost column the cheapest price is Bojangles'.  Looking down the quality column, Bojangles' is the highest, and in the distance column Bojangles' is the closest.

    Since Bojangles' is the closest, cheapest, and has the best quality Madison should take his ugly date to Bojangles so he does not have to spend a lot of money on her, does not have to stay in the car with her long, and can still get great food.

Quote of courage

The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next.

Mignon McLaughlin,  This is a reminder that some may have brief moments of great courage that not all can have, but the most important is that that takes you through the day.

http://www.quotationspage.com/qotd.html

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