Navigating My Medium Journey: Success, Math, and Insights
Written on
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
As I embark on this journey, I can't help but wonder where I'll be a year from now. The excitement of starting something new is palpable! A heartfelt "Thank You!" goes out to Medium and all the wonderful individuals who have already supported me. I hope to meet your expectations!
The Newcomer's Quest for Success
Eager to achieve success, I dove into various resources, only to be overwhelmed. It turns out, there’s just so much information that I began to feel stressed.
Anxiety became a companion of mine not long ago, stemming from unexpected family events that disrupted my life. With Medium being a new venture, I found myself grappling with fresh anxieties as I read about the journeys of others, even before initiating my own. I hope to share some insights that might assist others facing similar feelings.
While the guidance I encountered was invaluable, I felt increasingly confined by the notion that I had to follow every piece of advice to succeed. This overwhelming pressure began to dampen my enthusiasm for what I saw as a fantastic opportunity, leaving me doubting my capabilities.
To lift myself out of this rut, I resolved to primarily follow the advice I found but to remain realistic about my personality and time limitations. I allowed myself to abandon the notion of perfection, and with that, my excitement began to return!
The Solution to Stress
The answer was simple: Instead of striving for perfection, I should simply be myself on this platform!
One piece of advice that frequently appears is to "find your niche and stick to it." While this is sound advice, it's not for me. I've decided to focus approximately 60% on math and science articles, 25% on stories and poetry, and 15% on psychology and societal issues. This is my own interpretation of a niche, and I welcome others to disagree.
Before returning to my writing philosophy, let’s briefly look at a sample of my mathematical writing. Grab a lemonade or coffee and join me for a moment. Your feedback is appreciated!
Exploring a Math Controversy
I recently stumbled upon a fundamental mathematical process that lacks standardization, leading to different "correct" answers! Yes, even math has its controversies!
Can Math Endure Controversy?
PEMDAS is an acronym for parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, outlining the order of operations. This structure is essential for ensuring that everyone arrives at the same answer.
A straightforward application of PEMDAS would be:
1 + 2 × 3 = 1 + 6 = 7. Here, multiplication takes precedence over addition despite its position in the expression.
For those purists out there, I’m aware that I’ve used multiple equality symbols on the same line; I hope it doesn’t cause too much discomfort.
It's worth noting that addition and subtraction share a rank, as do multiplication and division. Thus, a clearer mnemonic could be written as:
PE {MD} {AS}.
This grouping means that operations adjacent to one another are processed from left to right, rather than strictly following the order of operations. For example:
3 + 5 - 4 = 8 - 4 = 4,
and
5 - 4 + 3 = 1 + 3 = 4.
Basic calculators may not adhere to all these rules, but scientific or graphing calculators generally do.
Now, let’s delve into the controversy!
8 ÷ 2(3 + 1). The "2" next to the parentheses indicates multiplication by the value contained within.
Following the standard order of operations:
8 ÷ 2(3 + 1) = 8 ÷ 2 × 4. Since division and multiplication are on the same level, we proceed from left to right:
8 ÷ 2 × 4 = 4 × 4 = 16.
Conversely, another perspective, prevalent in certain fields, asserts that the "understood multiplication" indicated by the 2 should be considered part of the parentheses operation, suggesting that it should be executed first:
8 ÷ 2(3 + 1) = 8 ÷ 2(4) = 8 ÷ 8 = 1.
Which answer is correct? Is it 16 or 1? Without a universal agreement, we are left with opinions and conventions. Personally, I lean towards the first interpretation, as that aligns with what I was taught, but I've noticed that many scientists adopt the second viewpoint.
For clarity, another representation is:
8 ÷ 2(3 + 1) = 8 × (1/2) × 4, where 1/2 is the multiplicative inverse of 2, allowing for left-to-right multiplication. This is how I view the problem, which informs my preference for the first method. A similar situation arises with subtraction:
5 - 4 + 3 = 5 + (-4) + 3, where -4 is the additive inverse of 4, facilitating left-to-right addition.
There are principles called "field properties" that dictate how numbers interact. I’ll save the intricate details for another discussion. The crucial takeaway is that these properties apply solely to addition and multiplication. It turns out that subtraction and division serve as shorthand for adding the opposite (or negative) of a number and multiplying by the reciprocal. This perspective simplifies our understanding of operations, as one might only need PEMA rather than PEMDAS. This is how I taught math for many years, and it was disconcerting to learn that there’s no single accepted convention for understood multiplication preceding parentheses when divided.
The Math Segment Wrap-Up
Thanks for your patience!
I recently came across another writing idea that could greatly benefit me. It’s so straightforward that many of you might be thinking, "Isn't that common knowledge?" The advice to write daily often feels unattainable with my hectic schedule and the need for downtime after work. However, I had an epiphany: we can work on multiple drafts simultaneously! If I start two drafts a day for articles I want to write—even if it’s just a title—and dedicate 10 minutes to any saved title that catches my interest, I could amass a year’s worth of titles and partially completed articles in just six months! By then, my writing habit should naturally evolve beyond just 10 minutes, and I may even find myself capable of writing an article daily.
Write a little, just for fun
You’ll be surprised how much gets done
Before the setting of the sun
This brings me to another practice I know I’ll need to cultivate my enthusiasm. In my current job, I sell a necessary product over the phone and assist new agents in their first week of calls. The #1 key to success? Enthusiasm. It’s not just about being friendly on calls; it’s about an agent’s ability to feel successful and, ultimately, to thrive within the company.
Embrace the Excitement
We motivate our agents with positive feedback: “Great job on the sale!” When they internalize that encouragement and genuinely get excited, they are likely to excel. Conversely, if they don’t feel even a hint of excitement, their tenure may be brief. There will be highs and lows, but if agents believe in themselves and the system, they will succeed week after week. I still take calls occasionally, and I rely on that self-motivation! I recognize the significance of the “Good Job” hype, and I’m thankful for it. Without that supportive atmosphere, success becomes elusive. I’ve significantly improved my skills over time, and while some enthusiasm has given way to quiet confidence, if I ever lose that enthusiasm, I won’t excel in my role.
My Humble Advice
So, to anyone willing to listen (and fully acknowledging my newbie status): stay enthusiastic!
While I anticipate inevitable ups and downs, I encourage you to always find the silver lining. After all, would you prefer to work feeling down or to work with joy?
A Blend of Poetry and Math
As I wrap up this reflection, I plan to create title pages daily and expand on some ideas. I’m uncertain when my next post will emerge, but I hope to share more soon!
Ciao!
Video Description: This video captures a teacher making a surprising mistake, but his priceless response turns the situation into a valuable lesson.
Video Description: In this video, we break down the math cheating scandal, explaining all the concepts simply for better understanding.