Whizzing by Mathematically at 27 MPH
Yet again, I have been labelled as a math whiz. All my life, people always thought that I had this "mathematical genius" and I always feel that it is not so. I often freeze up at the simplest arthimetic processes/problems. When I taught algebra at Gallaudet, my students often caught me making mistakes when it comes to numbers and quick thinking. When I was on the College Bowl team, it was de facto that I carry the mathematical burden, despite my deep reluctance based on the fact that the other members on the team were actually more competent at quick calculations than I was. I guess it is just that I am good at noticing patterns and connecting the dots.
NBC4 News determined that I was a "math whiz" because I "calculated the speed of the cruisers at about 27 mph above the posted speed limit." That's a half wrong statement! I never said that I calculated the speed of the police cruiser as going 27 MPH above the speed limit, which would be 52 MPH! The cop doesn't look like he is bracing commensurate to a 52 MPH velocity. He looks like he is going closer to 25-30 MPH. I simply said that I calculated the cop's speed at 27 MPH. I got proof. I still got the notes that Chris Gordon, the reporter and I exchanged. I am adding a picture of the page to prove it. It was the paper and pen doing the translating.
OK, now, HOW did I come to 27 MPH? Actually, specifically, it is 27.272727272727 repeating ad infinitum miles per hour. Yes, really! You see, the distance that the car travelled between the 2 frames can be measured. The recent road construction patches helped as marking guides. I went outside, and measured the distance, which was 40 feet. My camera's burst mode records a shot every second, so the cop cruiser went 40 feet in 1 second.
It's pretty straightforward. 5,280 feet in 1 mile. 60 seconds in 1 minute, 60 minutes in 1 hour. From that, I had the car going 2400 feet per minute, which translates to 144,000(!) feet per hour (multiply by 60 seconds, then 60 minutes). You then divide 144,000 feet per hour with 5,280, thereby giving us 27.272727272727272727272727272727. Wow! Very nice set of numbers!
NBC4 News determined that I was a "math whiz" because I "calculated the speed of the cruisers at about 27 mph above the posted speed limit." That's a half wrong statement! I never said that I calculated the speed of the police cruiser as going 27 MPH above the speed limit, which would be 52 MPH! The cop doesn't look like he is bracing commensurate to a 52 MPH velocity. He looks like he is going closer to 25-30 MPH. I simply said that I calculated the cop's speed at 27 MPH. I got proof. I still got the notes that Chris Gordon, the reporter and I exchanged. I am adding a picture of the page to prove it. It was the paper and pen doing the translating.
OK, now, HOW did I come to 27 MPH? Actually, specifically, it is 27.272727272727 repeating ad infinitum miles per hour. Yes, really! You see, the distance that the car travelled between the 2 frames can be measured. The recent road construction patches helped as marking guides. I went outside, and measured the distance, which was 40 feet. My camera's burst mode records a shot every second, so the cop cruiser went 40 feet in 1 second.
It's pretty straightforward. 5,280 feet in 1 mile. 60 seconds in 1 minute, 60 minutes in 1 hour. From that, I had the car going 2400 feet per minute, which translates to 144,000(!) feet per hour (multiply by 60 seconds, then 60 minutes). You then divide 144,000 feet per hour with 5,280, thereby giving us 27.272727272727272727272727272727. Wow! Very nice set of numbers!
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