Josie Taylor

Math 1010

Mrs. Atkinson

8 January 2018

Reflective Writing for Zero Gravity Project

The point of this project was to find and calculate the parabola flight patterns of a special

aircraft used to simulate zero gravity conditions. Astronauts use this aircraft to train for the same

zero gravity conditions in space. To calculate these parabolas I used logarithmic functions and

exponential equations with the data table given to me.

In ways this lab was very applicable to the real world. When it comes to these special

aircraft this lab is very applicable and the results are beneficial. Calculating these flight patterns

helped train astronauts and make that training effective by fully simulated zero gravity. There

are obviously different types of math that you might use in different places and different jobs, but

even in an office job you might see parabolas, graphs, exponentials etc. Math is everywhere

and benefits us all in ways we don’t necessarily acknowledge.

Other jobs than a business owner to use these types of equations are accountants, tax

advisors, marketing teams etc. Really any job associating with money, sales, or efficiency would

use these types of equations. I never really realized how many jobs really use this math we

learn in school.

This project has definitely changed the way I look at the necessities of math. I’ve always

thought that most of the math I learn in school won’t be applicable to me in ten years. Now my

ideas have changed because there are things done in all jobs involving patterns, analysis,

graphs, money etc. Some jobs however use less math than others but math is there and

relevant inevitable.