Solving Large Systems of Linear Simultaneous Equations

Solving Large Systems of Linear Simultaneous Equations NICOLE LESIRIMA METHODS OF SOLVING LARGE SYSTEMS OF LINEAR SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS PROJECT DESCRIPTION Linear systems simulate real-world problems using applied numerical procedure. The main aim of this project is to consider what factors affect the efficiency of the various methods of solving linear simultaneous equations. So far, one of the main factors is rounding errors that can produce inaccurate solutions. Moreover, MATLAB programs have been produced to time the calculation speed to determine the efficiency of the methods. Generally, these methods are subdivided into two; direct and iterative methods. Direct methods are commonly used to solve small systems of equations. The iterative methods are used to solve real-world problems that produce systems of equations for which the coefficient matrices are sparse. The relevance of studying these methods have its real world applications. The real world applications can be seen in various fields such as science and engineering, accounting and finance, business management and in operational research. The approach provides a logical framework for solving complex decisions in a wide range of industries. The advantage is that, decisions are founded on data analysis. Environmentalists and meteorologists may use large systems of simultaneous linear equations to predict future outcomes. For instance, to predict weather patterns or climate change, a large volume of data is collected over a long span of time on many variables including, solar radiation, carbon emissions and ocean temperatures. Queen Mary University of London (2015). This data is represented in the form of a transition matrix that has to be row reduced into a probability matrix that can then be used in the prediction of climate change. The objective of an enterprise is to maximize returns while maintaining minimum costs. Whereas the use of large systems of simultaneous linear equations may provide a basis for evidence based business decision making in an enterprise, it is important to know which linear systems are most appropriate in order to minimize undesirable outcomes for an enterprise. PROJECT REPORT OUTLINE Chapter 1 Introduction Large systems of linear simultaneous equations are used to simulate real-world problems using applied numerical procedure. The real world applications can be seen in various fields such as science and engineering, accounting and finance, business management. The approach provides a logical framework for solving complex decisions in a wide range of industries. The advantage is that decisions are founded on data analysis. The aim of this project is to explore the efficiency of a large systems of linear simultaneous equations in the optimal decision making of an enterprise. Chapter 2 Direct Methods: Gaussian Elimination and LU Factorisation Direct methods of solving linear simultaneous equations are introduced. This chapter will look at the Gaussian Elimination and LU Factorisation methods. Gaussian Elimination involves representing the simultaneous equations in an augmented form, performing elementary row operations to reduce the upper triangular form and finally back substituting to form the solution vector. LU Factorisation on the other hand is where a matrix A finds a lower triangular matrix L and an upper triangular matrix U such that A = LU. The purpose of this lower triangular matrix and upper triangular matrix is so that the forward and backward substitutions can be directly applied to these matrices to obtain a solution to the linear system. An operation count and computing times using MATLAB is calculated so as to determine the best method to use. Chapter 3 Cholesky Factorisation Introduction to the Cholesky method. This is a procedure whereby the matrix A is factorised into the product of a lower triangular matrix and its transpose; the forward and backward substitutions can be directly applied to these matrices to obtain a solution. A MATLAB program is written to compute timings. A conclusion can be drawn by comparing the three methods and determining which is the most suitable method that will produce the most accurate result as well as take the shortest computing time. Chapter 4 Iterative Methods: Jacobi Method and Gauss-Seidel This chapter will introduce the iterative methods that are used to solve linear systems with coefficient matrices that are large and sparse. Both methods involve splitting the matrix A into lower triangular, diagonal and upper triangular matrices L, D, U respectively. The main difference comes down to the way the x values are calculated. The Jacobi method uses the previous x values (n) to calculate the next iterated x values (n+1). The Gauss-Seidel uses the new x value (n+1) to calculate the x2 value. Chapter 5 Successive Over Relaxation and Conjugate Gradient Other iterative methods are introduced. The Successive Over Relaxation method over relaxes the solution at each iteration. This method is calculated using the weighted sum of the values from the previous iteration and the values form the Gauss-Seidel method at the current iteration. The Conjugate Gradient method involves improving the approximated value of xk to the exact solution which may be reached after a finite number of iterations usually smaller than the size of the matrix. Chapter 6 Conclusion All the project findings and results are summarised in this chapter. Conclusion can be made from both direct methods and iterative methods whereby the most accurate method with the shortest computing time can be found. Drawbacks from each method will be mentioned as well its suitability for solving real world problems. PROGRESS TO DATE The project to date has covered the direct methods of solving simultaneous equations. Gaussian Elimination This involves representing the simultaneous equations in an augmented form, performing elementary row operations to reduce the upper triangular form and finally back substituting to form the solution vector. For example, to solve an mxn matrix: Ax = b The aim of the Gaussian elimination is to manipulate the augmented matrix [A|b] using elementary row operations; by adding a multiple of the pivot rows to the rows beneath the pivot row i.e. Rià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚   Ri +kRj. Once the augmented matrix is in the row echelon form, the solution is found using back substitution. The following general matrix equation has been reduced to row echelon form: This corresponds to the linear system Rearranging the final solution is given by For all other equations i = n 1, . . ., The operation count and timing the Gaussian Elimination was performed. The total number of operations for an nxn matrix using the Gaussian elimination is with O(N3). LU Factorisation This is where a matrix A finds a lower triangular matrix L and an upper triangular matrix U such that A = LU. The purpose of this lower triangular matrix and upper triangular matrix is so that the forward and backward substitutions can be directly applied to these matrices to obtain a solution to the linear system. In general, L and U is an m x n matrix: L =   U =   For higher order matrices, we can derive the calculation of the L and U matrices. Given a set of n elementary matrices E1, E2,†¦, Enapplied to matrix A, row reduce in row echelon form without permuting rows such that A can be written as the product of two matrices L and U that is A = LU, Where U = En†¦E2E1A, L = E1-1 E2-1†¦En-1   For a general nxn matrix, the total number of operations is O(N3). A Matlab program has been produced to time the LU Factorisation. So far, this method has proven more efficient than the Gaussian Elimination. Cholesky Factorisation This is a procedure whereby the matrix A is factorised into the product of a lower triangular matrix and its transpose i.e. A = LLT   or    =      The Cholesky factorisation is only possible if A is a positive definite. Forward and backward substitution is employed in finding the solutions. The method was also timed at it can be concluded that it is the most effective and efficient direct method for solving simultaneous equations. The indirect methods have been introduced with a short outline of what each method entails. Work Still to be Completed       As from the objectives layed out from the terms of reference, the following are the objectives that are yet to be completed. Week 13 16: Evaluating the convergence rate of the iterative methods in detail as well as finding out which method improves the solution efficiency.   Production of MATLAB programs analysing the different methods and other methods. Over the next 3 weeks, the conditions for convergence will be analysed. One of the most important conditions that will be studied is the spectral radius. This is a condition applied on the indirect methods to determine how fast or slow a method takes to achieve the state of convergence. Moreover, the project will also produce Matlab programs for the iterative methods and employ the spectral radius on these programs to determine the speed of convergence for large sparse matrices. Weeks 17 19: Introduction to the Successive Over-Relaxation (SOR) method and the Conjugate Gradient method. Successive Over-Relaxation method improves the rate of convergence of the Gauss-Siedel method by over-relaxing the solution at every iteration. While the Conjugate Gradient improves the approximated value of x to the exact solution. Matlab programs will be produced for the two methods together with the speed of convergence of different sizes of matrices. Week 20 24:Writing the findings and conclusions of the report, finalising on the bibliography and doing a review of the project as a whole.   Preparing oral and poster presentation.

Dispelling the Myths of Ageism Essay -- Age Discrimination in Western

Ageism is prejudice in which people are categorized and judged solely on the basis of their chronological age (Berger, 2008). Our western culture has embedded ageism into our everyday lives, and we may not be able to identify the ageist behavior when it occurs. Older adults are frequently given negative labels such as senile, sad, lonely, poor, sexless, ill, dependent, demented, and disabled. (McGuire, Klein, Shu-Li, 2008) It is inevitable that we will experience decline in physical and mental capacities. However, the timing, quality, and degree of the aging process are highly variable and very different for each individual. General assumptions and stereotypes about aging are harmful to individual senior adults and do not benefit society. After World War II ended in 1945, veterans returned home to get married and start families which resulted in a â€Å"baby boom.† This generation, which has been dubbed â€Å"Baby Boomers,† was born between 1946 and 1964. In 2011 this generation will begin to reach age 65, which is a pivotal age for senior adults. In 2050, the number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to be 88.5 million, more than double its projected population of 40.2 million in 2010. The baby boomers are largely responsible for this increase in the older population, as they will begin crossing into this category in 2011. (US Census Bureau, 2010). With our population shifting to an older demographic, ageism will weigh heavily on our society and the importance of researching, discussing and finding solutions to ageism will come to the forefront. By definition, ageism is a form of discrimination that can occur at any age. However, it is the senior population that has been distressed the most. Only a few of the man... ...70802042123. Palmore, E. (2004). Research note: Ageism in Canada and the United States. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 19(1), 41-46. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database. Palmore, E. (2005). Three decades of research on ageism. Generations, 29(3), 87-90. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database. Ryan, E., Jin, Y., Anas, A., & Luh, J. (2004). Communication beliefs about youth and old age in Asia and Canada. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 19(4), 343-360. doi:10.1023/B:JCCG.0000044688.27282.7b. US Census Bureau (2010), The next four decades: The older population in the United States 2010 to 2050, Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p25-1138.pdf Zhou, L. (2007). What college students know about older adults: A cross-cultural qualitative study. Educational Gerontology, 33(10), 811-831. doi:10.1080/03601270701364545.

On Being Isolated

I have been a doctor for two decades now, always ready to aid people who are in need, to heal them in the most impossible way that a man can, to cure others who asked of me over and over in the most isolated provinces in this wounded nation. But all of these can disappear from an instant blink of an eye. The whole nation is desperately in need of healing, to be quite frankly. It is hard to think of a proclamation of Jesus that is harder to understand – or believe – than â€Å"blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven' because truthfully, from whereI am standing, I don't quite see it at all. Vive seen death in everywhere I go, pre-school children died from being exploded by a bomb of the ABA Safe conflict in Sambaing, a sick mother who died after giving birth to a twin because his husband who happens to be a conductor in a bus company can't afford a proper three-day meal for the family despite his almost 24- hours shift. And Just like last week, Vive seen a woman who was stabbed by her own sister-in-law out of Jealousy.I bring this up in the context of considering that poverty is everywhere, that no matter how much we think about the did an Dana' it won't bring the Filipino people in good condition. I believe, as a Doctor, health is one of the most important elements in society. It takes a great deal of effort to come up with plans and proposal to keep the nation in balance with health. The President Just stated his State of the Nation a few days back, and it is sad that promoting good health and proposing for cheaper medicines and health benefits doesn't seem like its included in his flagships.True, that the administration is still on its process of rehabilitating what was lost in Samara-Letter regions, but in ejaculating all of the medical assistance is by far most unknown in his propaganda. Thankfully enough, we are living by the hands of the foreigners. All of the countless relief's we received are from all over the wo rld. It is also quite considerate when Peons cabinet members and Local Government Officials are working hard for the safety of everyone, but why it seems that everyone is still coping up with the devastation.It has almost been a year since it happened, but why are these dreams seems to be washed out by the typhoon? You see, I am Just a Doctor, who can't even help himself, because I am being dragged y the system and by the looks of it the government can't even help its people. I wish all those people who made decisions could come down to see what the consequences of their decisions would be like. But really, who are those' people in the first place? Tobacco executives who market a carcinogenic product? Conglomerate food industries that contribute to obesity (and poor dental health)?Insurance companies that leveraged debt in credit default swabs and contributed to global inflation? Even if I help myself in building a hospital, do you think the government would support me on that? How would I even know that all of hose pain and effort in helping people would really pay off? No matter how much I think about going abroad and dedicate myself in contributing to the nation's rising economy (even though it doesn't seem quite felt), it would reflect on me, and the media will use its persuasive power to kill people like us (doctors, nurses, therapists) like we are the most gruesome professionals in the world.The clinic that I usually attend to in Panamanian, every time Vive visited it, is about as anti-Aquinas as it gets, so it is hard for me to reconcile the claims that insurance (since when does every Filipino has insurance and I wish everyone can) and co-pays should be under IPPP with the insistence that whatever our misfortunes might be, they are the product of unfair treatment at the hands of power and privileged. In the President's speech he talked about preparing for future disasters and even focuses on how his administration carry over responsibilities in all of those who are affected.I was one of the Doctors that immediately went to see how wrecked the place was, but a one single official was never really there to go and look in many far- lung areas. Relief's were distributed almost three days after that typhoon. There used to be several health centers in Tactical (where I was assigned) but last January, it stretched to the limit. People cannot even walk to the main health center in Tactical. There are trees everywhere and they have essentially been cut off.We set up in the destroyed former health clinic and received a lot of patients. It was non-stop and people were happy that my team arrived. And in everyday was the same, we went to another remote village and the patients did not stop coming. It is clear that there is a massive need. As a freelance Doctor, I cannot save the whole country, but many people are currently surviving without medical care and we will try to fill that gap until services are restored. Till when can I accept this tragic fact?Back in Tactical, we are mainly treating respiratory infections, and we've also seen some patients with diarrhea. Without proper shelter and being exposed to the elements, a lot of people have colds and fevers, especially the kids. Vive also encountered people who have been affected mentally by the typhoon. They are resent with physical symptoms that you can't really pinpoint, but often we see that this indicates psychological distress. It's common to see this after such a traumatic event, so psychological care is in need to.As I continue my distress over the things I saw back last November when the Typhoon was out in the Philippine Area of Responsibility, I was drawn to more facts about this illness of my country in providing deserved health benefits. Equipment and facilities are still not up to the standard of private institutions. Government hospitals remain largely ill equipped and have offered years due to the decline of government spending on health care. Accessibi lity to public healthcare still remains a contentious issue, particularly in more rural areas.Ideally, everyone is entitled to health care through Philately, but the problem still is, some are discouraged to pay for this because they still choose ‘Panamanian Eng than' over health care and not all medical procedures are covered by the Philately scheme and often the balance for medical expenses is to be paid by the patients. The other day, Budget Secretary Butch Bad presented the 201 5 proposed budget of PA. 06 trillion ($60 billion), 15% higher than the previous year. For health, the government wants a APP. Billion budget for the upgrade of 1,242 bargain (village) health stations, 587 rural health stations, 128 local government unit hospitals, and 1 1 treatment and rehabilitation centers. The government also seeks a PA. 3 billion budget to minimize 2. 2 million children and to provide pneumatically vaccines to 1. 4 million senior citizens and 429,000 infants. Big money is allot ted in Health. If only the President would consider this, a plan where he can control the distribution of budget appropriately for everyone.Although, he dispensed an allotted amount in covering future calamity funds and increase in providing the National Health Insurance Program from APP. 3 billion ($810 million) to APP. 2 billion ($850 million); increase in coverage from 14. 7 million to 15. 4 million beneficiaries, it would be quite enough to sustain what the nation needs, but the big question here is that if the administration can provide this fairly and legitimately. As a Doctor, I am not enraged by how the administration works. I am furious on how they manage everything.I am not against to those who are now in the position, I believe they are placed there for a reason, a reason that neither of us would know. But to be quite honest, my heart goes to the people who deserved a better life. A life of happiness, stability, and even the most taken for granted acts. I am not taking si des in considering that the Philippines is not a choice anymore; I won't want to believe that. It is probably one of the reasons why I still keep myself flowing as much as possible, helping those poor; I believe that social protection and social services should be given a much more credit, a bigger perspective to end this misery.But for now, I'll keep my hopes up. I will definitely wait for the right time. But I won't lose my hope in this administration and in this passion in serving others. I challenge the President in helping and promoting us, especially those who are in the medical world, in healing our nation's wounds. It might be hard, it is not easy, but there's no need to worry, it will be all well and right, if we all keep ourselves closely knit, together, hand in hand.

What Do SAT Subscores Mean Expert Guide

What Do SAT Subscores Mean Expert Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips On first glance, your SAT score report may look completely confusing. Altogether, you’ll get a total of 15 distinct scores, or 18 if you take the essay section! While the scores are numerous, they're also helpful. They put your results under the microscope andgive you detailed feedback about your performance. This guide will demystify all these test scores, cross-test scores, and subscores so you can make the most out of yourSAT score report. Let’s start with a glossary to help you keep track of all the different score types. SAT Score Types: A Glossary These are all the scores that you'll get on your SAT score report. You'll also find out what percentiles your scores represent, or how you did compared to other test-takers in your grade. Total score:your two section scores added together. Section scores:your Math score and your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score from 200 - 800. Test scores:your Reading, Writing and Language, and Math scores; range from 10 to 40. SAT essay scores:three scores for Reading, Analysis, and Writing, each between 2 and 8. Cross-test scores:a score for Analysis in History/Social Studies and a score for Analysis in Science, both between 10 and 40. Subscores:four subscores for skill areas in Reading and Writing and three for skill areas in Math; range between 1 and 15. As you can see, there are several score types with various scales. But how do these score types add up to 15 (or 18 with the essay) scores? Check out the chart below for the full breakdown. SAT Score Ranges: Full Breakdown # of Scores Score Type Description Score Range 1 Total score Sum of the two section scores 400-1600 2 Section scores Evidence-based Reading and Writing + Math 200-800 3 Test scores Reading, Writing and Language, and Math 10-40 3 SAT Essay scores Reading, Analysis, and Writing 2 - 8 2 Cross-test scores Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science. These scores are based on selected questions in all three sections. 10-40 7 Subscores From Evidence-based Reading and Writing: Command of Evidence, Words in Context,Expression of Ideas, and Standard English Conventions. From Math: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math. 1-15 The most important scores for college and the ones with which you’re probably most familiar are your section and total scores. A perfect total score is 1600, and an average SAT scorefalls somewhere around 1000. Regardingsections, perfect section scores are 800, and average section scores fall around 500. While the new SAT scale should be relatively familiar tomost students, the cross-test scores and subscores are a bit unusual. Let’s take a closer look at what exactly these scores measure and why they’re important to understand. Like a weird hybrid pluot (plum + apricot), cross-test scores select from across sections to bring you an entirely new speciesof score. What Are SAT Cross-Test Scores? Cross-test scores represent your performance on questions across all three sections, Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. College Board categorizes questions into certain skill areas. The two skill areas that you need to know about to understand cross-test scores are called Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science. You might be surprised to learn that there are questions in Reading, Writing and Language, and Math that are considered to measure your Analysis in History/Social Studies andAnalysis in Science skills. These skill areas aren’t limited to one section, but rather pop up across the entire SAT. In reading, Analysis in History/Social or Analysis in Science questions tend to be those based on History/Social Studies or Science passages, respectively. The same goes for the questions in Writing and Language. As for Math, these questions tend tobe word problems or data interpretation questions based on graphics. Here are a few example problems to show you which questions College Board categories as Analysis in History/Social Studies or Science. These sample questionsfrom Reading are allconsidered to test yourAnalysis in History/Social Studies skills. This example from Writing and Language is categorized as Analysis in Science. This example from Math is considered to be an Analysis in History/Social Studies question. You can find more examples by taking a look at the scoring guidesto College Board’s free official SAT practice tests. Not only do they help you score your sections, but they also mark the questions that fall into these two skills categories. That way you can calculate your own cross-test scores as you grade your SAT practice tests. I’ll explain how to do this in more detail below, but first, let’s take a look at the other new score type on the SAT, subscores. SAT subscores are like a photo taken with a macro lens; they reveal your performance in close, sharp detail. What Are SAT Subscores? SAT subscores, like cross-test scores, measure your performance on questions that fall into certain skill areas. Unlike cross-test scores, subscores don’t mix and match questions between all three sections. You’ll get subscores for questions inMath and subscores for questions in Evidence-based Reading and Writing. You’ll get seven SAT subscores. In Math, your subscores will measure these skill areas: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math. In Evidence-based Reading and Writing, your subscores will measure Expression of Ideas, Standard English Conventions, Words in Context, and Command of Evidence. Of course, you’re not expected to know automatically which questions fall into which skill areas. Let’s take a moment to define each. You can also check out ourmore detailed guides with sample questions for each section and skill area. What Are the Seven Subscore Skill Areas? First, we’ll consider the three skill areas in Math, followed by the four skill areas in Evidence-based Reading and Writing. #1: Heart of Algebra. These math questions ask you to solve linear equation and linear inequalities, interpret linear functions, and solve linear equation, inequality, or function word problems. #2: Problem Solving and Data Analysis. These math questions ask you to calculate rates, ratios, and percentages, interpret scatterplots and tables, and draw conclusions from collections of data. #3: Passport to Advanced Math. These questions ask you to solve quadratic equations, interpret nonlinear expressions, interpret nonlinear equation graphs, solve operations with polynomials, and solve quadratic and exponential word problems. #4: Expression of Ideas. These (typically Writing) questions ask you to make word choice or structural changes to improve a passage’s organization or impact. #5: Standard English Conventions: These (typically Writing) questions ask about grammar, usage, sentence structure, and punctuation. #6: Words in Context. In Reading, these questions ask you to interpret the meaning of a word or phrase or determine how word choice shapes meaning, style, and tone. In Writing, they ask you to add or change a word to improve meaning. #7: Command of Evidence. These questions are varied. In Reading, they may ask you to state your evidence for your answer to a previous question or to identify how an author uses evidence to support her claims. In Writing, these questions typically ask you to improve the way a passage develops information and ideas. In both sections, they might ask about the relationship between a passage and its accompanying informational graphic. All of these subscores, along with the cross-test scores and other score types discussed, will show up on your SAT score report. However, they’re not for your eyes only. Your prospective colleges that you’ve indicated as score recipients will also get to see all your scores. These score types are new this year, so how are colleges going to use them as they evaluate you as an applicant? Just how crucial are your cross-test scores and subscores for college? As it stands now, not very. How Do Colleges Use Your SAT Cross-Test Scores and Subscores? According to College Board, your detailed score report is great at â€Å"highlighting your strengths and showing colleges that you’ve been building the skills and knowledge you need for college and career.† They’re meant to show that you have skills like Analysis in Science and Command of Evidence to do well in college courses and life in general after high school. At this point, though, it doesn’t appear that your cross-test or subscores are particularly important for colleges. Many colleges are still catching up to the changes in the new SAT and figuring out which test they’ll accept for Class of 2017 and Class of 2018 students. For now, your section and total scores remain the most important metric for applying to college and determining whether your SAT scores make you a competitive applicant. Even though these cross-test scores and subscores don’t seem particularly important for college yet, they can still play a very influentialrole in your SAT prep. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today! How Are SAT Cross-Test Scores and Subscores Useful? It may be tempting to look past these cross-test scores and subscores as unimportant, but they can actually be quite useful as feedback for your SAT prep. If you’re retaking the SAT, then you can use these scores to figure out your strengths and weaknesses as a test-taker. If you haven’t taken the SAT yet, then you can calculate these scores on your SAT practice tests to get the same information. For instance, you may be looking to raise your EBRW score. Your subscores may show that you’re solid on Expression of Ideas questions, but need to study grammar and usage rules to do better on Standard English Conventions questions. On Math, you may be strong onquestions in Heart of Algebra and Passport to Advanced Math questions, but need to focus your prep on Problem Solving and Data Analysis problems. Your cross-test scores and subscores point out the question types and skill areas that you should study to maximize your improvement for next time. As mentioned above, you don’t have to wait until you take the official SAT to get this kind of feedback. You can take the time to calculate your cross-test scores and subscores on your own from SAT practice tests. Figuring out your cross-test scores and subscores can be time-consuming, but it's well worth it if you're prepping for the SAT. How to Calculate Your Cross-Test Scores and Subscores from Practice Tests To score your practice tests, you can consult their accompanying scoring guide. As it turns out, the guidealso labels the questions that fall into the various skill areas pertinent to cross-test scores and subscores, like Analysis in Science, Words in Context, and Heart of Algebra. For instance, this example is taken from the scoring guideto College Board's SAT Practice Test 1 and tells you which questions fall into the Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science skills categories: First, you use your practice test'sscoring guide to identify the relevant questions in a skill area. Then you calculate your raw score by simply adding one point for every correct answer. If you’re calculating your raw score for Words in Context questions, for example, then you would locate these questions with the help of the scoring guide and answer keyand add one point for every one you answered correctly. Then you can consult official conversion tables to convert your raw scores into scale scores. As you read above, your cross-test scores get converted into a scale from 10 to 40. Your subscores get converted to a scale between 1 and 15. Below are the cross-test score and subscore conversion tables provided by College Board. SAT Cross-Test Score Conversion Table (10 - 40) SAT Subscore Conversion Table (10 - 15) For an even more detailed list of step by step instructions for calculating your cross-test scores and subscores, you should consult ourcomprehensive guide on SAT scoring. While this process may feel a bit tedious and time-consuming, it can really be worth it. These scores can give you invaluable insight into your strengths and weaknesses as a test-taker and help you prep smarter for your next test. To Sum Up†¦ Your SAT score report may look like a bunch of confusing numbers at first, but hopefully, now you understand what all those scores mean. Your total scores will fall between 400 and 1600. Your section scores for Math and Evidence-based Reading and Writing range between 200 and 800. Your cross-test scores and subscores dig deeper into your performance, revealing how well you did on specific skill areas and question types. Cross-test scores, as their name indicates, sample questions across all three subjects. Subscores shed light on questions from Math and Evidence-based Reading and Writing. While these specific scores don’t seem to be particularly important for colleges yet, they will appear on your SAT score reports and be visible to admissions officers. For now, they’re most useful as feedback for your skills as a test-taker and areas for growth. Whether you’re looking at your official SAT score report or grading your own practice tests, you should take the time to interpret these scores. The insight they reveal into your strengths and weaknesses can be invaluable feedback as you sharpen your skills for the SAT. What’s Next? At this point, all students will be taking the redesigned SAT.If you're one of them, check out our comprehensive guide on how to study for the new SAT. You can also find lots of helpful strategies and study tip by section here. Just as cross-test scores and subscores can help you study in the most effective way, so too can taking the time to analyze your mistakes. Check out this guide to learn why studying your mistakes is the secret to boosting your scores and how to do it in the most effective way. Are you wondering how many hours of prep time you need to achieve your target scores? This 6 step guide helps you figure out exactly how long you need to study for the SAT to meet your goals. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The John Peter Zenger Trial

The John Peter Zenger Trial John Peter Zenger was born in Germany in 1697. He immigrated to New York with his family in 1710. His father died during the voyage, and his mother, Joanna, was left to support him and his two siblings. At the age of 13, Zenger was apprenticed for eight years to the prominent printer William Bradford who is known as the pioneer printer of the middle colonies. They would form a brief partnership after the apprenticeship before Zenger decided to open his own printing shop in 1726. When Zenger would be later brought to trial, Bradford would remain neutral in the case.   Zenger Approached by Former Chief Justice Zenger was approached by Lewis Morris, a chief justice who had been removed from the bench by Governor William Cosby after he ruled against him. Morris and his associates created the â€Å"Popular Party† in opposition to Governor Cosby and needed a newspaper to help them spread the word. Zenger agreed to print their paper as the New York Weekly Journal. Zenger Arrested for Seditious Libel At first, the governor ignored the newspaper which made claims against the governor including his having arbitrarily removed and appointed judges without consulting the legislature. However, once the paper began to grow in popularity, he decided to put  a stop to it.  Zenger was arrested and a formal charge of seditious libel was made against him on November 17, 1734. Unlike today where libel is only proven when the published information is not only false but intended to harm the individual, libel at this time was defined as holding the king or his agents up to public ridicule. It did not matter how true the printed information was. Despite the charge, the governor was unable to sway a grand jury. Instead, Zenger was arrested based on prosecutors’ â€Å"information,† a way to circumvent the grand jury. Zengers case was taken before a jury. Zenger Defended by Andrew Hamilton Zenger was defended by Andrew Hamilton, a Scottish lawyer who would eventually settle in Pennsylvania. He was not related to Alexander Hamilton. However, he was important in later Pennsylvania history, having helped design Independence Hall. Hamilton took the case on pro bono. Zengers original lawyers had been stricken from the attorneys list due to the corruption that surrounded the case. Hamilton was able to successfully argue to the jury that Zenger was allowed to print things as long as they were true. In fact, when he was not allowed to prove that the claims were true through evidence, he was able to eloquently argue to the jury that they saw the evidence in their everyday lives and therefore didnt need additional proof. Results of the Zenger Case The result of the case did not create a legal precedent because a jury’s verdict does not change the law. However, it had a huge impact on the colonists who saw the importance of a free press to hold the government power in check. Hamilton was lauded by New York colonial leaders for his successful defense of Zenger. Nonetheless, individuals would continue to be punished for publishing information harmful to the government until state constitutions and later the US Constitution in the Bill of Rights would guarantee a free press. Zenger continued to publish the New York Weekly Journal until his death in 1746. His wife continued to publish the paper after his death. When his eldest son, John, took over the business he only continued to publish the paper for three more years.

Health Care Economics Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Health Care Economics - Article Example Declines in demand for healthcare services in other communities have resulted in an increase within the Boston community. With the high-level of medical research being undertaken within the community, other healthcare systems rely on the occurrences within the Boston community healthcare system. Market structures The healthcare sector within the Boston community remains dominated by relatively low number of large organisations. This has been fundamental toward the organisational stability experienced within the healthcare market. The prevailing market structures within the Boston community remain fundamental in determining how various stakeholders within the healthcare sector perform. The healthcare sector in Boston remains highly unique as in consists on several world renowned teaching medical centres. Notable among them are Boston Medical Centre, Massachusetts General Hospital, New England Medical Centre, among others. These academic medical centres have a significant contribution not only to the Boston community, but the entire world as well. The reputation of Boston’s healthcare institutions plays a significant role in the existing stricter of the healthcare market within the community. ... The market structures are significantly influenced by the healthcare providers and insurers as well. These two stakeholders have a fundamental role in establishment of the structures. Healthcare providers The healthcare providers form the base for any healthcare system. The providers within this community have continuously struggled to gain sufficient dominance of the market. While seeking to improve on their market dominance, several healthcare providers merged in order to strengthen their market share. Consolidation strategies have been adopted by many healthcare providers, however, majority of these consolidation structures have not produced the desired payoff to the providers(Williams, Christianson, Barraclough, & Gaylin, 1999). The consolidation strategies have caused a reduction in the number of healthcare providers through mergers and partnerships. The healthcare sector in the Boston community has remained dominated by two major organisations; Partner and Caregroup. The sign ificance of Boston healthcare institutions upon the regional healthcare sector has increasingly affected the structure of many providers within the community. Numerous academic healthcare centres have continuously sought affiliates to manage the increasing demand for medical services within the community. These providers continue to be faced with expansion challenges seeking to satisfy the market demand. As opposed to other medical providers, the academic centres receive high numbers of referrals from other providers within and outside Boston. These referrals continue to present a challenge to the academic medical providers as they seek expansion through mergers with other facilities. Other providers

Revenue Cycle Improvement in Healthcare Case Study

Revenue Cycle Improvement in Healthcare - Case Study Example Therefore, this manual is a guide that gives an alternative approach to the management of revenue cycle components. The manual includes the best strategies for managing patients at five stages in the hospitals. For instance, the guide will consider best practices for patient access, charge capture, utilization review, and billing and payment accuracy. This approach puts the patient at the focal point of the process of revenue collection (RHIP 2014). The approach also encourages the hospital staff concerned with the process to build better approaches with the patients. The third element of the approach is an established communication with the patients either in written or orally. The creation of a positive experience for patients within the revenue cycle forms a critical step towards the success of the program. As such, the hospitals should train their staff to meet the customer satisfaction points. For example, the workers should answer questions related to the healthcare marketplace. They should also articulate coverage options and discuss the options available for payments. Lastly, the hospital staff should know when or when not to escalate. Therefore, the hospitals should adopt methods that will make the customer aware of all the billing processes at the hospital. The existence of a centralized system gives the patients a one-stop chance for a single contact centre. It also minimizes the possibilities for errors and missing data. There is an understanding that deficiencies in data systems could result in backlogs clear a patient’s financial records. Best practice hospitals should engage in a number of methods that will realize the efficiency of the revenue cycle. First, the hospitals should have a centralized scheduling for receiving patients. Such a step will help the hospitals to have a precise projection of the types of patients that they receive and the details of their payment abilities.