Monday, November 15, 2010

Overheating laptop solved

I have a HP laptop (its actually the HP Pavilion dv4000 mentioned in one of my earlier posts). Even though it has a manufacturing defect, its still hanging in there. Now, one of the problems I have with this media center laptop is that it overheats a lot.

I have used compressed air to clean the dust out, but the overheating problem persists. My second resort was to enable to a function called "Speedstep".

What is Speed Step?
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology allows the system to dynamically adjust processor voltage and core frequency, which can result in decreased average power consumption and decreased average heat production.                              -Source: Intel
I was interested in the decreased average heat production. Yes, it may result in reduced performances, but this does not matter in my case.

So, how to enable Speed Step?
1. In the bios, set speedstep to automatic. (can't help with this step as bios screens are different)
2. In Power Setting, change the settings from desktop to mobile.

A Course In Pure Mathematics By Margaret Gow- Thoughts on the book

Basic product information from Amazon.com:

Product Description

For students reading Mathematics, either as part of a general degree or as an ancilliary course for an Honours degree, the subject should be presented in as straightforward a manners as is consistent with a moderate standard of rigour. This course in algebra, co-ordinate geometry and calculus is designed to fulfil these requirements for students at Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology.
The book contains 350 worked examples and 1550 practice examples selected mainly from university examination papers. The practice examples have been carefully graded and some hints are given with the answers so that the book may be used for private study as well as for class work.

From the Back Cover
For students reading Mathematics, either as part of a general degree or as an ancilliary course for an Honours degree, the subject should be presented in as straightforward a manners as is consistent with a moderate standard of rigour. This course in algebra, co-ordinate geometry and calculus is designed to fulfil these requirements for students at Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology.
The book contains 350 worked examples and 1550 practice examples selected mainly from university examination papers. The practice examples have been carefully graded and some hints are given with the answers so that the book may be used for private study as well as for class work.
Initial thoughts
My initial thoughts of the book "A Course in Pure Mathematics" by Margaret Gow are that is a decent book covering content in a logical order. It also has exercises after working through some examples with are always good. The exercises after the examples are not extremely hard (referring to the questions I have done so far) and there are answers present at the back.

There are 25 chapters in the book:
  • Polynomials; The remainder and factor theorems; undetermined coefficients; partial fractions
  • Theory of equations; Inequalities
  • Determinants
  • Limits and infinite series
  • Binomial, exponential and logarithmic series
  • Complex numbers
  • More complex numbers
  • Summation of series
  • Differentiation and applications
  • Integration
  • Expansions in series
  • Coordinate geometry of the straight line and circle
  • The parabola
  • The ellipse and the hyperbola
  • The straight line, curve and conic in polar coordinates
  • Coordinate geometry in three dimensions: The plane and the straight line
  • The sphere
  • The quadric
  • Partial differentiation
  • Application of integration- cartesian coordinates
  • Application of integration- polar coordinates
  • Curvature
  • Differential equations of the first order
  • Linear differentiation equations with constant coefficients
  • Spherical trigonometry
 **Note: This is an incomplete post. It will be updated as I use the book**

Monday, November 8, 2010

2010 Sace exam too easy

Does anyone agree with me that the 2010 SACE exams are so ridiculously easy its not funny? Take physics, maths studies or biology this year and compare it to last year and you'll know what I'm talking about. SACE exams this year are a joke.