Assignment 1 reflection (Solving ancient puzzle)

This project made me reflect on how Ancient Egyptian geometry emerged from their need to measure, especially in managing land after the Nile’s floods. I thought about how math continues to play a key role in land and food systems today. In modern times, math is deeply involved in agriculture, from predicting crop yields and optimizing irrigation systems to more complicated problems, such as managing resources like water and soil. Advanced geometry and data analysis help farmers design planting patterns. This reminded me of what I saw in rural France when I went on a trip many years ago. In the highly industrialized agricultural areas, French farmers used GPS systems for farming. Similarly, in land management, math helps calculate areas for conservation, and engineers can plan urban expansion accordingly. 

Also, I believe the relationship between math and food will have a big implication in the future. Algorithmic calculations are used to minimize food waste; geometric principles are applied to packaging to reduce material waste. This is similar to the Egyptians’ application of geometry, who used math to address their own needs.

My teammates, Sahl and Brandon, worked on solving the truncated pyramid problem. My first thought was to break it into small, simple parts, but they introduced much quicker and easier methods. Brandon found a video that explained everything so clearly yet so captive. Seeing their different approaches reminded me of how math encourages different ways of thinking and the power of combining ideas.