Notes

The narrator of the poem "A Psalm of Life" is adamant that life is not an empty dream, but is instead real and earnest.  He begs the psalmist not to tell him "in mournful numbers" about the emptiness of life.  Instead, he encourages the idea "that each to-morrow, Find us farther than to-day."  He believes in life as a journey.  The narrator also encourages a heroic approach to life.  His approach to life is a positive one, and one which is full of hope and valor.  He does not see any emptiness in life.  Instead, he sees it as being full of possibility. Leaving behind a great legacy is also important to the narrator.  One who lives life as if it is empty will not leave behind such a legacy.  Though bodies will turn to dust, souls will live on.  Legacies will also live on.

In chapter 3, Ponyboy, a Greaser, and Cherry, a Soc, are walking to pick up a car so that the boys could take them home after going to a movie. At first, as he talks with Cherry, Ponyboy is thinking how similar Greasers and Socs must be if the girls are typical Socs. He begins to think that maybe the only difference between them is money. Cherry, however, thinks it is more than money and speaks of how differently the two groups act and think. Ponyboy then considers that the difference is not really money but that the difference between the two groups is tied up in emotions and feelings. According to Ponyboy, Greasers and Socs are different because: "[Socs] don't feel anything and [Greasers] feel too violently" The two discuss how the Socs are always so busy striving to gain more things that they have no room left for feelings. By comparison, the Greasers, Ponyboy thinks, always have it so much tougher, always wanting for more and so they feel things much more intensely.

Readers who have read all three novels will all have differing views on the messages within them. In answering the question "Who is Meggie Cleary in The Thorn Birds  most like in The Kite Runner ?" students are being asked to identify and extrapolate similarities and challenges in common. For example Meggie and Baba are both parents so there's a simple place to start; a student could start by just looking at the parenting experience of each character. Was it difficult and disappointing at times? Or was the experience of the parent joyful and rewarding? In the case of Meggie and Baba, it would seem disappointment and even surprise are true. For example Meggie is unlucky in love twice over, once when Ralph leaves her in order to remain in the priesthood and also when her son by Ralph becomes a priest and drowns when still quite young—so there is bitter sorrow there and also unfulfilled dreams. Meggie's daughter Justine, who is fiercely independent but perhaps a disappoi...

The seven wonders of the ancient world include the following: the Pyramids of Giza,  the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Statue of Zeus in Greece,  the Mausoleum of Halicarnassas, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Only one of these, the Great Pyramid of Giza, still survives. (Some historians say the Hanging Gardens never really existed.) All seven wonders were chosen as works of architectural importance that were those most often commented on by ancient travelers who wrote about their journeys. Since most of the writers were Greek or Greek speaking and from the Middle East or Mediterranean area, they focused on structures in that area, and emphasized Greek accomplishments: five of the seven wonders (all but the pyramids and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon) are Greek. 

This is a good question, as it deals with a potentially tricky part of the text. While it's true that Macbeth isn't directly related to King Duncan and so seems an unlikely pick for the throne, it's important to remember that Macbeth was wildly popular with the king at the time and had proved himself recently on the battlefield.  The play opens at the tail end of a battle between King Duncan's forces and Macdonwald. During the course of the fighting, Macbeth distinguishes himself by defeating Macdonwald and showing great courage, and King Duncan is so impressed that he names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. This unexpected promotion signals Macbeth's growing popularity with the monarch, and it is this growing political clout that allows Macbeth to jockey himself into consideration for the crown. As such, while Macbeth does not have a claim to kingship via relation to the king, he has won the king's favor and proven himself to be a capable leader, at least in military te...

The three sources of law correspond with the three co-equal branches of U.S. government (legislative, executive, and judicial), which exist both on the federal level and within each of the states. Before we get there, a little background: the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land.  The U.S. Constitution creates the three branches of our government, grants them specific powers, and by way of the Amendments enumerates various constitutional rights. The U.S. Constitution derives its power from the states, which each have their own constitutions that follow a similar structure. Under the 10th Amendment, any powers not specifically given to the federal government are reserved to the states. The U.S. Constitution is the ultimate source of law nationwide, and each state constitution is the ultimate source of law within that particular state. After constitutional sources of law, we look to the three branches of government, which each have lawmaking powers in their own right. The le...

The Pacific War was more of a "war of distance" than the European Theater of World War II.  This is true because of the Pacific Ocean.  This vast ocean separated the United States from Japan in such a way that much of the fighting took place on the open seas.  Hawaii is over 4,000 miles from Japan.  Guam, an American colony, was over 2,500 miles from mainland Japan. The Pacific War was fought over the ocean with engagements on strategic islands in which airstrips could be constructed.  Only late in the war did the United States approach mainland Japan. The European Theater of the war was much smaller in scope.  The distance between London and Berlin is merely 678 miles.  Ground forces were much more important to the movement on the European front in World War II. Even the fighting in North Africa was a short distance to the enemies in Italy (just over 600 miles.)  When the Allied forces finally crossed the English Channel in 1944 to meet German forces in France, the distance ...

`(x+1)/(x+6)+1/x=(2x+1)/(x+6)` LCD is `x(x+6)` Multiply all the terms of the equation by LCD and simplify, `x(x+6)((x+1)/(x+6))+x(x+6)(1/x)=x(x+6)((2x+1)/(x+6))` `x(x+1)+(x+6)=x(2x+1)` `x^2+x+x+6=2x^2+x` `x^2+2x+6=2x^2+x` `x^2+2x+6-2x^2-x=0` `-x^2+x+6=0` Factorize the above equation, `-1(x^2-x-6)=0` `(x^2+2x-3x-6)=0` `(x(x+2)-3(x+2))=0` `(x+2)(x-3)=0` use the zero product property, `x+2=0`  or `x-3=0` `x=-2`   or `x=3` Let's check the solutions by plugging them in the original equation, For x=-2, `(-2+1)/(-2+6)+1/(-2)=((2(-2)+1))/(-2+6)` `(-1)/4-1/2=(-3)/4` `-3/4=-3/4` It's true. For x=3, `(3+1)/(3+6)+1/3=(2(3)+1)/(3+6)` `4/9+1/3=7/9` `7/9=7/9` It's true. So, the solutions of the equation are 3 and -2 .

The first step you need for this assignment is to understand the context of the letters.  Let’s start with Malvolio in Twelfth Night .   Oh, poor, misunderstood Malvolio!  He is the butt of all of the jokes in Lady Olivia’s house.  Malvolio gets a letter that he thinks is from Olivia, the lady of the house.  It was really Mary, Toby, and Andrew messing with him.  They wrote the letter to get back and him for telling them what to do. 'If this fall into thy hand, revolve. In my stars I am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em. Thy Fates open their hands; let thy blood and spirit embrace them … (Act 2, Scene 5) Thinking it will win Olivia's heart, Malvolio does what the letter says, treating people rudely and dressing up in yellow stockings, cross-gartered.  I would explain to Malvolio that even though this is a terrible trick, they didn’t mean anything by it.  They were just playing a j...

Tall Boy looked crushed and beaten after his spear failed to take down the leader of the Long Knives. His failure caused his family and the people of his tribe to be captured by the Long Knives. In Chapter 16, Tall Boy's people decided to take a last stand against the Long Knives. Despite his injury, Tall Boy insisted on being part of the effort. Although his right hand was now useless, he felt that he could do justice with his left one. He had been practicing with his left arm and was confident that he could do his part to take down the leader of the Long Knives. However, when the moment came, Tall Boy's lance missed its target. Instead of flying straight towards the enemy, it "wobbled and then curved upward," striking the branch of a tree and then falling broken at the foot of the leader's horse. This was a humiliating moment for Tall Boy. When he ran past Bright Morning, he "no longer looked like a warrior." Instead, he looked "crushed and beaten...

You need to use the following trigonometric subtraction formula to prove that `sin(pi/2 - x) = cos x` , such that: `sin(a - b) = sin a*cos b - sin b*cos a` Considering` a = pi/2` and ` b = x` , yields: `sin(pi/2 - x) = sin(pi/2)*cos x - sin x*cos(pi/2)` You need to remember that the value of sine function at `pi/2` is maximum, hence `sin(pi/2) = 1` . You also need to remember that `cos(pi/2) = 0` . Replacing 1 for `sin(pi/2)` and 0 for `cos(pi/2)` in subtraction formula above, yields: `sin(pi/2 - x) = 1*cos x - sin x*0` Since the product  `sin x*0 = 0` , yields: `sin(pi/2 - x) = cos x` Hence, the equality `sin(pi/2 - x) = cos x ` is verified by using the subtraction trigonometric formula `sin(a - b) = sin a*cos b - sin b*cos a.`

In Michael Pollan's Cooked , the author, motivated by a desire to cook healthier food for his family and reduce their reliance on large corporations, uncovers the physical processes that create food. His central idea is that cooking is a "defining human activity" (page 5). By this, he means that cooking is at the center of the development of our civilization. It not only keeps our bodies healthy and active, it also creates communities and is an important shared activity. In fact, he says that "cooking... is one of the most interesting and worthwhile things we humans do" (page 11). His questions are motivated by the desire to have "a deeper understanding of the natural world and our species' peculiar role in it" (page 2).  As the author regards cooking as so vital to our lives, he is perplexed by what he calls the Cooking Paradox--the fact that we spend more time watching food being prepared on television than actually preparing it. People are rivet...

This 2014 article by Jordan Shapiro focuses on products made by Amplify Learning, a company specializing in digital products designed to integrate technology with educational goals. Shapiro admits some skepticism about this fad of “edutainment,” but the article largely praises game-based learning and Amplify’s products specifically. The CEO of Amplify, Joe Klein, comments that the value of these products lies in students using them in their free time when they would otherwise be playing non-educational games. The company recruits game developers from the commercial world, knowing that if a game is not fun, the user will not continue to play, and all educational value will be lost. Shapiro cites as a benefit that many of these games are designed for students to learn through exploration, experimentation, repetition, and trial and error. These formats are supported by current research on best practices in education. More and more school districts are implementing curriculum and instructi...

Chris McCandless learned to make a leather belt and other leather products from Ronald Franz.   An accomplished leatherworker, Franz taught Alex the secrets of his craft; for his first project McCandless produced a tooled leather belt, on which he created an artful pictorial record of his wanderings. McCandless met Franz while he (McCandless) was wandering around the Salton Sea area of California.  Franz took an immediate liking to McCandless and took the young wanderer under his wing for a bit.  At first, Franz couldn't understand why McCandless would hitchhike around the country, and Franz encouraged McCandless to "make something of his life."  McCandless politely told Franz to not worry about him, and from there the two men became quite good friends.  In fact, Franz even offered to adopt McCandless as his grandson.  McCandless dodged the question by saying that they would talk about it later.   McCandless, uncomfortable with the request, dodged the question: “We’ll tal...

Georg's and Ulrich's family have been fighting over a piece of land for generations. Ulrich's grandfather wins the land in a lawsuit, but Georg's family continued to poach upon it, regardless of the determination of the court. In a sense, both men have continuously attempted to own and tame the land. This land is in the forest. It is wild. These men have attempted to own, cultivate, and rule over this piece of wild land. They have attempted to regulate the land with their civilized laws and notions of "owning land." But this is nature. It seems illogical to impose a law on something that is inherently wild. So, the "civilized" Georg and Ulrich are the interlopers. They are trying to impose their way of life onto nature itself.  They've spent their lives fighting each other, each thinking that his opponent is the interloper. But nature (the wolves) show that both men have been interloping on their (wolves') land. So, it is morbid but logical t...

Race and race baiting are used to win the votes of the white working class. The author cites the work of Princeton political scientist Larry Bartels, who has shown that working-class incomes have grown six times as quickly under Democratic administrations than they have during Republican administrations (page 8). Therefore, as the author writes, "dog whistle politics is critical to the GOP's success" (page 8). The Republicans do not generally offer political and economic policies that benefit the working class, so they must sway them with coded racial appeals in the form of what the author calls "dog whistle politics." The author traces this development back to the 1960s and 1970s, when Richard Nixon first broke apart the New Deal coalition of white northern liberals, Northern working-class people, Southern African-Americans, and Southern Democrats. The Republicans broke apart this coalition, which had held from the 1930s through 1960s, by sewing the seeds of r...

At the beginning of the story, Waverly notes that she learned the art of "invisible strength" from her mother when she was six years old. If Waverly doesn't complain or ask for the salted plums, her mother will buy them. Her silence gives her an advantage. Her mother compares this strength to the wind. As Waverly is learning chess strategies, she adds, "I discovered that for the whole game one must gather invisible strengths and see the endgame before the game begins." Knowing these strategies beforehand is a distinct advantage. To increase that advantage, it is best to remain "silent." In other words, Waverly must be patient and not let her opponent see her being anxious, worried, or uneasy. She must have a good temperament and a better poker face. The less her opponent knows, the better off she will be: I also found out why I should never reveal "why" to others. A little knowledge withheld is a great advantage one should store for future us...

Indefinite integral follows the formula: `int f(x) dx = F(x)+C` where: `f(x)` as the integrand function `F(x)` as the antiderivative of `f(x)` `C ` as constant of integration. To evaluate the given integral problem: `int (e^x)/(1-e^(2x))^(3/2) dx` or `int (e^xdx)/(1^2-(e^x)^2)^(3/2)` , we may apply u-substitution by letting: `u =e^x`  then  `du = e^x dx` . Plug-in the values, the integral becomes:  `int (e^xdx)/(1^2-(e^x)^2)^(3/2) =int (du)/(1^2-(u)^2)^(3/2)`  In that form, it resembles one of the formulas from the integration table. It follows the integration formula for function with roots: `int dx/(a^2-x^2)^(3/2)= x/(a^2sqrt(a^2-x^2))+C` By comparing `a^2 -x^2` and `1^2 -u^2` , we determine the corresponding values as: `a=1 ` and `x=u` . Applying the integration formula, we get: `int (du)/(1^2-u^2)^(3/2) =u/(1^2sqrt(1^2-u^2))+C`                       `=u/(1sqrt(1-u^2))+C`                       `=u/sqrt(1-u^2)+C` Plug-in `u =e^x` on  `u/sqrt(1-u^2)+C` , we get the indefinite integral...

A binomial series is an example of infinite series. It is a series that is only convergent when we have `|x|lt1` and with a sum of `(1+x)^k `  where k is any number. To apply binomial series in determining the Maclaurin series of a given function `f(x) = (1+x)^k` , we may apply the formula: `(1+x)^k = sum_(n=0)^oo (k(k-1)(k-2)...(k-n+1))/(n!) x ^n`  or `(1+x)^k = 1+kx +(k(k-1))/(2!)x^2+(k(k-1)(k-2))/(3!)x^3+(k(k-1)(k-2)(k-3))/(4!)x^4+...` To evaluate the given function` f(x) = sqrt(1+x^3)` , we may apply the radical property: `sqrt(x)= x^(1/2)` . The function becomes: `f(x) =(1+x^3)^(1/2)` or `f(x) =(1+x^3)^0.5` To apply the aforementioned formula for binomial series, we may replace "`x` " with "`x^3` " and "k" with "`0.5` ". We let: `(1+x^3)^0.5 = sum_(n=0)^oo (0.5(0.5-1)(0.5-2)...(0.5-n+1))/(n!) (x^3) ^n` `=sum_(n=0)^oo (0.5(-0.5)(-1.5)...(0.5-n+1))/(n!) x^(3n)` `=1+0.5x^(3*1) +(0.5(-0.5))/(2!)x^(3*2)+(0.5(-0.5)(-1.5))/(3!)x^(3*3)+(0.5(-0.5)(-...

There are three main reasons for the huge impact of Luther's work throughout Europe, which ushered in the Protestant Reformation. First, Luther took advantage of a relatively new technology, the printing press. The rapid growth of this technology, especially in the 16th century, allowed the quick dissemination of his work throughout Europe. Luther also quickly translated his theses from Latin into German, so they could be read and understood by a wider audience. Second, people in Europe had already begun to grow tired of papal corruption and some of the questions Luther raised, such as why the pope didn't finance his lavish building projects out his own wealth, resonated with the common people. Third, Frederick, the elector of Saxony and Luther's ruler, objected to the fact the pope was selling indulgences in Saxony to finance building projects in Rome, taking money out of the province that Frederick felt was needed there. Therefore, Frederick supported Luther against the p...

Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones feels sorry for Roger because she sees him out alone late at night with his face dirty.  She understands that he is not a hardened criminal.  He is just a kid who made a bad choice and has no role models. Mrs. Jones decides to be a role model for Roger.  When he asks her if she is going to turn him in, she says she won’t and tells him to wash his face.  She seems to feel sorry for him and want to offer him guidance. He looked as if he were fourteen or fifteen, frail and willow-wild, in tennis shoes and blue jeans. The woman said, “You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face. Are you hungry?” Mrs. Jones confides in Roger that she has made some choices she is not proud of.   She tells him she was young once too.  Her reflection helps bring Roger out of his shell. “… You thought I was going to say, but I didn’t snatch people’s pocketbooks. Well, I wasn’t going to say that.” Pause. Silence. “I ...

When sodium reacts with water, the following chemical reaction takes place: `2 Na(s) + 2H_2O (l) -> 2NaOH (aq) + H_2 (g) + heat` The sodium atoms react with water in an exothermic reaction to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Heat is also released in this process. Similarly, when magnesium reacts with water, the following chemical reaction takes place: `Mg(s) + 2H_2O (l) -> Mg(OH)_2 (aq) + H_2 (g)` Magnesium atoms do not react as readily with water as sodium atoms. Magnesium atoms react with hot water to form magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.  Sodium and magnesium are metals and are capable of forming ionic bonds. The atoms of these metals lose electrons to form cations, which form ionic bonds with the hydroxide anions of water molecules. In this process, metal atoms lose electrons and hydroxide anions gain them and all the cations and anions obtain fully-filled electronic configurations. Hope this helps.  

Bernard Malamud's short story "The First Seven Years,"  is about a middle-aged Jewish man named Feld who must come to grips with his daughter Miriam's independence. Feld wishes for his daughter to get a college education, which Miriam does not want to pursue. Failing that, he wants her to date and possibly marry a young man named Max. Malamud reveals Feld's attitude toward Max in the story's first paragraph: Neither the shifting white blur outside nor the sudden deep remembrance of the snowy Polish village where he had wasted his youth could turn his thoughts from Max the college boy (a constant visitor in his mind since early that morning when Feld saw him trudging through the snowdrifts on his way to school), whom he so much respected because of the sacrifices he had made throughout the years—in winter or direst heat—to further his education. Obviously, Feld feels a certain admiration toward Max. Like himself, Max knows the value of a good education. Feld be...

According to David Sussman in his 2004 article "What's Wrong with Torture?" (in Philosophy and Public Affairs ), torture is morally objectionable in a way that other forms of coercion are not, and he says that the use of torture demands a particularly high burden of justification. Here is the crux of his argument: "I argue that torture forces its victim into the position of colluding against himself through his own affects and emotions, so that he experiences himself as simultaneously powerless and yet actively complicit in his own violation. So construed, torture turns out to be not just an extreme form of cruelty, but the pre-eminent instance of a kind of forced self-betrayal, more akin to rape than other kinds of violence characteristic of warfare or police action." In other words, torture involves making the victim turn against him or herself in a form of self-betrayal that Sussman compares to the type of violation that rape victims experience. He differenti...

In the book, Paulsen tears his kneecap before his sled shoots off the edge of a frozen waterfall. To make matters worse, Paulsen then drops twenty feet and lands on his injured knee on a frozen pond, just beneath the waterfall. After a brief loss of consciousness, Paulsen begins to realize his grave danger. He is bleeding profusely and is unable to get to his feet. By his calculations, he is at least twenty miles from home and about eight or nine miles from the closest human dwelling. Paulsen is frightened and worries that he will die out in the cold. As he contemplates his fate, he notices Obeah, one of his dogs, looking down at him from the top of the waterfall. Usually, sled dogs do not go back for their masters or mushers, but Obeah drags the other dogs down an embankment until they reach Paulsen. The dogs bring Paulsen's sled to him, while another dog, Duberry, begins to lick and clean the wounds on Paulsen's leg. Because of his dogs, our protagonist is able to muster up t...

Rainsford's fall from the yacht is caused by his lunging for his pipe, which is knocked from his mouth as it strikes a rope after he leaps upon a rail.  Sanger Rainsford and his friend Whitney travel on a yacht through a moonless night as they are on their way to hunt jaguars "up the Amazon." During an evening conversation, Rainsford and Whitney disagree on their perspectives about hunting these jaguars. Rainsford has no concern whatsoever for the prey that he hunts, while Whitney speculates about the fear that such prey must feel. After this conversation (which acts as foreshadowing), Whitney retires for the night while Rainsford stays on deck since he is not sleepy. "I'm going to smoke another pipe up on the afterdeck," he tells Whitney. As he relaxes with his "favorite brier," Rainsford is startled by "an abrupt sound." He hears this sound repeated, a sound that he recognizes immediately as the firing of a gun. Then, in his effort to s...

`ln40+2ln(1/2) + lnx` First, apply the logarithm rule `log_b (a^m)=m*log_b(a)` . `= ln40 + ln(1/2)^2 + ln x` `=ln40+ ln(1/4) + lnx` And, apply the rule `log_b(m*n) = log_bm +log_b n` . `= ln (40 * 1/4*x)` `=ln (10x)` Therefore,  `ln40+2ln(1/2) + lnx=ln(10x)` .

To evaluate the integral `int tan^6(3x) dx` , we apply u-substitution by letting: `u =3x` then ` du = 3 dx` or ` (du)/3 = dx` . Plug-in the values, we get: `int tan^6(3x) dx =int tan^6(u) * (du)/3`  Apply the basic properties of integration: `int c*f(x) dx= c int f(x) dx` . `int tan^6(u) * (du)/3= 1/3int tan^6(u) du` Apply integration formula for tangent function: `int tan^n(x)dx = (tan^(n-1)(x))/(n-1)- int tan^(n-2)(x)dx` . `1/3int tan^6(u) du =1/3 *[(tan^(6-1)(u))/(6-1)- int tan^(6-2)(u)du]`                              `=1/3*[(tan^(5)(u))/(5)- int tan^(4)(u)du]` Apply another set integration formula for tangent function on `int tan^(4)(u)du` . `int tan^(4)(u)du =(tan^(4-1)(u))/(4-1)- int tan^(4-2)(u)du`                           `=(tan^(3)(u))/(3)- int tan^(2)(u)du` For the integral of `int tan^(2)(u)du` , we may apply integration formula:` int tan^2(x) dx = tan(x)-x+C` . `int tan^(2)(u)du =tan(u)-u +C` Applying `int tan^(2)(u)du =tan(u)-u +C` , we get: `int tan^(4)(u)du =(tan^(3)(u...

The Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford greatly enflamed sectional tensions between the North and the South. By declaring that Dred Scott was not entitled to his freedom, even though he had lived in Wisconsin territory for a time, the Court basically invalidated the Missouri Compromise, which declared territories north of the 36'30 line closed to slavery. This decision thus outraged many Northerners, who were convinced that a "slave power" conspired to spread the institution throughout the nation despite the opposition of the North. (A majority of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice Roger Taney, was pro-slavery.) It even threatened the doctrine of "popular sovereignty" proposed by Northern Democrats like Stephen Douglas as a solution to the issue of the expansion of slavery. Southerners no longer saw this as a valid political position, and rejected Douglas when he attempted to make it part of the Democratic Party platform in the presid...

The sight of the kingfisher awakens Brian to the idea that he, too, can attempt to catch and eat fish: Sitting on one limb was a blue bird with a crest and sharp beak, a kingfisher—he thought of a picture he had seen once—which left the branch while he watched and dove into the water. It emerged a split part of a second later. In its mouth was a small fish, wiggling silver in the sun. It took the fish to a limb, juggled it twice, and swallowed it whole. Fish. Of course, he thought. There were fish in the lake and they were food. And if a bird could do it... This happens in Chapter 11. Up until this point, Brian has been eating small berries, which were tart and hard to chew, as well as eggs, which were unpleasantly greasy and oily. He craves the kind of food he'd eaten regularly, thoughtlessly, at home: hot dogs at a cookout, turkey at a Thanksgiving dinner. It's clear that Brian craves more nutrition than his current strategies are yielding, and he'll need to learn to fish...

Under the US Constitution, the highest court is the Supreme Court . The role of the Supreme Court is to hear the following: lawsuits between two or more states, cases concerning "ambassadors and other public ministers," cases of appeal, and any cases questioning a point of "constitutional and/or federal law" (United States Courts, "About the Supreme Court" ). The Constitution grants Congress the power to oversee the Supreme Court, and over the years, the number of seats on the court has changed. The Judiciary Act of 1837 established the nine seats held today , including the chief justice and eight associate justices (Federal Judicial Center, "The Supreme Court of the United States and the Federal Judiciary" ). The 13 U.S. Courts of Appeal count as the second type of U.S. courts. If a defendant does not think the decision handed by a district court was correctly guided by the law, the defendant has the right to appeal to the appellate court of th...

From the first paragraph, the reader already notices that the main character does not follow what would be considered common sense.  For instance, in the first line, after London establishes the setting of the story as the Yukon, he notes that the man "turned aside from the main Yukon trail and climbed the high earth-bank, where a dim and little-travelled trail led eastward..."  The man already turns away from conventional wisdom, which would tell him to stay on a more known path in case of emergency, and instead, chooses the lesser-travelled one.  The man seems determined to prove himself against the elements. There is also an instance of foreshadowing in the first paragraph when London describes the setting:  There was no sun nor hint of sun, though there was not a cloud in the sky. It was a clear day, and yet there seemed an intangible pall over the face of things, a subtle gloom that made the day dark, and that was due to the absence of sun. This fact did not worry the ma...

The final stanza in Maya Angelou's poem "Phenomenal Woman" wraps up the poem's assertions about the speaker's status as a woman who exudes power and attracts men without artifice. When Angelou states, "Now you understand / Just why my head's not bowed," she is asserting that she is proud of herself, her body, and her qualities. She doesn't have to resort to drastic means to get attention, and does not "shout," "jump about," or "talk real loud" in order to attract attention to herself. She has such a sense of self-worth that she is able to recognize that it is a privilege for others to see her pass by them. In this way, she defies the stereotypes attached to femininity and rejects the opinions of women who meet the beauty standards of the time and men who may usually expect those standards in the ladies they pursue.  Rather, Angelou continues to assert the natural characteristics that contribute to her extraordinary n...

In Tagore's short story, the postmaster is very concerned with his own welfare. The postmaster has been relocated from Calcutta to the small village of Ulapur.  From the start of the narrative, he is restless.  His interactions with Ratan, a village orphan, interrupt his boredom.  Even though he converses with her, he seems to do so to occupy his time.  He teaches her how to read, more as a way to occupy time at a place where he "had nothing to do."  The postmaster fails to understand the emotional connection Ratan develops to him, something that is tightened when she nurses him back to health when he becomes ill due to the rains. In the meantime, the postmaster's thoughts focus on leaving.  When his leave is granted, he joyfully tells Ratan of his plans.  She asks if she could go with him, and while he does not directly say so, it is clear that he considers it an "absurd idea." As he leaves, the postmaster feels some misgivings about abandoning Ratan. Howev...

a) In this story, the man and woman dance beautifully together at Baba's, appearing to onlookers as if they have always been a couple. True. The name of the beer shack is actually "Baba's Place." The man quietly grabs the woman's hand as she gets down from her stool. By all indications, she had planned on going outside. The man stops her, and they begin dancing instead. The text tells us that "no one paid any attention as long as they were together." The man and woman are said to appear like a "matched team" of "professional Spanish dancers wearing masks." Interestingly, both are wearing emotional masks: they are unwilling to reveal their true selves to each other. b) In this story, the female protagonist's hat is blown away during the boat ride. Even though the man catches it, he does not return it to her because he has disliked it from the first time he saw it on her in Galatoire's. False. While it is true that the man does ...

Like Lincoln, Johnson wanted the former Confederate states brought back into the Union as quick as possible. Johnson did not insist on the Radicals "Ironclad Oath" which prohibited anyone who willingly helped the Confederacy from taking an active role in government.  Johnson realized that this would not only prohibit former Confederate bureaucrats from holding office, but it would also stop former soldiers of the Confederacy from playing an active role in Reconstruction.  Johnson, a resident of East Tennessee before the war and military governor of the state during the conflict, did not like the planter class because he felt as though they dragged the majority of Southerners into the Civil War.  Johnson also believed that the former slaves would be for the planters' interests because of the security provided under the slave system.  Johnson, while desiring free enterprise in the South, wanted to see a system where blacks would continue to work the former plantations for w...

When Mrs. Slade was younger and her husband Delphin was still alive, every day was exciting; however, after her husband's death, she finds being Slade's widow a "dullish business." Mrs. Slade's life now is rather dull because she no longer has "exciting and unexpected obligations," such as preparing impromptu entertainment for her husband's business colleagues and going on international trips as his spouse because he was a corporate lawyer. Now, Alida Slade seeks vicarious excitement by following the activities of her daughter as her chaperone, as does her old friend Grace Ansley. While these two women sit on the parapet looking down on the view of a Roman night that promises a full moon, they visualize each other figuratively "look[ing] through the wrong end of her little telescope." The dramatic irony of this story lies in the misconceptions that the two women have long had about each other since they have viewed one another from the narr...

Romeo’s exclamation shows that he is an impetuous and strong-willed young man. After hearing of Juliet’s death, he immediately decides to commit suicide. By doing this, he is going against social and religious convention. We have already seen Romeo’s readiness to defy tradition. He fell in love with Juliet Capulet, the daughter of his enemy, without a second thought. This aspect of his recklessness is arguably positive. He follows his feelings rather than sanctioned bigotry. By this statement, Romeo also shows his desire to place his fate in his own hands. He defies the “stars,” or fortune itself, and decides to kill himself at Juliet’s grave. The context of this quote is also important, for Romeo has just had a wonderful dream that “presage[d] some joyful news at hand:” I dreamt my lady came and found me dead-- Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think!-- And breathed such life with kisses in my lips, That I revived, and was an emperor. This vision cheers him. It is a strang...

The most important event was the death of Helen Stoner's twin sister two years earlier. It is still vividly imprinted on Helen's mind, especially because the mystery of Julia's death was never solved. When Sherlock Holmes enters the case in order to protect Helen, he inevitably solves the two-year-old "locked-room murder mystery" as well as saving Helen from the same fate as her sister's.  Another event that causes Helen Stoner to fear for her life and to go to Sherlock Holmes for help is her being only recently moved into the room that was occupied by Julia at the time of her agonizing death. Helen doesn't like being there. She can't sleep well in the strange room which keeps reminding her of the night her sister died in her arms. It is because Helen suffers from insomnia in this room, and possibly because she has intuitive suspicions of her stepfather in the room next-door, that she is awake at around three o'clock in the morning when she hears t...

The poem starts out sounding like an homage to great people in history. As the first stanza develops, however, the speaker seems to be saying more about how greatness is born of the connection between generations and the connection between humanity and nature. The great ones remember the soul's history, meaning they understand the past. They have a significant, maybe even spiritual, connection to human history and world history. The "endless and singing" "corridors of light" represent the perpetual enlightenment that is always available for human potential. The energy of the world and the universe runs through that greatness. Everything is connected. In the second stanza, the speaker entwines notions of human life and the natural world. This suggests an inherent connection. There is something ecological or symbiotic about this. Note that in this stanza, the speaker warns: Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother With noise and fog the flowering of the spi...

While the Gilded Age is known for launching achievements from many of the world's most accomplished entrepreneurs, inventors and thinkers, the federal government of the United States has been criticized for its lack of regulatory influence during this area. In fact, the Gilded Age is recognized as an "all-time low" for presidential authority. The President and Federal Authority Throughout the Gilded Age, there was significant corruption at the Congressional and state levels of government, which in turn manifested in economic corruption. The federal government, led by the President of the United States, was criticized as being forgettable and impotent from the end of the Civil War to the end of the Gilded Age. President Andrew Johnson served as a focal point for the national dissatisfaction with federal authority during this time, avoiding impeachment by one Senate vote. The Grant Administration was rife with corruption and the Hayes Presidency began with accusations of el...

Tom Robinson is a respected individual throughout his community and comes from a good family. Link Deas even mentions that he has never had any trouble from Tom Robinson in the eight years he's worked for him. However, once Tom Robinson is accused of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell, the citizens of Maycomb treat him like an outcast. In Chapter 12, Calpurnia takes the children to First Purchase African M.E. and Reverend Sykes takes up a second offering for Tom's family. When Scout asks why they were collecting money for Mrs. Robinson, Reverend Sykes tells her that Helen cannot find any work and she needs the money to take care of their children. The citizens of Maycomb realize that Tom is essentially guilty before he is even tried. A black man's word against the testimony of a white person is futile. No one, except Link Deas, is willing associate with the Robinson family. Therefore, Tom is treated as a guilty man and the citizens neglect him before the trial even begins...

Q:  Which instrument or method can be used to find the volume of a marble? A: Perhaps the easiest way to find the volume of a marble is through  Archimedes's  principle . This is a principle of the displacement of water  that is named after the Greek mathematician Archimedes. This principle states that when an object is fully submerged in water, the volume of water displaced (moved) by the object will be equal to the volume of the object.  The instrument needed is a  graduated cylinder . This is a (usually glass) container that indicates volumes, usually in milliliters (mL). In real terms, this means that when an object is placed into water and fully submerged (covered), the water level will rise by an amount that is equivalent to the volume (size) of the object. The method goes as follows: Measure out an amount of water into a graduated cylinder large enough to fit the marble. Note the volume of water indicated on the graduated cylinder and write it down. Next, place the marble ge...

Although the actual play is based on an Italian story, the society pictured in Shakespeare's sources and Elizabethan society have many features in common. Although the age of consent was lower than it is now, the actual average recorded ages for marriages were early- to mid-twenties. This meant that for a young couple such as Romeo and Juliet to run off and marry when Juliet was only thirteen would have been strikingly unusual. Next, the society of the play is one in which arranged marriages were common. The notion of her parents selecting Paris as a husband for Juliet followed societal norms, and Juliet's running off in secret with Romeo would be perceived as rash and scandalous.  Religion was extremely important in the society of the period. For people of the upper classes, it would have been a scandal for Juliet to have had a romantic relationship outside marriage. Thus, the role of Friar Laurence reflects the religious values of the society. There is a double standard here,...

While Camus himself did not identify as an existentialist, his works have had a significant impact on existentialism, and there are many elements of this philosophy to be found within "The Guest." In order to understand the importance of existentialism to this short story, it is necessary to dissect the major elements of existentialism and discuss how they present themselves throughout Camus's work. Essential Nature According to the tenets of existentialism, there is no essential nature in the world. This means that nature is entirely constructed of the choices each individual makes rather than the result of some inherent order in the universe. Another way to explain this concept is that nothing inherently has meaning other than the meaning and value the individual ascribes to it. Daru laments how little he and his unwanted guest matter to the harsh landscape of the desert, and yet neither of them would have any significant meaning outside of its barren context. While the...

As soon as Elie arrives at the work camp of Buna he goes through a perfunctory medical inspection. The primary purpose of the inspection is to see which prisoners had gold crowns. They would be examined by the dentist who would extract them. Elie avoids the extraction by telling the dentist he is sick. Elie reveals that this dentist had been running a "private traffic" of prisoner's gold. He was hanged by the SS. Soon, however, Franek, a foreman at the electrical warehouse, discovers Elie's gold tooth and demands it. Elie refuses but Franek begins to torment Elie's father. Because the old man is not good at "marching in step," Franek takes the opportunity to beat him every time he takes a misstep. Eventually Elie gives in and agrees to allow Franek to extract the gold crown. Franek laughs and even tells Elie he will take his ration of bread because the boy had kept him waiting. The tooth is pulled by a "famous dentist from Warsaw" in the lavato...

We are asked to graph the function `y=(5x)/(2x+3) ` : The graph has a vertical asymptote at x=-3/2. The graph has a horizontal asymptote at y=5/2. The domain is `RR-{-3/2} ` while the range is ` RR-{5/2} ` . We can rewrite the function using division as `y=(-15)/(4(x+3/2))-5/2 ` . Using the hyperbola y=1/x as the base function, the transformation is a translation 3/2 units left, 5/2 units down, a reflection across the horizontal axis, and a vertical dilation of 15/4. The graph:

The first law of thermodynamics states that matter can be neither created nor destroyed. It is only converted from one form of energy into another. This energy conversion isn’t 100 percent efficient. Some of it is converted into an unusable form. This creates entropy, which is a measure of disorder. The second law of thermodynamics states that with each energy conversion, entropy increases. Living things are considered highly ordered with low entropy. To remain this way, energy must be expended. Over time, the biological processes that maintain this order become less and less efficient. This causes an increase in entropy. Eventually, the process will become so inefficient that an organism dies. The first law is demonstrated through the biological processes themselves. The energy needed to maintain this order is derived from energy conversions. Examples of this are photosynthesis, aerobic respiration, and anaerobic respiration. Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy. ...

By these chapters, Brian has mastered many elements of surviving in the wilderness. He has become successful in catching enough fish to survive on but craves other meat such as squirrel or bird. Brian discovers there are many small, chicken-like birds in the wilderness and attempts to kill some to eat. He soon discovers that the birds are extremely difficult to catch and continuously fool him regarding their location because they are so well camouflaged. They also move extremely fast, causing him to be unsuccessful in catching one. For these reasons, he calls them foolbirds. Eventually, however, he discovers that by focusing on the shape rather than the coloring of the foolbirds, he can in fact successfully hunt them for a meal. When trying to create another name for the birds, consider the agility described by the author or another word for something that is well camouflaged. Sometimes camouflaged is referred to as cloaked. Since the birds are described as chicken-like, a creative nam...

When the unsuspecting Buck is stolen from his owner and sold to become a sled dog, he is taken by surprise; nevertheless, despite his abuse, Buck maintains a sense of pride as he struggles against his captors. After Buck is sold, he is thrown into a baggage car of a train. Stunned, he lies for a while as he knows the sensation of riding on a locomotive. But, after he recovers some, Buck feels "the unbridled anger of a kidnapped king." When a man reaches for Buck's throat, Buck's quickness takes him by surprise as the dog's jaws close upon the man's hand. Buck does not let go until "his senses were choked out of him once more."  After he is subdued, Buck is shoved into a crate. The next day four more "tormentors" come for Buck, and they poke sticks at him: ...[h]e promptly assailed with his teeth till he realized that that was what they wanted. After Buck arrives at the destination, and a man takes a hatchet and damages the crate enough for ...

Adolf Hitler understood the importance of getting his ideology out to the youth of his nation. He did this through his Hitler Youth program and the public education system. This process of indoctrination occurred immediately after his appointment as chancellor. The major feature of Nazi schools was that they were essentially propaganda machines. Teachers were trained in the tenets of National Socialism and were expected to communicate them to their students. Important in this ideology was the pseudoscience of race biology and a doctrine of racism. Germans were taught that Jews were an inferior race and were the cause of many of the nation's problems. Jews were excluded from German schools as teachers and students. German schools were also tasked with the duty of preparing students for war. Physical education took on a new importance as did geography and history. Much of the science curriculum focused on studying the races and biological differences between Aryans and the other race...

The cyclone that strikes in Kate Chopin's story "The Storm" is the objective correlative of the storm of emotions that occurs with Calixta and Alcée. It also provides the occasion for Alcée to take shelter and it is the impetus to their highly emotional encounter. The setting of the cyclone in Chopin's story contributes greatly to the plot because Bôbinot and Bibi are unable to return home for some time until the storm abates. Also, during this storm Alicée Laballière rides in at the gate of Calixta's home and asks if he may take shelter until the storm abates. His presence in her home when Calixta is in a state of high emotion and all alone places this man and woman again into a situation much like the highly charged one at the 'Cadian ball a few years ago: He looked down into her eyes and there was nothing for him to do but to gather her lips in a kiss. It reminded him of Assumption. "Do you remember--in Assumption, Calixta?" he asked in a low voic...

In both A Farewell to Arms and The Grapes of Wrath , the traditional roles of men are abandoned by demoralized men; consequently, the women assume the roles of healers and leaders as they adapt to situations, and they break from traditional roles. In The Grapes of Wrath,  once Pa has lost his land, his sense of identity and pride as the provider is taken from him and he becomes impotent. As a result, Ma progressively asserts her leadership; so, while her power does not really increase, it does become more overt in its expression as Pa loses his independence. Thus, Ma is described as being aware of and accepting her position as healer . . . her position as arbiter. She seemed to know that if she swayed the family shook and if she wavered or despaired the family would fall, the family will to function would be gone. (Chapter 10) Similarly, in  A Farewell to Arms,  Catherine emerges as more courageous than Frederic. Frederic tries to be a hero in the war effort by saving people as an amb...

Clive Staples Lewis was born in 1898 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was a former atheist who became a Christian apologist. One of the great thinkers of our time, he died just before his 65th birthday in 1963. C. S. Lewis described heaven and hell in many of his writings, such as The Pilgrim's Regress , in which he describes hell as a black hole, and The Screwtape Letters , where demons help create an environment of self-centered competitiveness. The Great Divorce  is a novel about heaven and hell. C. S. Lewis mentions hell in The Last Battle  from the Chronicles of Narnia series. He also wrote about heaven and hell in an essay titled "Myth Became Fact." In his essay "Myth Became Fact," C. S. Lewis addresses the arguments of Corineus, who argued that there were no modern Christians--all that was left of Christianity was the vocabulary and emotions that went with it, but the essential doctrines had long ago been abandoned. In Lewis's response, he talks about...

When Buck first hears the call of the wild in the night, he springs to his feet and runs in the direction of the sound, plunging into the forest; he only goes so far, however, before returning to camp and Thornton.  Some time later, Buck is seized by irresistible impulses during the day:  He would be lying in camp, dozing lazily in the heat of the day, when suddenly his head would lift and his ears cock up, intent and listening, and he would spring to his feet and dash away, and on and on, for hours, through the forest aisles. Each time Buck ventures further. One night he hears the call of the wild and pursues it. After he follows the sound into a thicket of trees, Buck nears the source of this sound cautiously. When he arrives at an open place among the trees, Buck spots a timber wolf, who is seated on his haunches with his nose pointed upwards to the night sky.  Buck approaches the wolf in a semi-submissive posture — "the menacing truce that marks the meeting of wild beasts that...

In his day, Ralph Waldo Emerson was something like a rock star. Crowds came to listen to his lectures. Young people hearkened to his message that American society was on the verge of a new age; intellectuals responded to his philosophical ideas, and society in general responded to his optimism. His essay "Self-Reliance" and its appeal to the young people was effected by his arguments that they were on the verge of a new age. In addition, many responded to his optimism and philosophical ideas, ideas about the relationships of humanity, nature, and God. Also popular was his belief that [N]o government or church can explain a man’s heart to him, and so each individual must resist institutional authority. Further, Emerson appealed to young people because he advocated acting from impulses, rather than rules, contending that the "self-reliant will triumph over the tyranny of time." This idea of trusting one's instincts and believing in one's unique talents and pas...

`y'+2xy =10x` To solve, re-write the derivative as `dy/dx` . `dy/dx + 2xy = 10x` Then, bring together same variables on one side of the equation. `dy/dx = 10x - 2xy` `dy/dx = 2x(5 - y)` `dy/(5-y) = 2x dx` Next, take the integral of both sides. `int dy/(5-y) = int 2xdx` `-ln |5-y| +C_1= (2x^2)/2 + C_2` Then, isolate the y. `-ln|5-y| = x^2+C_2-C_1` `ln|5-y|=-x^2- C_2 +C_1` Since C1 and C2 represent any number, express it as a single constant C. `ln|5-y| = -x^2+ C` `e^(ln|5-y|) = e^(-x^2+C)` `|5-y| = e^(-x^2+C)` `5-y = +-e^(-x^2+C)` Applying the exponent rule `a^m*a^n = a^(m+n)` , the right side becomes `5-y = +- e^(-x^2)*e^C` `5-y = +-e^C*e^(-x^2)` `-y = +-e^C*e^(-x^2) - 5` `y = +-e^C*e^(-x^2)+5` Since+-e^C is a constant, it can be replaced by a constant C. `y = Ce^(-x^2) + 5` Therefore, the general solution is  `y = Ce^(-x^2) + 5` .

The judge only asked Pony questions about his personal life and no questions about Bob’s death because the doctor said he was unstable. Randy comes to Pony’s house the day before they have to go before the judge.  Pony has come to a kind of understanding with Randy since he said he didn’t want to fight the greasers anymore.  Randy wants to talk about court.  He tells Pony his dad is upset that he is mixed up in “all this.”  Pony finds Randy’s comment dense.  He feels like, despite Bob’s death, Randy has not been as affected by recent events as much as Pony has. He thought he was mixed up in this? He didn't kill anyone, he didn't get his head busted in a rumble, it wasn't his buddy that was shot down under a street light. Besides, what did he have to lose? His old man was rich, he could pay whatever fine there was for being drunk and picking a fight. (Ch. 11)  Pony’s concern is getting taken away from Darry.  His parents are dead, and he doesn’t want his brother to be declar...

`int e^(4x)cos(2x)dx` To solve, apply integration by parts `int u dv = u*v - int vdu` . In the given integral, the let the u and dv be: `u = e^(4x) `   `dv = cos(2x)dx` Then, take the derivative of u to get du. Also, take the integral of dv to get v. `du = e^(4x)*4dx` `du = 4e^(4x)dx` `intdv = int cos(2x)dx` `v = (sin(2x))/2` Substituting them to the integration by parts formula yields `int e^(4x)cos(2x)dx= e^(4x)*(sin(2x))/2 - int (sin(2x))/2 * 4e^(4x)dx` `int e^(4x)cos(2x)dx= (e^(4x)sin(2x))/2 - int 2e^(4x)sin(2x)dx` For the integral at the right side, apply integration by parts again. Let the u and dv be: `u = 2e^(4x)` `dv = sin(2x)dx` Take the derivative of u and take the integral of dv to get du and v, respectively. `du = 2e^(4x)*4dx` `du = 8e^(4x)dx` `int dv = int sin(2x)dx` `v = -cos(2x)/2` Plug-in them to the formula of integration by parts. `int e^(4x)cos(2x)dx= (e^(4x)sin(2x))/2 - int 2e^(4x)sin(2x)dx` `int e^(4x)cos(2x)dx= (e^(4x)sin(2x))/2 - [2e^(4x)*(-(cos(2x))/2) - int (-...