The
first group to be given the first chance to parade their topic includes me. We
were a company of mutually interesting people caught in the same challenge to
present a vital component of mathematics, the number system. There were seven
of us with only one boy wearing graded eyeglasses. Our team made an epic
introduction to various mathematical fields. On the first meeting, January 15th
of the year 2014, we started our report with a debate. The question for both
parties states that, “Which system will be efficient and beneficial for the
future?” if I’m not mistaken. The government side fought for the decimal system
while my group, the opposition party, defended the binary system.
From
the government side, Ms. Barbin stood as Prime Minister, Mr. Jala as Deputy
Prime Minister and Ms. Sinamban as Government Whip. I spoke as the Leader of
the Opposition, Ms. Estepa as Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Ms. Francisco
as the Opposition Whip. We started with the government, stating the generalized
significance of decimal system with our everyday lives, I followed with the
equal significance of binary systems in depth with its more beneficial
applications to improving lives. Mr. Jala continued with more specificity in
regards to easier utilization of their system while Ms. Estepa voiced out important
facts and small history of computers. The government whip made a last full talk
of the decimal number system putting important points and details to strengthen
their convictions of decimal system’s more offers of a promising future. The
last speaker, our only upperclassman from BACA, proceeded on questioning the
other side’s statements while justifying the fruits of what binary system had
weaved throughout history for progress of mankind, earning my respect for her impromptu
but well-said and well-presented speech. In the end, the audience favored the
other side. It would not matter to us, especially maybe to our adjudicator, Ms.
Panggoy, but that went really well. Both sides expressed each other’s strengths
and weaknesses, pasts and possible futures, bringing out different perspectives
regarding number systems. We were thankful when our adviser shared more about
these two systems, favoring also the government side.
After
that, we facilitated an
out-of-this-world-but-literally-just-outside-the-classroom game. Each group
were made to keep silent throughout the game. Five places concealed a paper
with different problems regarding different number systems, aiming to translate
the numbers into decimal bases. The trick is, each place is described in
phrases, let alone in fictional styles. Some groups did not complete the
challenge and most of them finished. Nevertheless, it was a new way of learning.
It’s a new way of seeing my classmates united again running, eyes widened,
looking for answers and a small roll of white paper. We might have been a
little harsh or making them do such efforts they’re not used to, but I had fun
watching them solve also. We learned together that day and I hope we made a
good job.
For
the 17th of January, on our second meeting, our 30-minute short film
presentation was viewed by the whole class. It was a really good concept, a
mixture of bittersweet stories involving different people surrounding a very
intelligent new student. He had a female best friend, known to be hated by the
president of their star class and a crush of that envious girl’s best friend. I
played that fan girl role. Other roles like the mysterious teacher and the
cripple sister were in the storyline. It was kind of a
Sherlock-slash-Doctor-Who-slash-G2B film. I don’t think my descriptions fit the
video well but all efforts in making it will be credited to no other that Ms.
Panggoy. She really took the time to finish it in time. The story revolves on
these two best friends who were trying to stop an attempt of bombing the whole
university where they studied. Different codes and cases they went through,
each one involving a different number system. In the end, it was his best
friend all alone who avenge for her beloved dear sister whom the boy
accidentally caused to become a cripple forever. Melodramatic it seems but I
also learned that just as much as a person can continue to strive for attaining
happiness, a person can also keep the hardest pain for a long time especially
when it’s someone special they valued so much that is suffering.
To
continue inspiring my classmates with our topic, we held this awesome game I
thought of. Chos. It was inspired by a game I also played few months before and
improvised some rules in it. We actually have three rounds, but due to lack of
time, we only have two rounds. So in the first round, we took four members from
each group. I dare say it was the most epic of times together with my mates in
class. They were 16 of them in total and we made them align in front. Now,
here’s the thing. I, the game master if it pleases you to call me so, mentioned
a number of either one or zero. The first person mentioned this number and
added another number of either one or zero while the next person repeated the
numbers in proper sequence adding another number of either zero or one. So
imagine these people speaking a chain of numbers composed of only 1 and 0. This
is to recognize binary numbers on a chain. The one who failed to say the wrong
sequence of numbers or simply forgets them will have a consequence, a numerical
twist for that matter. Each one of those who were ruled out in the game sang in
front of the whole class with a number in the lyrics. T’was really refreshing
as I listened to each of them singing, some were shy and some really sang with
feelings. I was enjoying how they really hoped they’d be able to get the
sequence right or wished for the other person to fail. You see, when someone
failed, the next in line gets a new number so it’s fair for everybody. That
goes for a long time, with me waiting for the next person to sing. We were
laughing and cheering and yes, for a second, I appreciate the decimal system for
real. I mean, can you imagine us with having to pay for our food by tens or
ones? I mean, there’s no justice for what could have been if we stick with
zeros and ones. We had a second round, though, with new sets of people when the
remaining four people from the previous round sealed the end of the binary
game. The second round is a little tricky, though. Instead of a single number,
phrases are used, phrases that consisted of any one-digit whole number and a
maximum of three words. Only eight competed for the two seats of winners. So
the battle’s really for those who could memorize easily. And those who knew
their numbers like love songs. :)
After
that, I knew we ended our allotted time to present the number system. But I
learned more than just rehearsing our lines for the debate or shooting scenes
for the short film or enjoying the games or staying up late at night to really
understand the various number systems. According from my previous lessons in Math1
with some little background of ‘The Story of Maths’, the prominent number
systems of mathematics include that of the Chinese, Hindu-Arabic, Egyptian,
Babylonian, Roman, Mayan, Decimal, Binary, Octal and Hexadecimal. Each have
their corresponding bases, history and means of helping mankind navigate in the
world we lived in. I had a hard time expressing in words how we performed but I
know one thing’s for sure. We will be remembered.
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