Use mathematical methods of analysis to understand the requirements of a problem
Use mathematical methods of analysis to understand the requirements of a problem, create an equation or program that allows prediction and interpretation of quantitative elements of the problem and solution (including limitations of each), and critique the resulting mathematical model for accuracy and validity.
- Assemble measurements and data gathered into tables, displays, charts, and simple graphs.
- Starting with a verbally described requirement, generate an appropriate mathematical approach to creating a useful mathematical model for analysis.
Project Directions:
This project will have more meaning to you the more it reflects your real life. However, I am not asking to provide me with your personal information. You can use this to create a budget for your future life based on your plans of a future job, future housing, expenses, etc. I assure you that, should you choose to include personal values, I will be assessing your work only on if it was accurately represented and interpreted. Please work to be realistic so you can gain from the experience. There will never be any judgement made on my part nor any information shared out.
Construct a budget sheet that assists you in analyzing your financial status, set goals, make changes, whatever the case may be. Your sheet should address both regular and unexpected monthly expenses, necessities and luxuries, and any debts/savings plans. Your first sheet should create a baseline budget of your “current/future” expenses (list what you spend/think you will spend each month for each category without regard to if you balance) and then make adjustments to your allotments to create a balanced monthly and yearly budget or one that is more comfortable. Your second sheet should be a monthly tracking sheet for each category that tracks your expenses for one year and compares your actual expenses to your planned budget by category and month. In sheet two enter your first few months you have tracked and continue to track for the next few months. Sheet 3 will be your reflection as described below.
- Provide visually appealing formatting to allow for quick differentiation among the categories and for quick location of individual budget items.
- Provide visually appealing and correct formatting to allow for ease of data entry without disrupting the form or function of the budget. (What if electrical is $150 not $125 a month?)
- Accurately calculate your totals in each category in dollars and percentage of total. (So how much spent on groceries in year?)
- Accurately calculate your final expenses and savings as new credits/debits are added to the table.
- Create one or two charts (graphs) on each sheet that show the budget trends such as expenses and deposits or categories and months.
- Project is turned in properly with correct file name, proper file format, timely, and complete.
Reflection:
- Paragraph I – What did you learn from this process of creating a sheet to model something in your world? Talk about successes and struggles while doing the project.
- Paragraph II – In what other ways in your life might you create another sheet to help you make decisions?
- Paragraph III – Analyze your situation. What do your graphs and tables tell you about your financial habits? Where do you see the need for change? What barriers were there to balancing your budget?
Project due date: May 28, 2020
Grading:
Budget Sheet – Annual balanced budget 40 pts
Budget Sheet – Tracking monthly expenses 40 pts
Reflection Paper 20 pts
Maintain spreadsheet and submit 10 pts
Rubric:
| Excel File | 8 Points | 6 Points | 4 Points | 2 Points | 0 Points |
| Formatting and Labeling: Differentiation among the categories and quick location of a specific assignment | Layout, Borders, Background color, Font, Font size, and Font style all work to differentiate between each category and the final score calculations. Assignments are separated according to category by formatting. Spreadsheet layout makes any and all assignment location easy. | The use of, Borders, Background color, Font, Font size, and Font style are mostly effective to differentiate between each category and the final grade calculation, but there is some visual confusion about the layout. Some hunting is required to locate a specific Assignment, or the labeling of the Assignment is vague or inaccurate. | The use of, Borders, Background color, Font, Font size, and Font style are somewhat effective to differentiate between each category and the final grade calculation, but there is a noticeable visual confusion about the layout. Some hunting is required to locate several specific Assignments, or the labeling of the Assignments are vague or inaccurate. | The use of, Borders, Background color, Font, Font size, and Font style are barely effective to differentiate between each category and the final grade calculation, and there is a great deal of visual confusion about the layout. Most Assignments are mislabeled or vaguely labeled and a great deal of hunting is required to located most assignments | The use of, Borders, Background color, Font, Font size, and Font style are not effective to differentiate between each category and the final grade calculation, and the layout is disorganized and hard to use. The Assignments are hard to impossible to differentiate from each other. |
| Formatting: Ease of Data Entry | Entry of data is easy, cell has correct formatting, and does not cause disruption in the form or function of the workbook. | Data is easy to enter, but some cells do not have proper formatting for the data. The form or function of the workbook is not disrupted. | The form or function of the workbook is disrupted when some data is entered and some cells do not have the proper formatting. | It is very challenging to enter data due to inappropriate formatting or shifts in the form. | The sheet does not function properly, making data entry almost impossible. This can be due to formatting issues or issues with the layout. |
| Accuracy of assignment and category totals | Each individual entry properly displayed and the Category Total accurately reflects the updates to additional and modified entries. | The Category Total is missing or inaccurate for one or two categories. | The category totals are missing or inaccurate for 3 categories. | At least three categories are accurate in value and display. | Less than three categories are accurate in value and display.
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| Accuracy of the Final Budget Values | The Final Budget Values are computed correctly and reflect the updates to additional and modified individual entries. | There are no conditions under which the accuracy of the final total ever deviates more than 3% from the true value. | There are conditions under which the accuracy of the final total deviates between 3% and 6% from the true value. | There are conditions under which the accuracy of the final total deviates between 6% and 10% from the true value/ | There are conditions under which the final total is in error greater than 10% of the true total. |
| Make one or two charts | The charts are completely labeled, including axes, title and legend. They accurately reflect the data in the two indicated categories. | The chart(s) is(are) missing a legend or one of the axis has not been labeled. | The chart(s) is(are) missing two or more labels or legend. | The chart(s) is(are) missing two or more labels or a legend and the chart does not accurately reflect the data in the two indicated categories. | The chart(s) is(are) missing three or more labels. |
| Reflection | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |
| Paragraph I | Reflection is well written in organization and grammatical structure. Demonstrate both deep thought and comprehensive overview of the project. | Reflection is written with poor organization or lacking grammatical structure. Demonstrate some thought and comprehensive overview of the project. | Reflection is written with poor organization and lacking grammatical structure. Demonstrate little thought and no overview of the project. | No reflection submitted | |
| Paragraph II | No reflection submitted | ||||
| Paragraph III | No reflection submitted | Overall impression: 2 pts – solid effort evident 0 pts – no reflection |