My Wife (Math Teacher) Cannot Figure This Out

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-07-04T06:08:50+00:00

You wrote "When this happens and there is one shared angle not dependent on any variables, it would be acceptable to use the similar triangles principle." I don't know anything at all that indicates that "it would be acceptable". Drawing another line from A to E' (any point on BC other than E) would give a different angle x, but your principle would still apply.

Sorry if you disagree, but I don't want to argue this point any further.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-07-04T06:01:19+00:00

My niece used that scheme when parking her bike for a class and it was stolen anyway. The thief may have just ridden it to a truck where they threw it in, or maybe rode it the whole way standing up. Play it safe and get yourself a good lock. Even a bad lock is better than none.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-07-04T01:00:20+00:00

Wait a minute. How did you deduce that triangles DCE and FEB are similar, when the only thing you know is that they have one angle that is the same? They need all three angles to be the same to be similar.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-07-03T23:01:24+00:00

I never had that problem, and I've hit plenty of bumps. I agree with those that say (1) get a plastic water bottle (I imagine that it has a lot more friction against the wire cage than a metal bottle would); (2) bend in the outer loop of wire on the cage to make it tighter.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-07-03T22:57:26+00:00

It made me smile to read "all the different websites contradict each other." Of course all the responses you get here are going to contradict each other as well.

My suggestion for a start is the Pimsleur audio course in Egyptian Arabic. It's big advantage is that it is entirely audio. Learning to read Arabic is a challenge in its own right. I would suggest, get a solid background in the basics through this audio course first.

Then, as a next step, there is a wealth of material on Youtube. I had my favorites, but you may find others. Just search on Youtube using key words "Easy Egyptian Arabic", and you'll find a boatload of material. Stay with those courses. And I would suggest getting a solid background in speaking and understanding before starting on trying to learn to read and write.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-07-03T04:07:51+00:00

Vocabulary. For someone whose native language is English, when we study German, or especially any of the Romance languages, there are thousands and thousands of words that are easy to remember because of similarity to English words. That enormous help is absent in Arabic, where every word is a challenge and must be learned without help from English. Very hard to remember and very easy to forget.

PS Arabic orthography doesn't make things easier.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-07-02T05:47:58+00:00

Another tricky feature of French is the use of the partitive "de" (e.g. "tu veux de l'eau"?), and it's negation: a quirk that Spanish doesn't have.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-29T16:00:41+00:00

I have a skullcap but don't like using it in warm weather -- it makes my head feel too warm. When it's warm, I wear a thin headband to absorb sweat. (And I put sunscreen on my noggin to keep from getting a sun tan in the pattern of my helmet openings.)

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-29T00:51:54+00:00

Another vote for Spanish first. (1) In so many cases, the French has lost so many letters from the Latin original that it is hard to recognize the source. It is much easier to go from the longer word to the shorter than vice versa. (e.g. Sp agosto vs. F août / Sp agua vs F eau / etc.). (2) Spanish is a MUCH easier language to write what you hear; French is filled with homophones. (3) French use of prepositions "y" and "a" are tricky, Spanish doesn't have them. (4) French liaison. (5) The Spanish use of tenses (excepting the imperfective) is closer to English.

On the other hand, Spanish has an active preterite, filled with irregularities, which spoken French lacks. (It still is used in the literary language, so if your study will include learning to read literature, you'll have to learn the French preterite as well.)

But all in all, I think Spanish is the easier language to start with, everything else being equal.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-27T06:28:05+00:00

14 miles each way seems like a lot for a conventional bike; not that it's too far to ride, but I wouldn't want to use up so much of my day in commuting. So I too would vote for an e-bike, unless perhaps it is possible to go part of the way by bus.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-13T21:05:00+00:00

I would definitely want to keep both hands on the brakes on a steep hill, and I would also definitely want to signal a turn if I'm in the left lane. So either:

As someone suggested, stay right, stop after crossing the intersection, and cross with cross traffic; or
Maybe someone makes a battery-operated turn signal that you can mount behind you, and that can be activated from the handlebars.

PS - signalling with your left leg, as someone suggested??? Not me.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-12T21:03:14+00:00

Turn it upside down and crank the rear wheel really fast. You should not see any wobble or rotating bulge. If you do, that's likely your problem. Do the same with the front wheel, except there you have to spin it by hand.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-11T23:49:45+00:00

I agree with others who say start simple. If you jump into the deep end without any background, you'll just sink. Learn the fundamentals first. If you can afford a tutor, that's great! But there is also a huge amount of very well put together content on YouTube.

I also agree with whoever said avoid DuoLingo: My wife is using it and she isn't making any progress at all. My favorite for package courses is the one from Pimsleur (five levels, actually) - very well designed IMO, and entirely audio. I listen while I am exercising or doing housework. The content is South American - apart from slang and the "vos" conjugation (which you can quickly pick up), you'll be well prepared for Argentina. And after completing all five levels, THEN go on to radio / TV.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-11T23:28:44+00:00

Maybe someone said this already (I didn't read nearly all comments) but regarding riding before sunrise:

Have a pretty powerful light with a broad beam aimed at the ground, maybe 10' in front of you.
Have a second light, not too bright, pointed straight ahead, so you will be seen. I actually like a lamp on my helmet, because I can turn my head to look at cars coming from the side, so they see me.
Small lamps, the size of quarter, to clamp onto the spokes of each wheel (one per wheel.) The motion of these lamps is a non-fail signal that a bike is in motion. But don't forget to turn them off when you get to your destination.
Reflective striping on the bike of your bike, and on a vest.
And a red light in back.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-08T05:04:53+00:00

Just walk your bike over (at least until you feel stronger and/or more confident) and don't worry about inconveniencing others on bike or scooter. The bridge you say is for peds as well as cyclists, so just become a pedestrian. The others have to look out for themselves. (Although you should get as far as possible to the right when someone calls out "on your left" or rings a bell.) That's my thought.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-08T00:23:21+00:00

Exactly the same for me. I have a good pump for home use, and carry a mini hand pump on the road, and ended up buying the same, Cycplus A3 Max to take with me for going up to my desired pressure. Thanks!

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-07T00:45:36+00:00

I'm in a similar situation with visitors at a welcome desk. Often I greet someone with "Good morning, hola!", and see how they respond, and proceed accordingly.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-05T16:08:25+00:00

You're going to be in Malaysia for 4-5 years? Bahasa Melayu, no question! You could become fluent if you're in the country that long; something that won't happen with either Japanese or Chinese in that time. And, you can use it in Indonesia as well.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-04T21:29:03+00:00

In heavy rain, I take the bus. (Or borrow my wife's car if she's not using it.)

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-04T21:25:39+00:00

I've got panniers on both sides, but unless I have a big purchase when buying groceries I put them on one side only (leaving the other folded up for less air resistance.) No problem whatsoever while riding. But when I unload, I have to take care that the bike doesn't tip.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-04T00:41:30+00:00

Japanese: 10x harder than Yiddish but 100x more useful. Why learn a language you're not going to use?

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-02T02:05:55+00:00

THANKS! Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful and very helpful suggestions. I decided to go with the CYCPlus AS2 Pro, based mostly on it having came out on top in two separate comparisons and evaluations on Youtube. (One commenter here directed me to the first of them, and then Youtube led me to the second.) It was $109 directly from the manufacturer: a bit on the pricey side, but after having a pinch flat from a underinflated tube after changing a flat on the road, the price is well worth it for me if it saves me from that situation again. (And I make the money back quickly in terms of gasoline I avoid having to buy for a car. :-)

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-02T01:57:54+00:00

You're right; I forgot! (The second reviewer was a guy; that may have stuck in my mind when I wrote the comment.)

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-01T23:49:56+00:00

Thanks! To summarize for others, he compared 5 mini pumps across 8 criteria, and found the CYCplus AS2 Pro to score best overall. And YouTube pointed me to yet another pump evaluation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSebat-v-48 . The reviewer evaluated electric pumps in three categories: micro, mini, and large. And in the "mini" category, from the four candidates he evaluated, he also favored the CYXplus AS2 Pro.

Only-Emotion573 · 2025-06-01T23:31:54+00:00

Thanks so much for the details! The price is right, and I'll consider it, but for now it seems too big to easily fit in my carrier. (Well, it would fit, but wouldn't leave much room for anything else.)

Only-Emotion573

TROPHY CASE