Possible Patches
Problem Statement
In this problem, Possible Patches, we were asked to try an find the maximum possible value of specific sized patches from specific sizes of satin. These patches would then be used to make a "quilt" for "Ralph Lauren" so we couldn't use any scraps and sew them together. We were given six different situation, four of which dealt with a 17x22 piece of satin. Each situation is listed below:
- Satin (17x22) Patch (3x5)
- Satin (17x22) Patch (9x10)
- Satin (17x22) Patch (5x12)
- Satin (17x22) Patch (10x12)
- Satin (4x18) Patch (3x5)
- Satin (8x9) Patch (3x5)
As a final and extra step we were asked to experiment with different patch sizes and sizes for satin. I created two different experiments each with a different patch size and a different satin size. Below are the two experiments I created.
- Satin (5x10) Patch (3x5)
- Satin (15x15) Patch (4x4)
Process
My approach for this problem was actually quite simple. I used simple math tools as well such as, a ruler and some graph paper. After that I really just dug into it, because I felt like there wasn't much more I had to think about before hand. I did take it step by step and problem by problem though. I tried not to rush through it. I went down the list of questions following each situation and restriction precisely and making sure that I felt confident about the maximum number of pieces, which I guess I can say was the hardest part. After finishing each situation, as a final step, I would ask other people what they got as their answer and hopefully match it with mine. But if they got a different it was often hard to try and figure out what they did differently without fully retracing or copying their answer on paper.
Solution
Here are the number of patches I could fit into each piece of satin:
- Satin (17x22) - Patch (3x5) - # of Patches (22)
- Satin (17x22) - Patch (9x10) - # of Patches (2)
- Satin (17x22) - Patch (5x12) - # of Patches (5)
- Satin (17x22) - Patch (10x12) - # of Patches (2)
- Satin (4x18) - Patch (3x5) - # of Patches (3)
- Satin (8x9) - Patch (3x5) - # of Patches (4)
- Satin (5x10) - Patch (3x5) - # of Patches (3)
- Satin (15x15) - Patch (4x12) - # of Patches (3)
In this problem, Possible Patches, we were asked to try an find the maximum possible value of specific sized patches from specific sizes of satin. These patches would then be used to make a "quilt" for "Ralph Lauren" so we couldn't use any scraps and sew them together. We were given six different situation, four of which dealt with a 17x22 piece of satin. Each situation is listed below:
- Satin (17x22) Patch (3x5)
- Satin (17x22) Patch (9x10)
- Satin (17x22) Patch (5x12)
- Satin (17x22) Patch (10x12)
- Satin (4x18) Patch (3x5)
- Satin (8x9) Patch (3x5)
As a final and extra step we were asked to experiment with different patch sizes and sizes for satin. I created two different experiments each with a different patch size and a different satin size. Below are the two experiments I created.
- Satin (5x10) Patch (3x5)
- Satin (15x15) Patch (4x4)
Process
My approach for this problem was actually quite simple. I used simple math tools as well such as, a ruler and some graph paper. After that I really just dug into it, because I felt like there wasn't much more I had to think about before hand. I did take it step by step and problem by problem though. I tried not to rush through it. I went down the list of questions following each situation and restriction precisely and making sure that I felt confident about the maximum number of pieces, which I guess I can say was the hardest part. After finishing each situation, as a final step, I would ask other people what they got as their answer and hopefully match it with mine. But if they got a different it was often hard to try and figure out what they did differently without fully retracing or copying their answer on paper.
Solution
Here are the number of patches I could fit into each piece of satin:
- Satin (17x22) - Patch (3x5) - # of Patches (22)
- Satin (17x22) - Patch (9x10) - # of Patches (2)
- Satin (17x22) - Patch (5x12) - # of Patches (5)
- Satin (17x22) - Patch (10x12) - # of Patches (2)
- Satin (4x18) - Patch (3x5) - # of Patches (3)
- Satin (8x9) - Patch (3x5) - # of Patches (4)
- Satin (5x10) - Patch (3x5) - # of Patches (3)
- Satin (15x15) - Patch (4x12) - # of Patches (3)
The final observation that was very clear to me was the fact that all the cuts that I had made for Ralph Lauren always ended with extras. There were always extra scraps of patches around the edges all the time.
Reflection
As a whole this problem of the week was very interesting. I think something that really helped me during this project was that I used graph paper for everything. In my mind when you use graph paper for drawing things out like this it helps you stay really organized and work a lot quicker. A challenge I had during this POW was that I wasn't always confident with my answers and I still am not with one of the situations but I still stuck with my answer. This is because people all around me would be getting different results and I didn't really know which one was right so I just stuck with mine. I eventually pushed that fear of being wrong away and pushed through the problem, finishing strong like always.
Reflection
As a whole this problem of the week was very interesting. I think something that really helped me during this project was that I used graph paper for everything. In my mind when you use graph paper for drawing things out like this it helps you stay really organized and work a lot quicker. A challenge I had during this POW was that I wasn't always confident with my answers and I still am not with one of the situations but I still stuck with my answer. This is because people all around me would be getting different results and I didn't really know which one was right so I just stuck with mine. I eventually pushed that fear of being wrong away and pushed through the problem, finishing strong like always.