Compute This

Overview:
Compute This requires both the ability to locate information in a given domain and, using Microsoft Excel, to interpret data found, as well as finding the answers to short answer questions. You are given a total of 50 minutes to finish the event, with a 10 minute introduction at the beginning. Teams of 2.

General Advice:
The only way to "study" for Compute This is to practice. You'll need to be able to find the information (both the data and the short answers) quickly; finding the data at the last minute with few questions done and an entire spreadsheet to do is not a situation you want to be in.

Becoming familiar with the domain gives you a better idea of the search terms you'll want to use when searching for the answers. Pick your favorite search engine and learn how to search within only a given domain. For example, to restrict the site to "NOAA.gov" in Google, you would type your search terms followed by "site:noaa.gov" (You can learn more about better searching at http://www.googleguide.com/ ). Your search will then only return pages within the NOAA domain.

Excel creates documents called spreadsheets. These are widely used to analyze data. Excel has the ability to make calculations in formulas that can use operators called functions, as well as your standard add, subtract, multiply, and divide. It does all of its operations in the grid- each individual box is a cell, with an identifying alphanumeric coordinate. Columns are letters, rows numbers- thus the cell in the column C in row 5 has the coordinate C5.

So, say we have two cells, A1 and A2. A1 contains the number 45, and A2 the number 5.32. I want to do something with them, so I select an empty cell, C3. To signal to Excel that I want to create a formula, I begin by typing an equals sign. Then, if I want to add the two together, I enter A1+A2. In the cell now should be �=A1+A2�. I hit enter, and Excel takes the values from A1 and A2 and adds them together. I can do the same for any other basic math operation; be warned, multiplication is not �x�. Multiplication is *, division is /. I could also just do �=45+5.32�, but the other way allows me change the original numbers without changing the formula.

But what if I want to take the average of the two numbers? I could write a cell �=(A1+A2)/2�, but that�s extra work, and if I want to add another number, I have to change both parts of the formula. Instead, I can use a function. In this case, the average function. Functions have a given syntax, or the required way that you need to enter the data into it. Once I type in �=Average(A1, A2)�, it will calculate the average. If I have another number in A3, I can simply do �=Average(A1, A2, A3)�.

The Excel help file lists the syntax as AVERAGE(number1, [number2], ...). First, it gives me what I need to type before I open the parenthesis to signal the proper function (in this case AVERAGE). After I open the parenthesis, I enter at least one number. Any items within brackets [ ] are optional. So I could take the average of one number, but why would I do that? Probably I�ll want even more than two. Thus, the ellipsis. It means that I can continue to add terms ad infinitum in the same way to get the average of all those terms. I then close the parenthesis when I have completed the function. Once you understand the logic behind the syntax, you can figure out any of the functions listed in the Excel help file. It is even possible to create formulas of multiple functions at once and formulas with functions within functions. But remember, you only ever need to put the opening equals sign at the beginning of the formula, not at the beginning of each separate function.

Tiebreaker
The main tiebreaker for this event is the graphical appeal. Although this may seem a bit silly, it does seem logical if you think about it. The judges want to see something that feels good on the eyes, pops out a little, and is easy to understand. This includes giving some "spice" (color) to your graph, making sure nothing on your graph is clumped together that it is hard to read, or even changing the font size/style of the title or axes. Make your graph large enough so that it is easy to tell the difference between and O and a 0. Make sure that the data table has gridlines, the data is the same font size and style, and keep everything neat. However, this tiebreaker does have some problems. At many competitions the files are in "Compatability Mode" which does not allow colr changing and many other features due to a "loss of compatability" according to the error message

Website
It is a very good idea to have your own website for this event. The reason for this is that you can put as many links as you want on your website leading to pages on the domain, and you'll save time on having to go through and try to find the data at the event. On the day of the competition, your website must not be protected by a password. To make a website, google pages and synthasite are nice, simple websites. Try to organize your website so that it has categories and subcategories so that it is very easy to navigate around.

Day of the Event
When you are actually in the room taking the exam there are some very important things to consider as you work through the task: Read the Directions including the rubric (once, twice, its worth the time) Your proctor may even give a reading period and you need to use it. You should identify the problems that may take longer and also the problems that you can solve quickly. You do not have to create your graph and data table before the questions. These questions are generally half your score and may be much easier to find and possibly even lead you to find the major data for your graph. This is why you should read the rubric if its provided and know the point scale...sometimes you can even get points for a blank graph that has an appropriate title. Most important of all is to not panic and get as many points as you can in the time allotted. If you have practiced searching for data and know excel you will do fine. if a search isn't working change the terms...a good rule of thumb was that if there was nothing in the first three results, move on with new search terms. Use your partner, because the person sitting next to you can think of new search terms, write down data to be transferred, etc.

Read everything on the exam sheet make sure you do not forget to put on data labels or put it in alphabetical order or specific font types and formating your answer sheet. This especially applies to the graph portion of the test. You do not want to lose points for stuff that if you read the exam could have been done quickly and easily.

Make sure your partner reads over EVERYTHING that you have entered into the data table, the graph, and the short answer questions. Keep working, even up to the last second. Use the tiebreaker (graphical appeal) to your advantage.

General Overview of Most Tests
Generally, Compute This tests consist of finding information about a certain topic on USGS.gov, followed by creating a data table of information and a graph of that on Microsoft Excel. The last part consists of answering questions about the USGS links and siting the sources with a hyperlink on Microsoft Word. Depending on the location it may be Excel, Word 2003 or Excel, Word 2007. A mac platform can be used but it is required that teams are informed first.

Programs Used
For 2009 B division, you are supplied with a Windows computer that has Microsoft Office 2007 and Internet Explorer 7 or 8. At the NY state competition for 2009, they had Mozilla Firefox in addition to IE. You are allowed to use programs such as Notepad or the Calculator.

Make sure that at least one of the two members knows Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Excel 2007 thoroughly and knows how to get around. Be sure to know how to organize data, as this is much of the event. Know how to create/edit ALL of the basic charts. This includes all of the Column charts (2-D, 3-D, Cylinder, Cone, Pyramid), Line (2-D, 3-D), Pie (2-D, 3-D), Bar (2-D, 3-D, Cylinder, Cone, Pyramid), Area (2-D, 3-D), and Scatter. The most prominent ones would have to be the Line, Bar, or Column charts. Be sure to know how to add a data tables, lable axis, add a title, etc.

Study Sites:
http://www.functionx.com/excel

http://www.usd.edu/trio/tut/excel/

http://www.googleguide.com/

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102189871033.aspx (microsoft excel tutorials)

This Years Site
United States Geological Survey- http://www.usgs.gov/

Previous Year�s Domains:
2009- http://www.usgs.gov

2006- http://www.noaa.gov

2005- http://www.nasa.gov

Sample Short Answer Questions
Questions

1. Using the usgs.gov domain, list three things that you can do during a landslide to ensure safety.

2. Using the usgs.gov domain, define peak acceleration and spectral acceleration.

3. Using the usgs.gov domain, state the date, magnitude (Richter scale), and the type of plate boundary, of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake.

Answers

Many of the answers contain more information than you may actually need to receive full credit for each answer.

1.     URL: http://landslides.usgs.gov/learning/prepare/during.php
 * Stay alert and awake. Many debris-flow fatalities occur when people are sleeping. Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or portable, battery-powered radio or television for warnings of intense rainfall. Be aware that intense, short bursts of rain may be particularly dangerous, especially after longer periods of heavy rainfall and damp weather.
 * If you are in areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows, consider leaving if it is safe to do so. Remember that driving during an intense storm can be hazardous. If you remain at home, move to a second story if possible. Staying out of the path of a landslide or debris flow saves lives.
 * Listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A trickle of flowing or falling mud or debris may precede larger landslides. Moving debris can flow quickly and sometimes without warning.
 * If you are near a stream or channel, be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and for a change from clear to muddy water. Such changes may indicate landslide activity upstream, so be prepared to move quickly. Don't delay! Save yourself, not your belongings.
 * Be especially alert when driving. Bridges may be washed out, and culverts overtopped. Do not cross flooding streams!! Turn Around, Don't Drown�!. Embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible to landslides. Watch the road for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible debris flows.
 * Be aware that strong shaking from earthquakes can induce or intensify the effects of landslides.

2. PGA (peak acceleration) is what is experienced by a particle on the ground. SA (spectral acceleration) is approximately what is experienced by a building, as modeled by a particle on a massless vertical rod having the same natural frequency of vibration as the building. URL: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/faq.php?categoryID=2&faqID=31

3. The December 26, 2004 magnitude (M) 9.2 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake occurred along a tectonic subduction zone in which the India Plate, an oceanic plate, is being subducted beneath the Burma micro-plate, part of the larger Sunda plate. The boundary between the downgoing and overriding plates of the subduction zone is marked by the Sunda Trench above. URL: http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/tsunami/sumatraEQ/

Practice Questions
[[Media:2003 Nationals Test.pdf | 2003 Nationals Test]]*

[[Media:Compute This 2006 -1.pdf | Compute This 2006 -1]]*

[[Media:Compute This 2006 -2.pdf | Compute This 2006 -2]]*

[[Media:Compute This 2006 -3.pdf | Compute This 2006 -3]]*

[[Media:New England Landing.pdf | New England Landing]]*

[[Media:Pinot Noir Grape Harvest.pdf | Pinot Noir Grape Harvest]]*

[[Media:Tree Rings.pdf | Tree Rings]]*


 * Denotes that the test is not based in the USGS.gov domain, which is the official domain for this event in 2009