Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for University

The seven principles stated on the article are:

1.)Price stability provides substantial benefits

Low and stable inflation prevents overinvestment in the financial sector which otherwise would be a way to escape the costs of inflation. It lowers uncertainty enabling businesses and individuals to make appropriate decisions, increasing economic efficiency and finally lowers distortions from interactions between the tax systems and inflation (Better employment of resources and increase economic growth).

2) Fiscal policy should be aligned with monetary policy;

Large government deficits place pressure on monetary authorities to monetize debt, producing rapid money growth and inflation.

3) Time inconsistency is a serious problem to be avoided;

Motivation... Continue reading "Principles of Monetary Policy and the Fed's Performance" »

Impressionism and 20th-Century Techniques in Music

Debussy: Prelude Genre

What genre is Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun? Symphonic poem (tone poem).

Impressionism Versus the Romantic Era

How is the Impressionistic era different than the Romantic era? Static and nonfunctional harmony; focus on timbre instead of melody and harmony; suggestions of melodic ideas rather than complete ideas.

Ravel's Bolero and Orchestration

What is significant about Ravel's Bolero? The piece repeats the same two melodies but always in different groups of instruments. The piece is essentially a study in orchestration, an example of impressionists' focus on timbre over melody.

Term for Music with No Key

What is the term for music that has no key? Atonal.

Serialism

... Continue reading "Impressionism to Serialism: Debussy, Ravel & 20th-Century Music" »

Oceanography: Earth's Marine Realm

Ocean Coverage and Resources

Oceans cover 71% of Earth's surface and hold 97% of its water. They provide crucial resources, including one-third of natural gas and oil, 16% of protein, and 50% of our oxygen.

Maps and Projections

A map is a representation, usually on a flat surface, of a region of Earth or the heavens. A projection is the image of a geometric figure reproduced on a line, plane, or surface.

Types of Maps:

• Political
• Physiographic
• Geologic
• Topographic
• Bathymetric

Ocean Provinces

• Continental Margins: Shallow areas close to shore.
• Deep-Ocean Basins: Deep-water areas farther from land.
• Mid-Ocean Ridge: A submarine mountain range.

Geological Features

Hot spots are plumes originating from the core-mantle boundary.... Continue reading "Oceanography: Exploring Earth's Vast Marine Realm" »

Radioactive Decay: Principles and Equations

If the decay rate is equal to λ, the probability that a given nucleus will decay in a small time interval dt is λdt. Therefore, if at any time we have P parent nuclei, the number that decay in the next moment is P(λdt).

The rate of change of parent nuclei (dP/dt) is proportional to the number of parent nuclei present:

dP/dt = -λP

This differential equation can be solved as follows:

• Separate variables: dP/P = -λdt
• Integrate both sides: ∫(dP/P) = -λ∫dt
• Resulting in: ln(P) = -λt + C

The boundary condition is found because we know that when t = 0, P = P₀ (the initial number of parent nuclei). Therefore, C = ln(P₀), and we can write the equation as:

ln(P) = ln(P₀) - λt

Rearranging this equation:

• ln(P)

... Continue reading "Fundamental Principles: Radioactive Decay, Planetary Motion, and Material Properties" »

Grammar and Vocabulary

1. I have lost my pen. Can I borrow yours?
2. As soon as I have more information, I will call you.
3. Did you know she was pregnant?
4. We have had this can since last summer.
5. When I lived in Hungary, I had to take a bus to go to work.
6. Would you mind answering my questions?
7. 80% of our electronic components are produced in the Far East.
8. The manager and his staff usually meet once a week.
9. What are you responsible for?
10. When did you arrive at the hostel?
11. The way of managing companies in this country is very different from ours.
12. Has she answered your email yet?
13. You will have to work hard if you really want to pass the exam.
14. He never drinks any alcohol when he goes to parties.
15. Have you got something to declare?
16. The plane was four hours late.
17. Driving too

... Continue reading "Common English Mistakes and Corrections" »

Analytics and Statistics: Key Concepts

Analytics: the scientific process of transforming data into insight for making better decisions. Population: the set of all elements of interest in a particular study. Sample: a subset of the population. Data: the facts and figures collected, analyzed, and summarized for presentation and interpretation. Cross-sectional data: data collected at the same or approximately the same point in time. Statistics: the art and science of collecting, analyzing, presenting and interpreting data. Variable: a characteristic of interest for the elements. Data set: all the data collected in a particular study. Elements: the entities on which data are collected.

Data Summary

1. Cumulative Frequency Distribution: a tabular summary... Continue reading "Understanding Analytics and Statistics: Key Concepts and Definitions" »

CHAPTER 3

Financial Intermediation and Depository Institutions

Quiz

1. ____________ is the process by which individual savings are accumulated in depository institutions where the funds are then loaned out to consumers or invested in businesses.

1. Savings/investment
2. Financial intermediation
3. Contractual savings
4. Mortgage banking

Answer: b

2. Contractual savings organizations provide all of the following services with the exception of __________.

1. Collecting premiums on insurance policies
2. Accepting deposits or savings from individuals and then lending these pooled savings to businesses.
3. Providing retirement benefits and insurance against major financial losses.
4. Collecting employee or employer contributions from pension fund participants.

Answer: b

3. __________

... Continue reading "Financial Intermediation and Depository Institutions: A Quiz" »

... Continue reading "UN Sustainable Development Goals, Progress, and Strategy" »

Key Concepts in International Trade and Globalization

Foundations of Trade

Humans began trading due to a lack of self-sufficiency.

The Spread of Commodities: Sugarcane Example

Inhabitants of New Guinea discovered that sugarcane is sweet and easily cultivated. Due to the increased human appetite for sweets, sugarcane spread geographically:

1. From New Guinea to Southeast Asia.
2. To India.
3. From India, traders took it to China and what is now Iran, and so on.

Trade Agreements and Barriers

GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade)

An agreement designed to reduce tariffs and other barriers to international trade.

Tariffs

Taxes placed on certain imports or exports, which typically stifle trade.

Quotas

Restrictions on the amount of imports a country may receive.... Continue reading "Essential Concepts of Global Trade and Economic Terminology" »

The First Fraternity in North America

The first fraternity in North America was the Phi Beta Kappa Society, founded at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, on December 5th, 1776.

What Fades Fraternity Colors?

Irresponsibility, lack of accountability for actions, and poor academic performance can tarnish a fraternity's reputation.

What Constitutes an Action Plan?

An action plan is a commitment to accomplish specific actions on a regular routine. A Kappa Sigma aspires to be a better man, as stated.

Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund

• Mission: To support the charitable and beneficent purposes of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
• Established: 1919
• Scholarship/Leadership Awards: Awards scholarships to deserving brothers.
• Leadership Conferences: Deliver

... Continue reading "Kappa Sigma Fraternity: History, Mission, and Leadership" »