Monday, September 15, 2008

Ceteris Paribus

Economic modeling relies on a concept called ceteris paribus, a term from Latin meaning "everything else holding steady." Economists consider all the variables in the marketplace and then hold all other variables steady while they look at the effect of one variable's rise and fall. They can then discuss cause-and-effect relationships. For example, a rise in the price of soft drinks may lead to an increase in the demand for bottled water.

Consider the last test for which you received a grade. Write 3 positive variables you might have had that helped you on the test. Perhaps you got a really good night's sleep or remembered to eat breakfast. Next, write 3 negative variables. Then determine the effect on your grade of an increase or decrease for each variable in turn, with all the other variables remaining constant.

19 comments:

bal_diaz23 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Three positive things I could have done to help me with the last test I took would have to be: Studying the night before, asking the teacher about the things I did not know, and not going to sleep late.
Three negative things that I did that did not help my grade was: not studying for the test, not paying attention in class, and going to sleep late.
To get a better grade, I would study the material.

Stephanie 5th

Stephen Combs said...

three positive things i did was sleep godd weat breakfast and study
negative was not paying attention in class and having to figure it out to late

bal_diaz23 said...

3 positive variables for when i took a test was a good study guide, a good night's sleep, and a good breakfast. 3 negative variables were still tired even after a good night's sleep, a stomach ache after the meal and not being able to look at study guide. if my positive variables increase so would my grade if the negative one's stood still and if my negative ones increased my grade would decrease if my positive ones stood still.

Balmore,5th

Unknown said...

For the last test I took, some variables that would have affected me would be...
positive:
-studying, but not cramming the night before
-getting enough sleep, but not to much
-having my review completely done

negative:
-noise in the classroom, other distractions
-not knowing all the answers, studying the wrong material
-being very cold or hungry, distracts from work

If everything had stayed constant, but I wasn't distracted by other students or noise, I could have done better. If all positive variables stayed the same but a negative variable changed, I would do better on the test.

However, if all the negatives stayed constant, but a positive changed, my grade on the test would most likely be lower.

-Lora, 5th

Anonymous said...
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boyd said...

postive

-studied all night for test
-have a good breakfest
-next morning review for the test

negitive
-sleep real late
-dont study
-not taking notes

Elvis Hagler said...

Postive variables I had were most likely doing the homework int hat class, doing the review, and reading the questions on the test properly.

Negatives ones would be, not going to sleep early, not studying my review before the test, and being tired during the test.

While the positive variables increase my chance at knowing how to do the problem and what it's asking, the negative variables affect my ability to pay attention and focus on the work. So, my grade might be lower than expected do to me not being focused.

KRINA!!! said...

Some things that would have helped me on the test would have been studying the night before, asking questions, and maybe quizing myself on it through out the day. Three negative things would have to be not studying, not paying that much attention in class, and going to bed late the night before.

Unknown said...

the positive: study, sleep early, pay attention in claz,&& weekends hang out with friends
the negitive: skipp class, talk back,&& sleep late.

Unknown said...

My last test was a Spanish test, three positive influences were:
-Eating a healthy breakfast.
-Focusing on the test.
-Remembering key Spanish words.

Three negative things were:
-Underclassmen talking.
-Worrying about homework.
-Not paying attention.

Anonymous said...

positive
1. good sleep
2. good lunch
3. stayed awake
negative
1. disrubtive class
2. needed to go to the restroom
3. in a hurry

My grades increase with more positive variables or stayed the same with the same number of negative variables than positive I got an 88 which was the highest grade in the class.

brian_22122 said...

Three positive things would be study the night before, get a good night sleep, and pay attention in class.
Three negative things would be not study, stay up late, and just not care.

Brian, 5th

Unknown said...

3 good things to help me study is go to sleep early the night before ,study, and eat a good breakfast.3 bad things not study, sleep late, and not eat in the morning.

Bree said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
aRaCeLi said...

For the last test i took,these are the things that propably would've affected me...

3 positve things:study,eat a good breakfast,sleep early
3negative things:didnt study,didnt eat breakfast,sleep late
If i wouldve done the positive things i wouldve had a better garde.

ruddie fuentes said...

one sleep good
two get somthing good to eat that has a lot of energy
three stay foucd and get your mind clear of all the things that are out side of your mind like sound and chating

one don't loss your foucs
two don't talk to your frenids on a bad time chosse a good time
three turn in all of your work

Vanessa Contreras said...

three positive things that would help me on my test would be to study, take notes in class and get a good nigth sleep.

three negative things would be sleeping late, not paying attention in class, and not trying on the test

Unknown said...

Three positive things i could have done was study that whole week for that test, get a good nights, sleep. and study a little more the morining of that test. Three negative things are not studying for the test, going to sleep late, or just could have completly have forgotten aboout the test.