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The Futures Channel has an interesting video on some mathematics involved in the manufacture of Dell computers.

Dell’s Texas plant produces over 100,000 computers per day. Clark Ponthier, Dell’s Supply and Demand Director explains:

“We have some employees that can assemble as many as 15 computers in one hour. Our builders can build all day and never build the exact same system twice. Just by removing 2 to 3 seconds multiplied by thousands of employees building computers every day, that could result in millions of dollars of overall savings, so every second counts,” he explains.

The video features Lawrence Yu, who is in charge of purchasing over $1 billion worth of computer parts for Dell. Lawrence says:

I love going to work every day, because I feel I am making a difference to the world.

The Futures Channel has several interesting Algebra in the Real World videos, including ones on:

• Coordinate Systems
• Exponential Equations and Functions
• Expressions and Equations
• Fractional Exponents
• Linear Equations and Functions
• Matrices
• Patterns, Relations and Functions
• Polynomials
• Powers, Roots and Scientific Notation
• Quadratic Equations and Functions
• Rational Equations and Functions
• Variables

It’s worth a look.

Footnote: I can’t help wondering about the environmental impact of all those Dell computers and all that packaging. Hopefully, they are using recyclable materials.

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