You are here:

Calculus/Pet Project

Advertisement

Expert: - 4/24/2008


Question
I work in a restaurant that sells items similar to those in a competing restaurant, and was wondering if there was a way to measure the degree of variety one restaurant has over the other by taking all the ingredients that each restaurant uses for any of their items, and seeing how diversely it uses those ingredient to make each item. And using the final one number measure at the end to compare the two stores independantly, and possible another time all together. You know what I mean? My restaurant is known for using about the same ingredients in most everything it makes, just puts it together differently, etc. Thanks.

Answer
I think I would choose the ingredients you want to look at and make a list of them.  Also make a list of which items the stores sell.  Using Linear Regression, you could take a weeks worth (or maybe more) of sample data and plot a curve to see which foods use how much of each ingredient.

I'm not sure how fast a bottle of each ingredient is used, so you probably need to take a big enough sample to take this into account.

After you have gathered some data, tell me about it and I'll either do the Linear Regression myself or ask you for more information.

Thanks and keep on baking meals that taste great!

Now since this is called a Pet Project, it almost sounds like those restaraunts sell to Pets, but I think that's just a figure of speech and you really make deliscious food!

Calculus

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Scotto

Expertise

Any kind of calculus question you want. I also have answered some questions in Physics (mass, momentum, falling bodies), Chemistry (charge, reactions, symbols, molecules), and Biology.

Experience

Experience in the area: I have tutored students in all areas of mathematics for over 25 years. Education/Credentials: BSand MS in Mathematics from Oregon State University, where I completed sophomore course in Physics and Chemistry. I received both degrees with high honors. Awards and Honors: I have passed Actuarial tests 100, 110, and 135.

Publications
Maybe not a publication, but I have respond to well oveer 7,500 questions on the PC. Well over 2,000 of them have been in calculus.

Education/Credentials
I aquired well over 40 hours of upper division courses. This was well over the number that were required. I graduated with honors in both my BS and MS degree from Oregon State University. I was allowed to jump into a few junior level courses my sophomore year.

Awards and Honors
I have been nominated as the expert of the month several times. All of my scores right now are at least a 9.8 average (out of 10).

Past/Present Clients
My past clients have been students at OSU, students at the college in South Seattle, referals from a company, friends and aquantenances, people from my church, and people like you from all over the world.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.