Word Swap Game
In addition to my love for reading, I'm also an AP Computer Science student. To sharpen my Python skills—and as a nod to my interest in dyslexia—I created a fun word-swap game that challenges players to transform one word into another, one letter at a time.
The **Word Swap game** challenges you to transform one word into another, changing **one letter at a time**. Each intermediate word must be a real word. For example, you can go from CAT → COT → DOT → DOG, but not CAT → CAG → DAG → DOG because "CAG" and "DAG" are not real words.
🎯 The **game gets harder as you go**! - Your first puzzle might only require **two or three** steps. - As you solve more, the game will **increase the difficulty** by selecting word pairs that require **longer transformation chains**. - Eventually, you'll need to find **5, 6, or even 10-step transformations!**
⬇️ Download the Python Version
This game runs in Python. You can download the script and the necessary word list below:
📌 How to Run the Game
1️⃣ Make sure you have **Python 3 installed** on your computer. 2️⃣ Download the **Python script** and the **dictionary file** above. 3️⃣ Place both files in the same folder. 4️⃣ Open a **terminal or command prompt** and navigate to the folder. 5️⃣ Run this command:
python word_swap_jshoag.py
You can also try the game below:
The game will start in your terminal, and you can enter words to play.
Organizing Short Study Abroad Trip - Mexico City's Jewish Community
I am attempting to organize a trip to visit Mexico City and learn more about the history and strength of Mexico's Jewish community. The trip would take place in late May. If you are interested in participating or in joining a group of students in Cleveland focused on Hispanic-Jewish heritage, please contact me at jacob.shoag [at] fuchsmizrachi.org.
Resources for AP Statistics
I used a NumWorks calculator during my AP Statistics exam and found it to be the best for its ease of use and understanding. Below are some Python scripts I created to help with key statistical concepts:
- binomialgeometric.py - Notes on binomial and geometric probability distributions.
- cintrvlpvaluecriticalval.py - Key formulas and notes on confidence intervals, p-values, and critical values.
- combining_samples.py - Information on combining samples and comparing means or proportions.
- describe_var.py - Notes on describing variables, including center, spread, and shape.
- experiment_terms.py - Definitions and examples of key experimental terms.
- explain_bias.py - Notes on different types of bias and how to minimize them.
- finalchecklist.py - A checklist for final review before exams.
- how_to_randomize.py - Steps and notes on randomization techniques in experiments.
- panic.py - Notes on constructing confidence intervals (PANIC method).
- phantoms.py - A guide for hypothesis testing (PHANTOMS method).
- phantoms2.py - Extended hypothesis testing including chi-squared tests.
- probability.py - Basic probability rules and examples.
- random_var.py - Notes on random variables, expected value, and variance.
- sampling_distribution.py - Explanation of sampling distributions and central limit theorem.
- statified_why.py - Overview of stratified sampling and its importance.
- tell_equality_direction.py - Notes on interpreting equality and direction in hypothesis tests.
- type12power.py - Explanation of Type I and II errors and statistical power.
- variable_descibe.py - How to describe variables in terms of their statistical properties.
AP Microeconomics: The Exam Has it Wrong
When I was studying for the AP Micro exam in 8th grade, I had a hard time understanding the review book's explanation of deadweight loss for price floors and price ceilings. I assumed that it was my mistake, but it's actually an error in the College Board's treatment of the subject. Take a look at the following question (from p. 135 here College Board Course and Exam Description). An image is below:
The College Board says the correct answer is E. That assumes, though, that even with a price floor or a price ceiling, the highest value purchasers or sellers will still get to transact. That isn't necessarily the case. A paper by Glaeser and Luttmer (2003) (link to paper) shows that if things are allocated randomly with price controls, then the deadweight loss could be much higher!
What should you do? Well, I recommend just answering things the way the College Board would like you to answer. However, if this confused you like it confused me, it's helpful to know you're not wrong. The College Board's solution depends on a really non-obvious assumption that is probably incorrect.