Optimization: Adjusting something to reach its best state for a specific purpose. We often think that the fastest and strongest options are the best. The fastest way down a slope isn’t a straight line, but a parabola that naturally connects high and low points. A sniper can cause more lethal wounds at 400 meters than at 200 meters. Although the bullet travels faster at 200 meters, the wound size isn’t as large, and at 400 meters, the slower-moving bullet over a longer distance causes more friction as it passes through the wound, resulting in more severe injuries. In every situation, there is an optimal choice suited to the goal. Trial and error are useful for finding this optimization. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Credit Rating and Required Rate of Return: Suppose you and Warren Buffett borrow money from a bank. The bank will assess your credit ratings differently. Maybe the bank could offer Warren Buffett a loan without interest since it can be advertised as a bank used by the renowned investor. However, it will likely charge you interest because you have a lower credit rating and less fame than Warren Buffett. The interest rate each borrower faces, based on their creditworthiness, is called the required rate of return for creditors. Under the same conditions, the cost of poverty is much higher for the poor than for the rich. Poverty inherently involves costs. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”