(r^2 / 2) - (r * 0.5) + 1

That's the answer! That thing took me 1.5 hours to figure out, but I sure figured it out, and its definitely right. That little line of numbers made me more happy than I have been in a very long time. Let me tell the story:

Today in physics we got 2 worksheets. One was a very repetitive and boring one about converting pounds to grams, grams to ounces, miles to kilometers, etc. etc.

However, the other worksheet we got was another pattern exercise. There were 2 pyramids of numbers, and we had to find out the formulas for the first number on the line, the middle number, and the last number, then do some work with that. The first one was really easy, and I figured it out in class pretty quick. The bell rang as I finished it, so I didn't even look at the second one.

Well, I found myself at home today with alot of spare time, so I decided to bust out the worksheet and get it done. I've felt pretty motivated to get all my work done this year, so I got it out and looked at it.

Now, there are a few things in life that I take as direct challenges. One of them is a math problem that I know has an answer, but that I can't figure it out.

I sat there for about 10 minutes, just trying the basics, trying to figure out the formula. Nothing made any sense, and I just tried and I tried. After 20 minutes of this, my mom thought I was a dork for sitting here this long looking at a piece of paper, and I felt a little stupid. However, I knew that there must be an answer, so onward I plodded, trying and trying.

And then, our power went out. The house was bathed in darkness, and I found doing math a little difficult. Not to be discouraged I went out on the front porch, so I could catch the last rays of the sunset. It was here my epiphany struck. "You should divide r^2 by 2 and see what you get."

Aha! After 1 whole hour of racking my brain trying to get this, I honestly got it. I tested my formula out with all the numbers, and it came out perfectly. I DID IT. I conquered the challenge. I was honestly dancing around the house and singing because I was so happy. That made my night. There is a very good feeling involved in getting something you really really really work for. I worked super hard for that formula, and I finally got it. Nothing stands in my way now. I figured it out. I beat it. I conquered the number pyramid. Fear me.