Tutoring math, you spend lots of time with calculators.  The tutor noticed a function the other day that’s convenient and fun. My high school math students love the Sharp EL-520W – or its newer counterpart, which might be the EL-531. …

Calculator usage: Random numbers with the Sharp EL-520W Read more »

Tutoring math, you’re often asked, “Will I ever use this in life?”  About this particular topic, the math tutor responds, “I hope so.” Back in my October 16 post on mortgage payments, I opened the topic with the use of …

Financial math, continued: calculation of mortgage payment using the TI BA-35 financial calculator Read more »

Tutoring math, the uptick in interest about financial math doesn’t go unnoticed.  The tutor responds. The TI-83 Plus, aka the graphing calculator, has a time value of money solver.  When you press APPS, then select FINANCE, it’s the first choice …

Financial math: negative signs with the TI-83 Plus TVM solver Read more »

Tutoring math, you want to optimize your students’ calculator usage.  The tutor recalls his own use of the calculator memory back in high school; it was indispensable then. Let’s imagine you’re facing the following situation: (3√(25+√14)^2 + (sin(0.27) +2)^3 – …

Math: memory calculations on the Sharp EL-520W Read more »

The tutor notices that financial math is more prominent in high school than it was twenty years ago.   Probably the change is good; let’s embrace it with a first look at mortgage payments. This topic comes up annually in tutoring. …

Financial math: mortgage payments Read more »