As a math tutor, you notice the importance of this technique. Factoring means breaking a number or expression into a product. For instance, we’ll factor 45: 45=9×5 In earlier posts I’ve mentioned prime factorization: 45=3x3x5 Now we’ll look at factorization …
As a math tutor, you’ll likely introduce this concept. It’s used even more in physics and chemistry. So often in my university science courses I’d read “the mass is directly proportional to the volume” or “the distance is directly proportional …
The math tutor continues to appreciate prime factorization for all it yields. Let’s imagine you need to determine the square root of a number without a calculator. This challenge is part of the curriculum for local high school students. Example: …
Math: Finding Square Root or Cube Root from Prime Factorization Read more »
As a math tutor, you deal with polynomials half the weeks of the year. A polynomial is an expression in which the variables can have only positive, whole-number exponents. Examples of polynomials are 3×7-12×5+1 or -2x – 12. In a polynomial, …
With counting problems, the math tutor needs to explain the uses of permute and choose. Permute and choose are counting functions. Found on any scientific calculator, they look similar to nPr and nCr, respectively. You use permutation (nPr) to count the number …
Logarithms – logs, for short – are a perennial for the math tutor. What is a log? You see the button on your calculator, but only in high school (if ever) do you likely find out what it means. First, …
As a math tutor, you’ll likely need to sort out a few basics about inequalities. Generally, people prefer equations to inequalities. Perhaps it’s for the reason that people like one definite answer to a problem: for instance, “x=5”. An inequality …
For a few years, this topic fell from view. As a math tutor, I’m glad to see it back. To a person studying logic, the statement “p implies q” also means “if p, then q”. It can also be written …
As a math tutor, you’ll need to remind students about this exponent law. Most exponent laws people find pretty straightforward. I’ll likely cover them in a future post. However, this particular one deserves its own; most people just don’t like …
What’s the difference between evens and odds? When you’re a math tutor, you might need more than the obvious answer. Everyone knows that 0, 2, 4, 6….are even, whereas 1, 3, 5, 7, 9….are odd. Negative numbers can also be …