Parents: Help your child or teen

Online Volumes (Book Orders)
1,  Elements of Reason. 1996
1A. Pattern Based Reason  1995
1B. Math Curriculum Notes 1996
2. Three Skills for Algebra  1995
3.
_Why_Slopes_&_More_Math_1995

More Site Areas 
1.  Solving Linear Equations  2005
2.-Fractions-Rates-Proportns-Units-2006
3.  Algebra, Odds & Ends, HS level-2001
4.-Euclidean-Geometry/Complex No.s 
5.  Analytic Geometry/Functions 2006
6.  Number Theory. 2006-7
7.  Complex Numbers More 2001
8.  Calculus Introduction 2005
More Site Areas 
9   Real  Analysis 1995
10. Secondary IV? maths 2006-7
11. Math Education Essays  2006-7
12. LaTeX2HotEqn: 2004
13. Electric Circuits Etc  2007
14. Quebec Math Education 2004
15-Prequel-to-the-How-TOs-06-2008
How TOs/ Ref.-08- 2008
1. Arithmetic Reference
2. Algebra 
3. More Algebra 
4. Geometry  
5. More Geometry
6. Calculus
7. Logics in Maths

Employ an online or offline tutor at your own risk from 

AU:  tutorfinder.com.au
CDN :  findatutor.ca 
CDN: .i-tutor.ca
CDN: Montreal Tutors
NZ:   findatutor.co.nz
UK:   tutorhunt.com 
UK:  tutors4me.co.uk
USA:  wiziq.com
USA: ziizoo.com

YOU are better than YOU think. Show yourself  how:

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 For better work & study skills, read logic chapters 1 to 5  in  Three Skills for Algebra. Sooner is better. Good luck.

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 Logic Mastery
 Amazing, Amusing, Amorous,  Delicious, Delightful, Edifying, Strengthening Elixir. 
It eases work & learning difficulties Makes the hard easier. Opens eyes. Leads to greater precision.
in reading and writing

Do not leave here without it -  Logic mastery  will develops critical thinking, improve reading and writing, and give a firmer base for work and studies at many levels. Good luck.

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Caution: Site advice is approximately correct, for some circumstances, not all. Site How-TOs are logically developed, but not tried and tested. That leaves room for thought and refinement..

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After logic  (a) continue reading Three Skills for Algebra, chapters 8 to 14  and do so alongside site area on solving linear2007 Equations ; or (b) see this calculus starter lesson and Volume 3, Why Slopes  & More Math, chapters 2 to 6;


For online automated help in senior high school maths & calculus, visit  quickmath.com  For Automatic Calculus and Algebra Help with derivatives, integrals, graphs, linear equations, matrix algebra, visit calc101.com  With  overlap, each site quickmath & calc101offers a different range of services, some free, some not, all based on webmathematica. Good luck.


Explore collaborative whiteboards from groupboardtwiddla  or scriblink.



A Fourth Skill For Algebra

Direct and Indirect Use of Formulas, or Forwards and Backward Use of Equations

Every formula met in mathematics, accounting, science, technology etc may be used directly and indirectly, that is forwards and backwards. 

The simple message that the forward and backward use of formulas (direct and indirect use)  is part of high school mathematics and beyond  names a required skill and allows us to recognize, identify and thus emphasize the most frequent pattern in high school mathematics and beyond.

This message needs to be given explicitly and early in secondary mathematics. Otherwise the underlying skill become part of the hidden, or silent and unspoken,  agenda in mathematics courses.  

Teachers: Consider combining the www.purplemath.com a two page lesson on solving literal equtions with the message above and the examples and exercises indicated below. The page banner above was Forward and Backward use of equations but it now reflects the purplemath lesson, Solving Literal Equations.

First Site Example

Direct and Indirect Use of the Rectangle Area Computation Formula

Chapter 10 in  Three Skills for Algebra   in discussing Direct use of A =WL assumes W and L are given. Indirect use assumes A and one of W and L is given, and leads to the calculation or formulas W = A/L or L = A/W.  The explanation of those formulas is a step towards algebraic reasoning - the direct and indirect or forward and backward use of formulas.

More Examples: Formulas for perimeters and areas of squares, circles,  triangles, rectangles etc can be used forwards and backwards. Finding the value of a proportionality constant k say in an equation  y = k x represents an indirect or backwards use of an equation, a pre-requisite to further forward and backward use of the equation y = kx.  The calculation of parameters a and b in y = ax + b (or y = mx +b) represents another backward use of a formula or equation.  Quebec students in secondary III have met the forward and backward use of the Pythogorean equation c2=a2+b2 where c is the length of the hypotenuse and the two numbers a and b are the lengths of the other two sides (legs) of a right triangle.

To Do: : Post some details and  exercises here to further illustrate and emphasize the forward and backward use of common formulas.

Going Further (More on Substitution)

The aforementioned  Chapter 10 before the forward and backward use of a formula goes further in showing how to describe a the calculation of a box V = H(WL) and show how to employ substitution (a new concept for students) to go between this formula and  V = HA where A = WL.    Details are given in the chapter.  The details may be easier to grasp if numerical examples are added to this exposition.

 Seeing how a box volume  formula V = hA and V = h (WL) can be transformed into each other illustrates and may introduce the notion of equivalent expressions. The law applied here is A = WL is a geometric law rather than an algebraic law (like the distributive law).  None, the idea that an expression represents a number or quantity and that there may be more than one ways to compute the number or quantity is key to the notion of equivalence.  Students thus see how substitution in formulas leads to new formulas,  how arithmetic patterns may be used to use formulas directly and indirectly, and how algebraic solutions may be more general or  powerful than arithmetic solutions.

Algebraic Exercises:

  1. Find a formula for the area of square in terms of  its perimeter (easy)
  2. Find a formula for the area of circle in terms of  its perimeter (easy)
  3. Find a formula for the perimeter of square in terms of  its areas (harder)
  4. Find a formula for the perimeter of circle in terms of  its areas (harder)

See www.purplemath.com  two page lesson on solving literal equtions for hints or to learn more.

The exercises could be easier after reading the first sections of Chapter 15 and  Chapter 14  in Three Skills for Algebra. The chapter 15 material may be easier..

The first sections in Chapter 15, Solving Linear Equations in online site Volume, 2. Three Skills for Algebra, derives an algebraic formula for the solution of equations of the form ax + b = c, and so emphasize the use of algebraic shorthand reasoning to imply solutions for many problems of a given form at once. All the foregoing emphasizes the power of algebra, or the shorthand way of writing and reasoning with letters in place of numbers. That being said, numerical experience is still required with formulas and their graphs, otherwise the connection between numbers and algebra may too weak.

A Deeper Site Example
for now or later or never.

This Chapter 14   introduces  the direct and indirect use of the  compound interest formula A = P(1+i)n

Chapter 14  presents algebraic and arithmetic solutions that may be used to check the calculator skills of students while developing the algebraic way of writing and reasoning.   In the compound interest formula A = P(1+i) three of the four amounts A, P and i and n are assumed known, and the problem is calculate or find a formula for the missing fourth. The use of this formula is indirect when the left hand side quantity A is given or known, and the task is to find the value of the principal P, the interest rate i or the number of compounding periods n.   Add to chapter 14 coverage, numerical confirmation that the algebraic solution  works. The algebraic solutions for the indirect use of formulas involve substitution and assumes the pattern  (AB)/B  = A. Coverage of Chapter 14 is recommended as part of the next topic: exponents and radicals.

Once as a too pure, applied mathematician, I did not investigate or become familiar enough with the numerical behavior of my formulas since I was too convinced of the power of algebra.. Numerical experience with formulas needs to accompanying the development of algebraic reasoning skills. A balance is required.

 

www.whyslopes.com
Lesson & Lesson Plans for Secondary IV  

a reference for learning and teaching functions, polynomials, solving linear systems, 
powers + exponents + bases + radicals (roots) , quadratic formulas, equations of straight lines

1A. Master Logic
1B. Problems Solving Method
2A Solve Linear Equations i
2B.Solve Linear Equation II
2C Use Equal Sign Properly
2D. Perfect Arithmetic Skills
3 Words & Symbols
3 Goals to Set for Students
4 Use Equations Backwardly
5. Master Functions & Relations
6. Exponents & Radicals I
7. Straight Lines
8. Polynomials (x,/,+/-)
9. Quadratics
10 Prove it
13 Similarity Scale Factors
12 Trig & Triangles
14 Statistics
MEQ Intermediate Objectives
Remarks for Teachers


Sit down and study - no one else can do that for you.

Advice and Directions
What to do in School   & Why
How to Study Maths & Why

Preparing for Science 

Good News: If you can learn to follow a multi-step methods in any subject precisely, you should be able to do so in other subjects, as well. Hint: Start with arithmetic

Words Before Symbols: 
What is a Variable?
Level:  Secondary II to VI, or Grades 7 to 12)
Introduction
Variation between Examples

Variation of Letters

A letter denotes a variable

Cases of Double Variation

Three Notions of a Variable

Constants, Parameters
& Variables

Talking about numbers
Dependent or Independent
Variable, a Matter of Choice

Complex number starter lesson  

Arithmetic Videos
Fractions
Primes
Greatest Common Divisors

Least Common Multiples

Square Root Simplification

Arithmetic Videos

Decimal Addition Methods
Decimal Subtraction Methods
Decimal Multiplication Methods
Decimal Division Methods


Fraction Starter Lesson
(simplify, multiply, divide & 
then add or subtract)



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