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 

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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.


The following essays are not all related to mathematics. 

Constant Retirement Rate ] Road Safety ] 3 Strikes Law in California. ] Math HOW-TOs ] 9 Steps in Maths ]

The following odds and ends material may help. Links to area webpages are in the right margin.  The discussions and links below give general advice and directions, and points to material outside this site area.  Bon Appetite.

Key Skills and Concepts

  1. Logic mastery is the key to better study skills, the key to enriching skills and understanding, and the key easing or avoiding learning difficulties in many arts and disciplines. That advice cannot be repeated too often. See the first steps in Logic below
  2. Algebra is hard for many.  Words have been missing  or unclear in the description verbalization of skills and concepts.  By learning to talk about number and quantities, describe them with words, before and then besides the shorthand roles of letters and symbols, we can more clearly understand and explain the algebraic or mathematical way of writing and reasoning.  See the long essay What is a variable and the  Algebra chapters 8 to 12..
  3. Formulas Forwards and Backwards:   Chapter 14 employs the Compound Interest formula directly and indirectly (forwards and backwards), and compares arithmetic and algebraic ways for this. The pattern  of first learning a formula or  method directly and then using it indirectly or backwards is a key to algebra alone and in further subjects. 
  4. Solving linear equations in one or two unknowns is another key part of junior and high school mathematics.  Explore the site area Solving Linear Equations with Stick Diagrams for an introduction and then come back to  Chapter 15 in this Volume
  5. Skill Consolidation: See Arithmetic Videos on  Primes, LCD, GCD, Fractions, Square Rootsand do some  Arithmetic Review Problems to check or perfect your figuring and fraction sense and skills. On paper, high school mathematic programs state arithmetic mastery is a must for algebra. In practice, many students rely on their calculators and so sabotage or delay their own education in mathematics.  Every student should know the sum and Times table for all pairs of whole numbers 0 to 12.  In a spare moment or two, practice filling in these tables by repeated addition.  

More About Area Content: 

Better study Skills, First Steps in Logic, Arithmetic, First Steps in Algebra, Finite Mathematics,  More Logic.  See links to postscripts in right margin.


For Better
Study Skills
First Steps in Logic Arithmetic & Fractions
A Appendices
B How to Learn
C How to Read
D What to do in 
School and Why

E. How to Study
 Mathematics
1. Introduction
2. Implication Rules
3. Chains of Reason
4. Induction
(Longer Chains)

5 Knowledge Islands
Indirect Logic
Arithmetic  WebVideos
7 Arithmetic Review Problems

See Solving Equations 
with stick diagrams
 
if your fraction skills
 and sense need improvement
If you plan to study calculus, do the Arithmetic Review Problems and have them corrected by another. Problems like these catch errors that slow or undo too many  students entering calculus.  Ouch.

Altogether, the  logic chapters provide a  unique mathematics-free introduction to the direct and indirect definition and rule-based thinking that appeared in Euclid's work a long time ago (2300 years ago)

First Steps in Algebra
Proper Use of Equal Sign (Very Important)

8 The Three Skills
9 First Skill
What is a Variables
10 Two More Skills

11 Why Shorthand
12 Shorthand Usage

13 What's Next
14 Compound Interest
15_Solving_Linear_Equations
16 Painless Proofs
17 Pythagoras
Fractions and Solving Equations with stick diagrams (spring 2005 postscript) -
A. Letters & Lengths
B. Stick Diagrams
C. Beyond Sticks
D..Almost One
E. Binary Systems
F. Larger Systems
Stick Diagram Examples
2x + 5 = 20

3x + 10 = 32
5a + 16 = 3a+ 24
(½)x + 8 = 24½
(¾)a + 16 = (¼)a+ 24

(¾)q + 17 = 32
Stick diagrams give  a visual introduction to algebra which develops fraction sense and skills. Try them before or besides chapter 15, Solving  Linear Equations, whatever works
 Teachers: Here some algebra lesson plans for the more effective development of the shorthand ways of writing and reasoning. 

Finite Mathematics
Prep for Calculus

Further Logic

21 What's Next
22. Geometric and Arithmetic Sums
23 Summation Notation
24 Investments, Loans, Pensions -
Personal Money Calculations

25 Mathematical Induction and Recursion
Proofs, Product Notation, & Factorial Notation
26 What's Next
27 Pronouns in Logic
28 Occurrence Tables
29 Contrapositive
30 Truth Tables
31 Indirect Reason
Some of this logic chapters may be used in the above treatment of analytic geometry.
 

 

 
www.whyslopes.com
Algebra, Odds & Ends,
Next ]

1. Hints for Exams
2A. Exact Arithmetic
2B. Fractions Briefly
3. What is a Variable?
4.. Square Roots
5. Straight Lines
6. Problem Solving Methods
7. Trig and Complex No.
8. Complex Applet
9. History of No.s
10. ln(x) and exp(x)
13. Rename the > Sign
14. Problems: Quadratics
15. Problems: Algebra Test
16. Problems: Linear Eqns I
17. Problems: Linear Eqns II
18. Problem Solving Hints
20. Independent Variables
21. Why Logic
22. Why Math
23. The 15 Times Table
24.  The  20 Times Table
25. Algebra Formulas
26. On Learning Maths
27. Maths in Biology
28. Navigation +Time
29 Quibble-What is Algebra
30. Logic in Maths


Odd and Ends, Essays

Constant Retirement Rate
Road Safety
3 Strikes Law in California.
Math HOW-TOs
9 Steps in Maths

Twiddle this page! Study With Others: twiddla.com has developed a collaborative whiteboard with audio & text chat that allows students, tutors & teachers to explore & scribble on blank pages and copies of  webpages together,  If scribbling is awkward with one browser, try another.


In Volume 2, Three Skills for Algebra, Chapters 8  to 14 and postscript What is a Variable point to a greater & clear use of words in algebra. Chapter 14 introduces a 4th skill for algebra, an  elaboration of  the third: - The direct and indirect use of formulas, numerically and algebraically, is unifying theme that should be mentioned aloud, with words, in each and every use of formula. 

 

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Wordy Site Tour:  Not too Bad Vol 2. Foreword 1A Foreword2  Logic Puzzles,  
What is a Variable
  Calculus Starter Guide  Vol 1 Foreword,  
 
 
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 BBC News  and mathematics portion of  English National Curriculum  

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