Precalculus Articles

Mathematical Journeys: The Function Machine

By Ellen S. | 5/21/2013 9:19 AM CST |

y = f(x)

I can't tell you how many times I've had students come to me profoundly confused about their entire math unit, all because their teachers never fully explained this concept. Teachers throw this equation up on the board without discussion as if it explains everything – which it does, but only if you know what it means. So let's discuss!

First off, it's important to remember that this is not just an equation; it's an indication of a larger concept. We'll get to that in a minute, but let's start at the beginning.

Imagine that I have a little machine which I set on the table in front...

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Making Learning Fun: It's Best for Both the Student and Tutor

By Garrett S. | 5/18/2013 11:19 AM CST |

Over the time that I have tutored, both at Austin Community College and as an independent tutor, the best thing that I have learned is that any student that is having fun while they learn make them actually want to come back and learn more. Although people came in to the tutoring lab at Austin Community College, they were coming in to the tutoring lab reluctantly because they just didn't understand what was going on and weren't really enjoying the subject because of it. My personal goal for any person that I tutor is to not only help someone understand the concepts while they are sitting with...

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Homeschool Math Support and Accelerated Math Development for Public and Private School Students

By Patrick M. | 5/2/2013 9:29 AM CST |

I have been working with a few students who are ready to learn math much, MUCH faster than allowed by the traditional classroom model in which math is taught over 6 to 8 years. Based on this experience I believe that many students as young as 4th grade and as old as 8th grade (when starting in the program) can master math in 2 years from simple addition through the first semester of Calculus, with Arithmetic, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, Probability, Statistics, and Trigonometry in between.

This is significantly faster than the traditional approach and is enabled by a combination...

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Intuition and Memorization

By Kevin E. | 4/22/2013 4:39 PM CST |

When someone is interested in a topic, there is a heavy intuitive knowledge associated with that interest. A good musician intuitively knows what would be enjoyable to their target audience; a good fashion designer intuitively knows what would be fashionable for the next season; a good personal trainer knows intuitively how to work a particular person with a particular body and a particular mentality to make that person more active and more healthy. In all of these fields and any field you can think of, there is a certain amount of memorization required, a certain set of rules to follow, but...

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College and Your Passions

By Brooklyn L. | 4/9/2013 7:49 PM CST |

As the school year begins to wind down, I have noticed that many of the students I help have begun the journey of signing up for next years classes or, better yet, deciding where they will start the next chapter of their life in college. I began to reminisce on my Senior year of high school and how stressful that year was for me. It was so easy to become overwhelmed by all of the choices that (seemed to be) abruptly placed in front of me: what college should I go to? What should I major in? Should I choose a college close to home? Should I rush? Should I go to a college with all of my friends...

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The IMPORTANCE of ALGEBRA!

By Keisha K. | 3/24/2013 5:40 AM CST |

To My Future and Current Students,

I can't stress enough the IMPORTANCE of ALGEBRA! Of all the mathematics I have taken in my lifetime...BELIEVE ME IT'S BEEN A LOT, ALGEBRA is the only course that is WOVEN into every single course. I was lucky enough that my first mathematics teacher in High School (Mr. Large), turned me from a B student into an A student such that I graduated High School with a 4.0 in mathematics. The one piece of advice he gave me that I will share with you is that...I NEED TO CHECK, DOUBLE CHECK AND TRIPLE CHECK ALL OF MY ANSWERS!

Algebra is a required course (prerequisite)...

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Your Child's Success is My Success

By Neemisha M. | 3/11/2013 12:05 PM CST |

A parent told me recently that her son scored a near 100% on his last test. I was so proud. I feel proud when all my students succeed. The question is what does it mean for a student to be successful. I think it's a mix between the student having more confidence than when I begin working with the student, as well as an increase in the student's grades.

Depending on the student and his or her own situation grades may increase immediately and with others it may take a bit of time. I want my students to feel confident about their abilities and also be able to show the world and themselves that...

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Suggestions for finding the BEST tutor for your child or student.

By Paul C. | 3/8/2013 9:49 AM CST |

When interviewing a prospective tutor, parents should ask about the tutor's skills and experience, and find out if the tutor truly enjoys teaching. When the tutor feels enthusiastic about the subject, and communicates well, the student has an opportunity to learn to enjoy the subject too.

I recommend for parents to observe the first lesson to see the tutor's skills in action, and watch/listen carefully to future lessons when possible, to make sure the tutor has an encouraging, supportive attitude at all times. (Tutors should welcome and respond positively to the child's questions, and NEVER...

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Getting Started!

By Mark R. | 2/28/2013 6:52 PM CST |

Hello to all you Happy Learners!

I am just setting up my profile and getting all my qualifying exams completed for subjects I am qualified and experienced in for teaching.

There will be new posts as we get things set up here.

For astronomy and science tutoring help, I can make my self and my home astronomical observatory available as part of the learning experience. I have multiple telescopes and some basic CCD astrophotography equipment which could be used for an astronomical observing project students may want to do and hand in as a project grade in science or specific astronomy class...

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The Ugly Head of Lower Level Math troubles

By David W C. | 2/16/2013 5:28 PM CST |

I have noticed a number of students in this area struggling with Algebra I and Algebra II. The students are at different levels of their educational process from High School to adult students re-entering the collegiate experience. In my experience having taught upper division sciences is that students who find that they have deficiencies in their lower level math skills, generally, 6-8th grade math, don't 'see' these deficiencies show up until they move into upper division college programs where more critical, cross-disciplinary thinking is required of them.

Here is the problem. There is an...

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