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Isaak B.'s Photo
Isaak B.'s Photo
Isaak B.'s Photo

Isaak B.

H.S.College (Math, Physics,Electronics,Engineering,etc.) Tutor

H.S.College (Math, Physics,Electronics,Engineering,etc.) Tutor

$48/hour

4.9 (1,685 ratings)

  • 7,090 hours tutoring

About Isaak

Bio

I strive to provide tutoring with a patient, courteous and professional demeanor. I encourage students to develop their knowledge and to take a step back and look at how much they have already learned. I would say working with students who transform in the course of a few short weeks from feeling intimidated and helpless to empowered and capable has been the most rewarding aspect of this job -- my favorite activity. As an inquisitive, creative person and a lifelong learner, another favorite...

I strive to provide tutoring with a patient, courteous and professional demeanor. I encourage students to develop their knowledge and to take a step back and look at how much they have already learned. I would say working with students who transform in the course of a few short weeks from feeling intimidated and helpless to empowered and capable has been the most rewarding aspect of this job -- my favorite activity. As an inquisitive, creative person and a lifelong learner, another favorite is taking courses online and as a middle-aged man, I find that playing competitive sports frequently is helpful for keeping up my energy and outlook on life.

My Experience
My tutoring experience includes ten years of tutoring. Many students local to the Pittsburgh area, both in public and private high schools and at several excellent colleges and universities, and hundreds of students online have chosen to work with me. I have met many great and inspiring students through Wyzant.
I am well qualified to tutor virtually all of the math and physics courses available to high school students. I tutor test-prep for SAT|ACT|GRE quantitative sections and can help students who wish to prepare themselves for the SAT Physics, Math I or Math II subject tests. My general and inorganic chemistry knowledge is adequate to help most struggling high school students. I consider tutoring for other situations on a case-by-case basis. I recommend high-school students to take as much math as they feel like they can handle. There are a lot of great opportunities for a student with linear algebra, calculus or other advanced skills to gain an distinct advantage in a lot of different college, technical school, or specialized post-secondary courses. So many of the courses in certain programs have certain math courses as a pre-requisite, each time you master a new math skill you are opening doors of opportunities for yourself. Give each math course a chance, you might like it.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics from the Universit

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Education

University of Alberta
Engineering Physics

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $48
  • Rate details: Minimum session length on Sundays is normally 2 hours. But not during the Coronavirus.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 1/6/2019

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

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Subjects

Business

GMAT,

GMAT

I tutor a lot of math and science and use logical and analytical skills often enough that I was able to score 100% on both of the short but representative sample GMAT quizzes I have seen so far when researching to see whether I could help GMAT students.
GRE,

GRE

I have worked with a small number of other undergraduates or bachelor's degree holders preparing to take the GRE. Perhaps math has never been your strong suit or perhaps you did ok or even excelled in math at one time, but didn't use much math in your program or maybe only in freshman year. It happens to many GRE applicants! I have the patience and the time to help anyone recover (or if necessary, develop) mathematical skills necessary to excel on the quantitative portion of the GRE. My first GRE student left me what I consider a very positive review. I tutor a lot of math which is more demanding and a wide variety of math courses. This is probably partly why I am able to tutor GRE quantitative section effectively despite never having taken the GRE myself.
Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel

I have worked extensively with several versions of Excel (although not with the latest). In conjunction with my background as a software developer, I can readily handle comprehending and exploiting some of the most obscure features of the package, including the use of plug-ins, VBA, writing macros and setting up spreadsheets with custom formatting. I have set up numerous Excel spreadsheets over the years. I use it to help me do my taxes every year, to explore and compare various alternatives when making decisions at home and on the job, and to analyze data (even in three dimensions) including curve-fitting and statistics.

Computer

Computer Programming,

Computer Programming

I have several years of professional experience working as a software developer. I have developed a variety of control, measurement, analysis and testing applications using LabVIEW. I contributed a year's worth of feature development and expansion to an existing PC application for acquisition and analysis of PC-based semi-automated bio-medical microscopic imaging using Visual C++ and learned how to use XML as an effective and reliable human-readable information storage. I developed several versions of an application for controlling a printer that used a 30W C02 laser to permanently mark coated metals by burning the coating using Visual Basic and C#. I have also done a little bit of programming for embedded devices using cross-platform C and Basic compilers. More recently, I became reacquainted with Fortran and its multi-processing capabilities, and also gained a passing familiarity with Python, Ruby, and Javascript.
Computer Science,

Computer Science

I got my start with computing back in the 80's learning to program games in Basic and ASCII-based graphics working on one of the original Apple products, an Apple IIe computer which had a monochrome monitor that could only produce two shades of green (lit or unlit!). Since then, I picked up a few new tricks, learning object-oriented programming by taking C++ as an elective while in college. I also got several years of professional experience working as a software developer. I have developed a variety of control, measurement, analysis and testing applications using LabVIEW. I contributed a year's worth of feature development and expansion to an existing PC application for acquisition and analysis of PC-based semi-automated bio-medical microscopic imaging using Visual C++ and learned how to use XML as an effective and reliable human-readable information storage. I developed several versions of an application for controlling a printer that used a 30W C02 laser to permanently mark coated metals by burning the coating using Visual Basic and C#. I have also done a little bit of programming for embedded devices using assembly, cross-platform C and Basic compilers. More recently, I became reacquainted with Fortran and its multi-processing capabilities, and also gained a passing familiarity with Python, Ruby, and Javascript. I also have a strong understanding of the underlying hardware, and often tutor the circuit analysis, electronics, and digital logic courses taken by computer designers in the first part of their college educations.
MATLAB,

MATLAB

I learned a lot about MATLAB because so many of the courses I took to earn my engineering physics degree involved labs which required the students to use MATLAB. I used MATLAB/Simulink for two different controls theory courses and MATLAB with the signal processing toolkit for DSP courses, MATLAB for biomedical image processing course, and used MATLAB for an antenna theory and design course. Since completing my degree, I also used MATLAB for a quadrotor autonomous flight control MOOC. (I am also aware of several other reasonable alternatives for certain tasks students may not realize they have access to even when/if they find themselves without access to MATLAB sometimes need. Some of the ones I am reasonably familiar with include Python, Octave, and desmos).
Microsoft Excel,

Microsoft Excel

I have worked extensively with several versions of Excel (although not with the latest). In conjunction with my background as a software developer, I can readily handle comprehending and exploiting some of the most obscure features of the package, including the use of plug-ins, VBA, writing macros and setting up spreadsheets with custom formatting. I have set up numerous Excel spreadsheets over the years. I use it to help me do my taxes every year, to explore and compare various alternatives when making decisions at home and on the job, and to analyze data (even in three dimensions) including curve-fitting and statistics.
HTML

Corporate Training

GMAT,

GMAT

I tutor a lot of math and science and use logical and analytical skills often enough that I was able to score 100% on both of the short but representative sample GMAT quizzes I have seen so far when researching to see whether I could help GMAT students.
Microsoft Excel,

Microsoft Excel

I have worked extensively with several versions of Excel (although not with the latest). In conjunction with my background as a software developer, I can readily handle comprehending and exploiting some of the most obscure features of the package, including the use of plug-ins, VBA, writing macros and setting up spreadsheets with custom formatting. I have set up numerous Excel spreadsheets over the years. I use it to help me do my taxes every year, to explore and compare various alternatives when making decisions at home and on the job, and to analyze data (even in three dimensions) including curve-fitting and statistics.
Statistics,

Statistics

Even though I have never myself encountered a need to take a course purely dedicated to statistics, I have successfully tutored students struggling with concepts in statistics. Perhaps this is because I am very good at math, and tutor a lot of it, and therefore easily understand all of the math involved. It is partly because I have in the past signed out and studied statistics textbooks from the library in order to make sure I was prepared enough to help the stats students who had nowhere else to turn. Finally, part of earning my bachelor's degree in engineering physics required passing a course called "Statistical Thermodynamics" in which I learned about how the statistics of the motions of atoms in a gas, or atoms in a magnet, or molecules in a rubber band, for instance, can be used to help us study various aspects of our world and predict certain properties of it. I earned a perfect score on the final exam in that course. I also encountered aspects of statistics in other courses such as quantum physics, laser electronics, control system theory, and certain physics laboratory experiments. So if you can't find someone in your area who happily will tutor statistics with you, you might be able to twist my arm to help you. Yes, I can tutor beginning statistics students in some of the most basic aspects of statistics without much notice, but I usually do not want to tutor statistics except in person, unless it is the most basic introductory level material or if I can preview the material beforehand and am provided or have time to obtain access to relevant textbooks.
HTML

Elementary Education

Elementary Math, Elementary Science

English

IELTS

IELTS

If you are working on your English, rest assured that as a fellow language learner I can relate to the difficulties you face with the utmost sympathy. There are so many languages that seem to have much better and more logical rules than English does, sometimes, and many of the other languages sound nicer too. For those of you who began life abroad, please know I am also from another country (Canada) and have no bias toward you. Also, I have enjoyed having roommates and floor mates from all over the world as I stayed in residence one year and with various room-and-board arrangements as I spent seven years working through college in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Those experiences and the classes helped me meet and speak with many friends who used English as one of their secondary languages, many of whom had strong accents. I treasure their friendships and enjoyed learning about their cultures. I also started a badminton group here in Pittsburgh and since badminton is not a very well-known sport among Americans yet, many of my valued and popular members come from other countries!

Homeschool

Algebra 1,

Algebra 1

I am able to help students who, for whatever reason, fall behind their expectations in algebra I. The polynomial and rational functions, exponents and logarithms, radical expressions, factoring, polynomial division, and equation-solving skills and principles studied in Algebra I are foundational skills for investigators in science, managers optimizing business decisions, engineers improving a design, or software developers cracking open new concepts.
Algebra 2,

Algebra 2

As an engineer, I routinely use the skills and principles taught in Algebra 2! Exponents, logarithms and roots come up all the time because many relationships between important factors in a design or description of a natural principle can only be treated as if they were linear, or that is, adequately described using straight lines, to the roughest of approximations. Not having these mathematical tools would make engineering work rather crude. Imagine how the drawings of a Corvette would look if the artist were restricted to use only straight lines! Similarly, complex numbers are very useful for describing periodic waveforms, predicting natural resonances in systems, designing control systems and many other things. I enjoy helping students understand and master the challenge of solving equations involving one or more of these non-linear equations, systems of linear equations.
Calculus,

Calculus

Calculus includes a wide range of powerful mathematical applications based on the idea that many types of analyses work better and reveal more interesting and useful truths (in many cases, surprisingly simple but non-obvious ones) when we exploit the ability to divide regions of interest into an unlimited number of small parts. Many of the most famous results students have learned in other parts of math and science, such as the volume of a sphere, for instance, were discovered using simple calculus techniques. Students expecting to earn credit for calculus in college should anticipate that topics of study to follow in later courses will use calculus. Also, certain kinds of homework problems one is expected to solve in upper-level college courses will use basic calculus skills. I tutor calculus at the level typically taken by high-school students, college freshmen and college sophomores in engineering and science programs. This includes high school calculus, AP calculus AB/BC, business calculus, calculus of sequences and series, multivariable calculus and ordinary differential equations. Sometimes juniors and seniors in other programs take the same courses too. I suppose the applications of calculus in those programs aren't seen as early, often, or as in depth in those programs so it is not as urgent to ensure the students master calculus. I also took partial differential equations and complex-variable calculus courses. I did ok at the time however, I do not tutor those now. Those courses are advanced enough that they mostly are not needed by students unless they are striving to earn their masters or PhD in certain fields, and as I have (so far) ended up choosing not to, I have forgotten too much of them and rarely encounter students looking for help with them.
Geometry,

Geometry

Geometry is a fundamental tool with which it is important for every student to be familiar. I help students who have difficulties constructing geometrical figures using a straight-edge and a compass. I understand geometrical theorems and can demonstrate constructing geometrical proofs that require the conjunction of several of them. I can inspire students to consider the material relevant by recounting some of the roles geometrical arguments play in practical applications in engineering, science, business, medicine, and sports.
Physics,

Physics

My first significant tutoring experience was for physics while I was still in high school (per the idea and at the request of struggling friends and classmates who chose well as I graduated top of the class --tutoring them helped me too!). I completed a Bachelor's in Engineering Physics from the University of Alberta in 2000. Joining Wyzant's platform in 2010 I have met many fine students who found my guidance helpful to gain insight and understanding necessary to improve their results in various physics courses, from algebra-based to AP to the standard college-level I and II. High school and college I and II students almost always find my tutoring greatly beneficial, and I find these courses easy to tutor. I consider the usual engineering courses statics and dynamics and mechanics of rigid bodies and strength of materials also among my strengths and I get along with my fellow engineering type people. I am willing to tutor MCAT students for the physics section, if they are willing to self-manage keeping track of what they want to/need to learn. MCAT students are always in a rush usually not allowing themselves enough time ad effort to learn their physics so getting annoyed and impatient with their tutor for failing to explain it so simply they can learn it quickly without practicing. The toughest physics courses I have ever tutored with some success have been most of classical mechanics and parts of thermodynamics, and modern physics. I have no plans to tutor physical chemistry, quantum mechanics, astronomy, meteorology, or statistical thermodynamics, or solid state physics.
Precalculus,

Precalculus

Precalculus is an important and interesting part of every student's life if they are considering taking calculus, arguably the most useful mathematical tool ever invented (and by reputation, perhaps the most intimidating). Building a solid foundation in the trigonometric relations, the relations between the manipulations of an equation and its graph, inverse functions, composite functions, domains, ranges, roots of polynomials, and the like ensures that the study of calculus will not become far more difficult and intimidating than it needs to be. Focus on doing well in precalculus so that you can get through calculus without a headache!
SAT Math,

SAT Math

The SAT Math test is typical of many standardized math tests in that often as not, two or more of the typically four offered answers can be eliminated if one knows some of the most important math shortcuts -- simple facts and observations that can save time or improve accuracy. In most cases, I coach students to put their calculators away. Most SAT questions can be answered correctly without pressing a single key. Only after all questions have been attempted would I normally consider checking work with a calculator. To improve SAT math scores, I work with a student to make sure their understanding of the subject is strong and help work the kinks out of any identified weaknesses in the tested skills. Solid understanding is a prerequisite of sane confidence, a prerequisite to keeping exam stress within healthy and helpful bounds.
Statistics

Statistics

Even though I have never myself encountered a need to take a course purely dedicated to statistics, I have successfully tutored students struggling with concepts in statistics. Perhaps this is because I am very good at math, and tutor a lot of it, and therefore easily understand all of the math involved. It is partly because I have in the past signed out and studied statistics textbooks from the library in order to make sure I was prepared enough to help the stats students who had nowhere else to turn. Finally, part of earning my bachelor's degree in engineering physics required passing a course called "Statistical Thermodynamics" in which I learned about how the statistics of the motions of atoms in a gas, or atoms in a magnet, or molecules in a rubber band, for instance, can be used to help us study various aspects of our world and predict certain properties of it. I earned a perfect score on the final exam in that course. I also encountered aspects of statistics in other courses such as quantum physics, laser electronics, control system theory, and certain physics laboratory experiments. So if you can't find someone in your area who happily will tutor statistics with you, you might be able to twist my arm to help you. Yes, I can tutor beginning statistics students in some of the most basic aspects of statistics without much notice, but I usually do not want to tutor statistics except in person, unless it is the most basic introductory level material or if I can preview the material beforehand and am provided or have time to obtain access to relevant textbooks.

Language

IELTS

IELTS

If you are working on your English, rest assured that as a fellow language learner I can relate to the difficulties you face with the utmost sympathy. There are so many languages that seem to have much better and more logical rules than English does, sometimes, and many of the other languages sound nicer too. For those of you who began life abroad, please know I am also from another country (Canada) and have no bias toward you. Also, I have enjoyed having roommates and floor mates from all over the world as I stayed in residence one year and with various room-and-board arrangements as I spent seven years working through college in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Those experiences and the classes helped me meet and speak with many friends who used English as one of their secondary languages, many of whom had strong accents. I treasure their friendships and enjoyed learning about their cultures. I also started a badminton group here in Pittsburgh and since badminton is not a very well-known sport among Americans yet, many of my valued and popular members come from other countries!

Math

ACT Math,

ACT Math

The ACT math test can be challenging exam to prepare for, especially for students who completed the relevant high school math courses significantly earlier than their test date. It tends to have broader expectations on the depth of math knowledge, especially geometry, than does the SAT, which could catch unprepared students by surprise. I have recently worked through the math and geometry review section of an ACT math prep review book with students who needed a crash course. I have not yet encountered ACT math questions I could not answer, and I would be glad to help anyone who could benefit from additional help.
Algebra 1,

Algebra 1

I am able to help students who, for whatever reason, fall behind their expectations in algebra I. The polynomial and rational functions, exponents and logarithms, radical expressions, factoring, polynomial division, and equation-solving skills and principles studied in Algebra I are foundational skills for investigators in science, managers optimizing business decisions, engineers improving a design, or software developers cracking open new concepts.
Algebra 2,

Algebra 2

As an engineer, I routinely use the skills and principles taught in Algebra 2! Exponents, logarithms and roots come up all the time because many relationships between important factors in a design or description of a natural principle can only be treated as if they were linear, or that is, adequately described using straight lines, to the roughest of approximations. Not having these mathematical tools would make engineering work rather crude. Imagine how the drawings of a Corvette would look if the artist were restricted to use only straight lines! Similarly, complex numbers are very useful for describing periodic waveforms, predicting natural resonances in systems, designing control systems and many other things. I enjoy helping students understand and master the challenge of solving equations involving one or more of these non-linear equations, systems of linear equations.
Calculus,

Calculus

Calculus includes a wide range of powerful mathematical applications based on the idea that many types of analyses work better and reveal more interesting and useful truths (in many cases, surprisingly simple but non-obvious ones) when we exploit the ability to divide regions of interest into an unlimited number of small parts. Many of the most famous results students have learned in other parts of math and science, such as the volume of a sphere, for instance, were discovered using simple calculus techniques. Students expecting to earn credit for calculus in college should anticipate that topics of study to follow in later courses will use calculus. Also, certain kinds of homework problems one is expected to solve in upper-level college courses will use basic calculus skills. I tutor calculus at the level typically taken by high-school students, college freshmen and college sophomores in engineering and science programs. This includes high school calculus, AP calculus AB/BC, business calculus, calculus of sequences and series, multivariable calculus and ordinary differential equations. Sometimes juniors and seniors in other programs take the same courses too. I suppose the applications of calculus in those programs aren't seen as early, often, or as in depth in those programs so it is not as urgent to ensure the students master calculus. I also took partial differential equations and complex-variable calculus courses. I did ok at the time however, I do not tutor those now. Those courses are advanced enough that they mostly are not needed by students unless they are striving to earn their masters or PhD in certain fields, and as I have (so far) ended up choosing not to, I have forgotten too much of them and rarely encounter students looking for help with them.
Civil Engineering,

Civil Engineering

I am qualified to teach statics and dynamics , calculus, physics, circuits, and can often help students who have questions in linear algebra, or inorganic chemistry. These first-year engineering courses common to all branches of engineering are all courses that I passed with good grades in the course of earning my engineering physics degree. I also did well in my strength of materials course and my mechanics of rigid bodies course (2nd year courses in common with most engineering disciplines).
Differential Equations,

Differential Equations

Differential equations, and their digital counterpart, difference equations, are hugely important to the study of many fields. I can help any calculus student learn to solve separable ordinary differential equations, non-separable first order linear equations, second-order linear ordinary differential homogeneous equations with constant coefficients. Students often struggle with the methods of underdetermined coefficients, variation of parameters, and transform techniques such as Fourier transforms, and Laplace transforms. I can help because my degree included all of this material, much of which was applied later in several engineering courses.
Discrete Math,

Discrete Math

In the course of my education and past tutoring experiences, I have developed some familiarity with some topics that are considered discrete math and covered in some discrete math courses, such as Logic and boolean algebra, coding theory, probability, basic combinatorics of combinations, permutations, the basics of graph theory, proving relationships using induction, set theory problems using Venn diagrams or boolean algebra notation, binary number systems (other base number systems), recurrence relations, binomial expansion theorem, Pascal's triangle, conditional probability, and De Morgan's laws.
Electrical Engineering,

Electrical Engineering

I have studied engineering physics (electrical engineering except with more of a research-oriented emphasis on developing an understanding of modern physics). I help students with electrical engineering topics such as circuit theory (DC or AC), signals and systems, digital logic, operational amplifiers, transmission line theory, microprocessor/microcontroller programming (assembly languages or embedded C, etc)., control theory (SISO or MIMO systems). I might also be able to help with certain image processing, PLC/ladder logic, motors, or electronics.
Geometry,

Geometry

Geometry is a fundamental tool with which it is important for every student to be familiar. I help students who have difficulties constructing geometrical figures using a straight-edge and a compass. I understand geometrical theorems and can demonstrate constructing geometrical proofs that require the conjunction of several of them. I can inspire students to consider the material relevant by recounting some of the roles geometrical arguments play in practical applications in engineering, science, business, medicine, and sports.
Linear Algebra,

Linear Algebra

Linear algebra is the study of systems of equations described using matrix and vector notation. It can seem like a chore before you realize the practical applications of it, but it is a chore worth doing well, as it has myriad applications throughout engineering theory. The knowledge of linear algebra simplify the task of solving simultaneous equations. This is ginormous! Why? Because simultaneous equations arise that need to be solved to do structural design in civil engineering, circuit design in electrical, lens design in optics, control systems design. Aspects of it are used in physics to solve quantum mechanical equations, in mechanics to find torque vectors or moments, .... etc. In short, there are untellable numbers of applications, but you'll run into applications of linear algebra time and time again, so learn it thoroughly the first time!
Logic,

Logic

I did very well in my electrical engineering faculties digital logic course. I am also comfortable with boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, truth tables, flip flops. I can tutor for certain problems synchronous (Moore, Mealy) or asynchronous state machine design with enough advance warning. I also became familiar with the application of boolean algebra to close analysis, the analysis of an argument, thanks to an excellent MOOC course on the subject from Duke University.
MATLAB,

MATLAB

I learned a lot about MATLAB because so many of the courses I took to earn my engineering physics degree involved labs which required the students to use MATLAB. I used MATLAB/Simulink for two different controls theory courses and MATLAB with the signal processing toolkit for DSP courses, MATLAB for biomedical image processing course, and used MATLAB for an antenna theory and design course. Since completing my degree, I also used MATLAB for a quadrotor autonomous flight control MOOC. (I am also aware of several other reasonable alternatives for certain tasks students may not realize they have access to even when/if they find themselves without access to MATLAB sometimes need. Some of the ones I am reasonably familiar with include Python, Octave, and desmos).
Mechanical Engineering,

Mechanical Engineering

I have a degree in engineering physics. This is an engineering degree that is similar to electrical engineering. I am qualified to tutor mechanical engineers in any of the first year courses (since these courses are common to all branches of engineering) such as calculus, linear algebra, statics, dynamics, physics for engineers, electric circuits, possible vehicle dynamics and control, etc. In some circumstances I may be able provide some assistance with understanding higher level mech e topics in heat transfer, thermodynamics or fluid dynamics.
Physics,

Physics

My first significant tutoring experience was for physics while I was still in high school (per the idea and at the request of struggling friends and classmates who chose well as I graduated top of the class --tutoring them helped me too!). I completed a Bachelor's in Engineering Physics from the University of Alberta in 2000. Joining Wyzant's platform in 2010 I have met many fine students who found my guidance helpful to gain insight and understanding necessary to improve their results in various physics courses, from algebra-based to AP to the standard college-level I and II. High school and college I and II students almost always find my tutoring greatly beneficial, and I find these courses easy to tutor. I consider the usual engineering courses statics and dynamics and mechanics of rigid bodies and strength of materials also among my strengths and I get along with my fellow engineering type people. I am willing to tutor MCAT students for the physics section, if they are willing to self-manage keeping track of what they want to/need to learn. MCAT students are always in a rush usually not allowing themselves enough time ad effort to learn their physics so getting annoyed and impatient with their tutor for failing to explain it so simply they can learn it quickly without practicing. The toughest physics courses I have ever tutored with some success have been most of classical mechanics and parts of thermodynamics, and modern physics. I have no plans to tutor physical chemistry, quantum mechanics, astronomy, meteorology, or statistical thermodynamics, or solid state physics.
Precalculus,

Precalculus

Precalculus is an important and interesting part of every student's life if they are considering taking calculus, arguably the most useful mathematical tool ever invented (and by reputation, perhaps the most intimidating). Building a solid foundation in the trigonometric relations, the relations between the manipulations of an equation and its graph, inverse functions, composite functions, domains, ranges, roots of polynomials, and the like ensures that the study of calculus will not become far more difficult and intimidating than it needs to be. Focus on doing well in precalculus so that you can get through calculus without a headache!
SAT Math,

SAT Math

The SAT Math test is typical of many standardized math tests in that often as not, two or more of the typically four offered answers can be eliminated if one knows some of the most important math shortcuts -- simple facts and observations that can save time or improve accuracy. In most cases, I coach students to put their calculators away. Most SAT questions can be answered correctly without pressing a single key. Only after all questions have been attempted would I normally consider checking work with a calculator. To improve SAT math scores, I work with a student to make sure their understanding of the subject is strong and help work the kinks out of any identified weaknesses in the tested skills. Solid understanding is a prerequisite of sane confidence, a prerequisite to keeping exam stress within healthy and helpful bounds.
Statistics,

Statistics

Even though I have never myself encountered a need to take a course purely dedicated to statistics, I have successfully tutored students struggling with concepts in statistics. Perhaps this is because I am very good at math, and tutor a lot of it, and therefore easily understand all of the math involved. It is partly because I have in the past signed out and studied statistics textbooks from the library in order to make sure I was prepared enough to help the stats students who had nowhere else to turn. Finally, part of earning my bachelor's degree in engineering physics required passing a course called "Statistical Thermodynamics" in which I learned about how the statistics of the motions of atoms in a gas, or atoms in a magnet, or molecules in a rubber band, for instance, can be used to help us study various aspects of our world and predict certain properties of it. I earned a perfect score on the final exam in that course. I also encountered aspects of statistics in other courses such as quantum physics, laser electronics, control system theory, and certain physics laboratory experiments. So if you can't find someone in your area who happily will tutor statistics with you, you might be able to twist my arm to help you. Yes, I can tutor beginning statistics students in some of the most basic aspects of statistics without much notice, but I usually do not want to tutor statistics except in person, unless it is the most basic introductory level material or if I can preview the material beforehand and am provided or have time to obtain access to relevant textbooks.
Trigonometry,

Trigonometry

The beginning student learns the famous basic applications such as finding the shortest distance between two points or the angles between two directions (or sides of a triangle), and needs to become familiar enough with the ratios of some of the most famous right-angled triangles to be able to solve problems whenever those triangles come up in later courses (and on standardized college admission tests such as the SAT, ACT). The study of trigonometry (triangles), these pointy shapes which are hard to smooth (they all have at least two "sharp" corners -- (ah -- so acute!) is not complete without studying the unit circle and amazingly enough the study of circles (the least pointy of all 2D shapes!) requires we come back "round" to studying triangles! If you need help understanding trigonometry, the unit circle, graphing trig functions, I can help with Desmos. If you are struggling with trigonometric identities, I can help you connect the dots by using a powerful mnemonic device.
Probability

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Algebra 1,

Algebra 1

I am able to help students who, for whatever reason, fall behind their expectations in algebra I. The polynomial and rational functions, exponents and logarithms, radical expressions, factoring, polynomial division, and equation-solving skills and principles studied in Algebra I are foundational skills for investigators in science, managers optimizing business decisions, engineers improving a design, or software developers cracking open new concepts.
Algebra 2,

Algebra 2

As an engineer, I routinely use the skills and principles taught in Algebra 2! Exponents, logarithms and roots come up all the time because many relationships between important factors in a design or description of a natural principle can only be treated as if they were linear, or that is, adequately described using straight lines, to the roughest of approximations. Not having these mathematical tools would make engineering work rather crude. Imagine how the drawings of a Corvette would look if the artist were restricted to use only straight lines! Similarly, complex numbers are very useful for describing periodic waveforms, predicting natural resonances in systems, designing control systems and many other things. I enjoy helping students understand and master the challenge of solving equations involving one or more of these non-linear equations, systems of linear equations.
Calculus,

Calculus

Calculus includes a wide range of powerful mathematical applications based on the idea that many types of analyses work better and reveal more interesting and useful truths (in many cases, surprisingly simple but non-obvious ones) when we exploit the ability to divide regions of interest into an unlimited number of small parts. Many of the most famous results students have learned in other parts of math and science, such as the volume of a sphere, for instance, were discovered using simple calculus techniques. Students expecting to earn credit for calculus in college should anticipate that topics of study to follow in later courses will use calculus. Also, certain kinds of homework problems one is expected to solve in upper-level college courses will use basic calculus skills. I tutor calculus at the level typically taken by high-school students, college freshmen and college sophomores in engineering and science programs. This includes high school calculus, AP calculus AB/BC, business calculus, calculus of sequences and series, multivariable calculus and ordinary differential equations. Sometimes juniors and seniors in other programs take the same courses too. I suppose the applications of calculus in those programs aren't seen as early, often, or as in depth in those programs so it is not as urgent to ensure the students master calculus. I also took partial differential equations and complex-variable calculus courses. I did ok at the time however, I do not tutor those now. Those courses are advanced enough that they mostly are not needed by students unless they are striving to earn their masters or PhD in certain fields, and as I have (so far) ended up choosing not to, I have forgotten too much of them and rarely encounter students looking for help with them.
Geometry,

Geometry

Geometry is a fundamental tool with which it is important for every student to be familiar. I help students who have difficulties constructing geometrical figures using a straight-edge and a compass. I understand geometrical theorems and can demonstrate constructing geometrical proofs that require the conjunction of several of them. I can inspire students to consider the material relevant by recounting some of the roles geometrical arguments play in practical applications in engineering, science, business, medicine, and sports.
Physics,

Physics

My first significant tutoring experience was for physics while I was still in high school (per the idea and at the request of struggling friends and classmates who chose well as I graduated top of the class --tutoring them helped me too!). I completed a Bachelor's in Engineering Physics from the University of Alberta in 2000. Joining Wyzant's platform in 2010 I have met many fine students who found my guidance helpful to gain insight and understanding necessary to improve their results in various physics courses, from algebra-based to AP to the standard college-level I and II. High school and college I and II students almost always find my tutoring greatly beneficial, and I find these courses easy to tutor. I consider the usual engineering courses statics and dynamics and mechanics of rigid bodies and strength of materials also among my strengths and I get along with my fellow engineering type people. I am willing to tutor MCAT students for the physics section, if they are willing to self-manage keeping track of what they want to/need to learn. MCAT students are always in a rush usually not allowing themselves enough time ad effort to learn their physics so getting annoyed and impatient with their tutor for failing to explain it so simply they can learn it quickly without practicing. The toughest physics courses I have ever tutored with some success have been most of classical mechanics and parts of thermodynamics, and modern physics. I have no plans to tutor physical chemistry, quantum mechanics, astronomy, meteorology, or statistical thermodynamics, or solid state physics.
Precalculus,

Precalculus

Precalculus is an important and interesting part of every student's life if they are considering taking calculus, arguably the most useful mathematical tool ever invented (and by reputation, perhaps the most intimidating). Building a solid foundation in the trigonometric relations, the relations between the manipulations of an equation and its graph, inverse functions, composite functions, domains, ranges, roots of polynomials, and the like ensures that the study of calculus will not become far more difficult and intimidating than it needs to be. Focus on doing well in precalculus so that you can get through calculus without a headache!
Statistics

Statistics

Even though I have never myself encountered a need to take a course purely dedicated to statistics, I have successfully tutored students struggling with concepts in statistics. Perhaps this is because I am very good at math, and tutor a lot of it, and therefore easily understand all of the math involved. It is partly because I have in the past signed out and studied statistics textbooks from the library in order to make sure I was prepared enough to help the stats students who had nowhere else to turn. Finally, part of earning my bachelor's degree in engineering physics required passing a course called "Statistical Thermodynamics" in which I learned about how the statistics of the motions of atoms in a gas, or atoms in a magnet, or molecules in a rubber band, for instance, can be used to help us study various aspects of our world and predict certain properties of it. I earned a perfect score on the final exam in that course. I also encountered aspects of statistics in other courses such as quantum physics, laser electronics, control system theory, and certain physics laboratory experiments. So if you can't find someone in your area who happily will tutor statistics with you, you might be able to twist my arm to help you. Yes, I can tutor beginning statistics students in some of the most basic aspects of statistics without much notice, but I usually do not want to tutor statistics except in person, unless it is the most basic introductory level material or if I can preview the material beforehand and am provided or have time to obtain access to relevant textbooks.

Science

Civil Engineering,

Civil Engineering

I am qualified to teach statics and dynamics , calculus, physics, circuits, and can often help students who have questions in linear algebra, or inorganic chemistry. These first-year engineering courses common to all branches of engineering are all courses that I passed with good grades in the course of earning my engineering physics degree. I also did well in my strength of materials course and my mechanics of rigid bodies course (2nd year courses in common with most engineering disciplines).
Electrical Engineering,

Electrical Engineering

I have studied engineering physics (electrical engineering except with more of a research-oriented emphasis on developing an understanding of modern physics). I help students with electrical engineering topics such as circuit theory (DC or AC), signals and systems, digital logic, operational amplifiers, transmission line theory, microprocessor/microcontroller programming (assembly languages or embedded C, etc)., control theory (SISO or MIMO systems). I might also be able to help with certain image processing, PLC/ladder logic, motors, or electronics.
Mechanical Engineering,

Mechanical Engineering

I have a degree in engineering physics. This is an engineering degree that is similar to electrical engineering. I am qualified to tutor mechanical engineers in any of the first year courses (since these courses are common to all branches of engineering) such as calculus, linear algebra, statics, dynamics, physics for engineers, electric circuits, possible vehicle dynamics and control, etc. In some circumstances I may be able provide some assistance with understanding higher level mech e topics in heat transfer, thermodynamics or fluid dynamics.
Physics,

Physics

My first significant tutoring experience was for physics while I was still in high school (per the idea and at the request of struggling friends and classmates who chose well as I graduated top of the class --tutoring them helped me too!). I completed a Bachelor's in Engineering Physics from the University of Alberta in 2000. Joining Wyzant's platform in 2010 I have met many fine students who found my guidance helpful to gain insight and understanding necessary to improve their results in various physics courses, from algebra-based to AP to the standard college-level I and II. High school and college I and II students almost always find my tutoring greatly beneficial, and I find these courses easy to tutor. I consider the usual engineering courses statics and dynamics and mechanics of rigid bodies and strength of materials also among my strengths and I get along with my fellow engineering type people. I am willing to tutor MCAT students for the physics section, if they are willing to self-manage keeping track of what they want to/need to learn. MCAT students are always in a rush usually not allowing themselves enough time ad effort to learn their physics so getting annoyed and impatient with their tutor for failing to explain it so simply they can learn it quickly without practicing. The toughest physics courses I have ever tutored with some success have been most of classical mechanics and parts of thermodynamics, and modern physics. I have no plans to tutor physical chemistry, quantum mechanics, astronomy, meteorology, or statistical thermodynamics, or solid state physics.
ACT Science, Physical Science

Sports/Recreation

Tennis

Tennis

I played badminton in high-school and made it to the county championships. The only player who beat me went on to win provincial gold! There were no consolation games and I don't know whether he beat his other opponents by as much as he beat me. A few years ago I founded a local badminton meetup group and it grew to over 500 members! Badminton is one of the world's most popular sports -- easily as popular as tennis -- it deserves to be listed in its own right here on Wyzant's platform but until it is, I hope they will approve this submission so I can offer help to those who wish to work on strategy and movement in any of the racquet or court games (badminton players tend to move much farther than tennis players and must change direction more often but tennis players reach higher speeds because of the larger court) (or more detailed help for any fellow badminton players!)

Summer

Algebra 1,

Algebra 1

I am able to help students who, for whatever reason, fall behind their expectations in algebra I. The polynomial and rational functions, exponents and logarithms, radical expressions, factoring, polynomial division, and equation-solving skills and principles studied in Algebra I are foundational skills for investigators in science, managers optimizing business decisions, engineers improving a design, or software developers cracking open new concepts.
Algebra 2,

Algebra 2

As an engineer, I routinely use the skills and principles taught in Algebra 2! Exponents, logarithms and roots come up all the time because many relationships between important factors in a design or description of a natural principle can only be treated as if they were linear, or that is, adequately described using straight lines, to the roughest of approximations. Not having these mathematical tools would make engineering work rather crude. Imagine how the drawings of a Corvette would look if the artist were restricted to use only straight lines! Similarly, complex numbers are very useful for describing periodic waveforms, predicting natural resonances in systems, designing control systems and many other things. I enjoy helping students understand and master the challenge of solving equations involving one or more of these non-linear equations, systems of linear equations.
Calculus,

Calculus

Calculus includes a wide range of powerful mathematical applications based on the idea that many types of analyses work better and reveal more interesting and useful truths (in many cases, surprisingly simple but non-obvious ones) when we exploit the ability to divide regions of interest into an unlimited number of small parts. Many of the most famous results students have learned in other parts of math and science, such as the volume of a sphere, for instance, were discovered using simple calculus techniques. Students expecting to earn credit for calculus in college should anticipate that topics of study to follow in later courses will use calculus. Also, certain kinds of homework problems one is expected to solve in upper-level college courses will use basic calculus skills. I tutor calculus at the level typically taken by high-school students, college freshmen and college sophomores in engineering and science programs. This includes high school calculus, AP calculus AB/BC, business calculus, calculus of sequences and series, multivariable calculus and ordinary differential equations. Sometimes juniors and seniors in other programs take the same courses too. I suppose the applications of calculus in those programs aren't seen as early, often, or as in depth in those programs so it is not as urgent to ensure the students master calculus. I also took partial differential equations and complex-variable calculus courses. I did ok at the time however, I do not tutor those now. Those courses are advanced enough that they mostly are not needed by students unless they are striving to earn their masters or PhD in certain fields, and as I have (so far) ended up choosing not to, I have forgotten too much of them and rarely encounter students looking for help with them.
Geometry,

Geometry

Geometry is a fundamental tool with which it is important for every student to be familiar. I help students who have difficulties constructing geometrical figures using a straight-edge and a compass. I understand geometrical theorems and can demonstrate constructing geometrical proofs that require the conjunction of several of them. I can inspire students to consider the material relevant by recounting some of the roles geometrical arguments play in practical applications in engineering, science, business, medicine, and sports.
Physics,

Physics

My first significant tutoring experience was for physics while I was still in high school (per the idea and at the request of struggling friends and classmates who chose well as I graduated top of the class --tutoring them helped me too!). I completed a Bachelor's in Engineering Physics from the University of Alberta in 2000. Joining Wyzant's platform in 2010 I have met many fine students who found my guidance helpful to gain insight and understanding necessary to improve their results in various physics courses, from algebra-based to AP to the standard college-level I and II. High school and college I and II students almost always find my tutoring greatly beneficial, and I find these courses easy to tutor. I consider the usual engineering courses statics and dynamics and mechanics of rigid bodies and strength of materials also among my strengths and I get along with my fellow engineering type people. I am willing to tutor MCAT students for the physics section, if they are willing to self-manage keeping track of what they want to/need to learn. MCAT students are always in a rush usually not allowing themselves enough time ad effort to learn their physics so getting annoyed and impatient with their tutor for failing to explain it so simply they can learn it quickly without practicing. The toughest physics courses I have ever tutored with some success have been most of classical mechanics and parts of thermodynamics, and modern physics. I have no plans to tutor physical chemistry, quantum mechanics, astronomy, meteorology, or statistical thermodynamics, or solid state physics.
SAT Math,

SAT Math

The SAT Math test is typical of many standardized math tests in that often as not, two or more of the typically four offered answers can be eliminated if one knows some of the most important math shortcuts -- simple facts and observations that can save time or improve accuracy. In most cases, I coach students to put their calculators away. Most SAT questions can be answered correctly without pressing a single key. Only after all questions have been attempted would I normally consider checking work with a calculator. To improve SAT math scores, I work with a student to make sure their understanding of the subject is strong and help work the kinks out of any identified weaknesses in the tested skills. Solid understanding is a prerequisite of sane confidence, a prerequisite to keeping exam stress within healthy and helpful bounds.
Statistics,

Statistics

Even though I have never myself encountered a need to take a course purely dedicated to statistics, I have successfully tutored students struggling with concepts in statistics. Perhaps this is because I am very good at math, and tutor a lot of it, and therefore easily understand all of the math involved. It is partly because I have in the past signed out and studied statistics textbooks from the library in order to make sure I was prepared enough to help the stats students who had nowhere else to turn. Finally, part of earning my bachelor's degree in engineering physics required passing a course called "Statistical Thermodynamics" in which I learned about how the statistics of the motions of atoms in a gas, or atoms in a magnet, or molecules in a rubber band, for instance, can be used to help us study various aspects of our world and predict certain properties of it. I earned a perfect score on the final exam in that course. I also encountered aspects of statistics in other courses such as quantum physics, laser electronics, control system theory, and certain physics laboratory experiments. So if you can't find someone in your area who happily will tutor statistics with you, you might be able to twist my arm to help you. Yes, I can tutor beginning statistics students in some of the most basic aspects of statistics without much notice, but I usually do not want to tutor statistics except in person, unless it is the most basic introductory level material or if I can preview the material beforehand and am provided or have time to obtain access to relevant textbooks.
Tennis

Tennis

I played badminton in high-school and made it to the county championships. The only player who beat me went on to win provincial gold! There were no consolation games and I don't know whether he beat his other opponents by as much as he beat me. A few years ago I founded a local badminton meetup group and it grew to over 500 members! Badminton is one of the world's most popular sports -- easily as popular as tennis -- it deserves to be listed in its own right here on Wyzant's platform but until it is, I hope they will approve this submission so I can offer help to those who wish to work on strategy and movement in any of the racquet or court games (badminton players tend to move much farther than tennis players and must change direction more often but tennis players reach higher speeds because of the larger court) (or more detailed help for any fellow badminton players!)

Test Preparation

ACT Math,

ACT Math

The ACT math test can be challenging exam to prepare for, especially for students who completed the relevant high school math courses significantly earlier than their test date. It tends to have broader expectations on the depth of math knowledge, especially geometry, than does the SAT, which could catch unprepared students by surprise. I have recently worked through the math and geometry review section of an ACT math prep review book with students who needed a crash course. I have not yet encountered ACT math questions I could not answer, and I would be glad to help anyone who could benefit from additional help.
ASVAB,

ASVAB

I'm an engineering physics graduate who grew up on a farm. This background gives me strong skills in math, physics, electric circuits and basic electronics, simple machines and engines , chemistry which make me able to help many of the students preparing for the asvab. Also, I got good at standardized tests. I was one of only 6 students in my county who earned a "100%" on the state- wide standardized final worth 50% of my final grade in senior high school math, making me class valedictorian.
GMAT,

GMAT

I tutor a lot of math and science and use logical and analytical skills often enough that I was able to score 100% on both of the short but representative sample GMAT quizzes I have seen so far when researching to see whether I could help GMAT students.
GRE,

GRE

I have worked with a small number of other undergraduates or bachelor's degree holders preparing to take the GRE. Perhaps math has never been your strong suit or perhaps you did ok or even excelled in math at one time, but didn't use much math in your program or maybe only in freshman year. It happens to many GRE applicants! I have the patience and the time to help anyone recover (or if necessary, develop) mathematical skills necessary to excel on the quantitative portion of the GRE. My first GRE student left me what I consider a very positive review. I tutor a lot of math which is more demanding and a wide variety of math courses. This is probably partly why I am able to tutor GRE quantitative section effectively despite never having taken the GRE myself.
IELTS,

IELTS

If you are working on your English, rest assured that as a fellow language learner I can relate to the difficulties you face with the utmost sympathy. There are so many languages that seem to have much better and more logical rules than English does, sometimes, and many of the other languages sound nicer too. For those of you who began life abroad, please know I am also from another country (Canada) and have no bias toward you. Also, I have enjoyed having roommates and floor mates from all over the world as I stayed in residence one year and with various room-and-board arrangements as I spent seven years working through college in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Those experiences and the classes helped me meet and speak with many friends who used English as one of their secondary languages, many of whom had strong accents. I treasure their friendships and enjoyed learning about their cultures. I also started a badminton group here in Pittsburgh and since badminton is not a very well-known sport among Americans yet, many of my valued and popular members come from other countries!
MCAT,

MCAT

I have a strong background in physics, so I can help MCAT students who struggle with the physics portion of the MCAT. If you can identify any specific area(s) of physics or any particular questions on sample MCAT exams that confuse you, send them to me. I am sure I will be able to help you if the question tests your knowledge of physics and we can set up an appointment promptly to meet your needs.
SAT Math,

SAT Math

The SAT Math test is typical of many standardized math tests in that often as not, two or more of the typically four offered answers can be eliminated if one knows some of the most important math shortcuts -- simple facts and observations that can save time or improve accuracy. In most cases, I coach students to put their calculators away. Most SAT questions can be answered correctly without pressing a single key. Only after all questions have been attempted would I normally consider checking work with a calculator. To improve SAT math scores, I work with a student to make sure their understanding of the subject is strong and help work the kinks out of any identified weaknesses in the tested skills. Solid understanding is a prerequisite of sane confidence, a prerequisite to keeping exam stress within healthy and helpful bounds.
ACT Science

Examples of Expertise

Isaak has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 65 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

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Ratings and Reviews

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Reviews

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All reviews patient helpful understanding knowledgeable prepared

Featured review

awesome!

Isaak did a great job helping me review material for my exam. He was extremely knowledgeable and helpful and explained things in multiple ways to help me better understand.

Chau, 1 lesson with Isaak

Very Knowledgeable. Thorough and patient

Sensors and transducers and linear systems topics. Very knowledgeable in matlab. Takes interest and sends alternate ways To solve problems after the class is over. Very patient and knows the subject very well.

Lavanya, 12 lessons with Isaak

super helpful!

Super super helpful! Came out with a good understanding on a topic that I absolute did not understand to begin with!

Sarah, 3 lessons with Isaak

Very knowledgeable tutor

Isaak saved my grade by helping me on my MATLAB project and teaching me some cool features all the while, he’s very knowledgeable and a great tutor

Shadan, 3 lessons with Isaak

super helpful!

Super super helpful! Came out with a good understanding on a topic that I absolute did not understand to begin with!

Sarah, 3 lessons with Isaak

Excellent tutor. Have been through more than a couple and I think I found the best

Issak helped me with analog circuits for a college sophomore-level course. He is sharp and knows this material even without refreshing himself first. I will definitely be a regular when he has the time.

Ryan, 3 lessons with Isaak

Excellent

Excellent tutor wonderful mentoring skills, polite, upbeat, and knowledgeable. I was able to gain a lot for our session. I will most certainty ask to use him again.

Sherri, 5 lessons with Isaak

Phenomenal Tutor for anyone struggling

I have struggled through my college physics and calculus courses without grasping many of the concepts. I have met with Isaak multiple times now and he has been able to help me get back to the basics and fully understand them before moving on to more complex concepts. He is always willing to stop and explain when I am struggling to understand any concept or problem. Very nice guy with an abundance of knowledge and excellent teaching skills. Would recommend him to anyone who appreciates a patient teacher that can explain things in a simpler manner (unlike some professors).

Corbin, 4 lessons with Isaak

Very Knowledgeable. Thorough and patient

Sensors and transducers and linear systems topics. Very knowledgeable in matlab. Takes interest and sends alternate ways To solve problems after the class is over. Very patient and knows the subject very well.

Lavanya, 12 lessons with Isaak

Signals and Systems

Isaak helped me to understand questions I had regarding a signals and systems course. Additionally, Isaak was very knowledgeable and made sure he fully explained every detail when going over a question.

Emil, 6 lessons with Isaak
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Isaak B.

$48/hour

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Response time: 2 hours