Posts in category math

Math Speed Test to Help Your Child Excel in Math

Nov01
2011 Leave a Comment

Math is one of the most dreaded and difficult subjects in school. It has always been a parent’s problem how to encourage and how to make things easier for their children especially with Math concepts. This might be a cliché but it is true – “Practice makes it perfect”. It will even be greater if you can practice it with speed test. Why use a speed test? This is important to entice your child to excel in any Math concept (addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division). Initially, it may seem like you are putting or adding more pressure to your child but the benefit of a speed test will pay off in the end. It will provide children the confidence to work around difficult Math problems and will build their strength on their Math skills.

How to start and use speed test with your kid

When your child has already acquired the skill of recognizing numbers and has already learned the concept of addition, you start first with an untimed test. Once she is comfortable with the untimed test, you can begin to introduce the timed test. Speed test should be done in a pace otherwise pressure will set in and learning will be more difficult for them.

Use window cards or flash cards – You can either buy ready-made flash cards or you can make one with your kids. You can involve your kids in making these window or flash cards so they will be more interested in them because they know they took part in making the cards. Have them do the tracing in a board paper and supervise them in cutting the dotted lines. You can have it covered with a plastic if you want to use it for a long time. Put the equations in the front and the answers at the back of the board paper.

Once you are ready with the window cards, you can begin with your speed test. Let them answer the equation in the flash or window cards and make them beat their own time. This will eventually help them pick up their speed and in no time you will see that computing Math problems is like a swift breeze for them.

Math Tips and Tricks for Your Kids

Nov01
2011 Leave a Comment

Most of the time kids will have a difficult time learning the basic Math concepts especially when they just have a mastered one topic then a new one will be introduced. This will usually be a daunting task for them. There is however some tips and tricks that will be very helpful and useful when teaching your kids how to work with the new concept. It will help them a lot if you can teach them ways how to lessen their time or shorten ways in making computations.

Multiplication can be a little confusing for kids so here are some of the tips and tricks that you can share with them when they are multiplying numbers with 0, 1, or 10.

Tips and tricks in multiplying numbers by 0

In multiplying any number with zero the answer will always be equals to zero no matter how small or big the number is. Examples are given below:

1 x 0 = 0
23 x 0 = 0
456 x 0 = 0
7,890 x 0 = 0
1,234,567.89 x 0 = 0

Tips and tricks in multiplying numbers by 1

In multiplying any number with one the answer will always be equals to the number itself no matter how small or big the number is. Examples are given below:

1 x 1 = 1
23 x 1 = 23
456 x 1 = 456
7,890 x 1 = 7,890
1,234,567.89 x 1 = 1,234,567.89

Tips and tricks in multiplying numbers by 10

In multiplying any number with ten the answer will always be equals to the number itself only with a zero added at the end (no matter how small or big the number is). Examples are given below:

1 x 10 = 10
23 x 10 = 230
456 x 10 = 4,560
7,890 x 10 = 78,900
1,234,567.89 x 10 = 12,345,678.90

Making Math Fun and Easy

Nov01
2011 Leave a Comment

Math has been a waterloo for many kids.  Teaching and learning Math has always been a challenging task for both parents and kids.  It even makes it hard to teach if we do it the conventional way.  Fortunately, there are ways to go about teaching it without making it sound like so intimidating.  Here are some tips on how to make it fun and easy.

Play games and activities – Make Math more interesting for your kids by playing incorporating games and activities that your child enjoys.  You can use board games to teach them the fundamentals of Math.  For instance, you can play Monopoly board games that involves money and simple or basic Math like addition and subtraction.  This way kids will not be intimidated with it because they are having fun.

Use toys to teach your kids – Do away with the usual sticks or blocks.  Get some of their favorite toys and use it to teach them how to add, subtract, multiply, or divide.  This will get your kid’s interest and will be much easier since learning will be associated with their favorite toys and they won’t ever have to think about Math as a boring subject.  You don’t have to buy expensive toys.  You just have to make use of what they already have.

Tell stories or use real-life situations when solving Math problems – It will be much easier for your kids to understand Math if you can use practical examples when solving Math problems.  You can think of a scenario when you solve Algebra problems.  For instance, when you are doing your grocery, you can think of a situation and use it to solve an unknown.

Math doesn’t have to be that difficult.  Remember that you were once a child and maybe you have encountered the same difficulty when studying the subject.  So make it more interesting and simple for your child.

How To Start Kids Early With Their Math Skills

Sep24
2011 5 Comments

can start to be developed at a very early age. Here is a quick guide or cheat sheet that home schoolers and parents can use that shows what math skills to work on based on your childs age.

Count to 5.
Put objects in order by size.
Sort objects by shape and color.
Learn the meaning of math vocabulary words, such as: big, small, large, tiny, round, etc.
Learn to respond to math vocabulary commands such as: “Give me some pennies.” “Give me more pennies.” “Give me fewer pennies.” “Put the penny (in, above, below, beside, inside, outside, underneath, over) the glass.” “Put the penny between the glasses.”
Learn concepts about volume by playing with rice or sand and various kinds of containers.
Learn concepts about volume by playing with water and various kinds of containers.

Count to 10, then 25.
Learn to match objects one to one (one to one correspondence).
Learn the names of a circle, square, triangle, and rectangle.
Sort objects by shape and color.
Put objects in order by height.
Learn to recognize a penny and a dime.
Learn to recognize numbers from 1 to 10, then up to 25 (use flashcards).
Learn to write numbers 1-12 starting at age 5. (Some children have trouble with 2, 3, 8, and 9 and may reverse them for a while. This is normal.)
Learn to match the correct number of objects to numbers up to 12.
Learn to respond to math commands, such as: “Put the penny (in front of, behind) the cup.” “Put some water in this bowl. Put less water in this bowl.” “Put more water in this bowl.” “Put the string around the cup.” “Put the penny first in line. Put the dime second in line.” “Put the pennies first and second in line. Put the dime third.” Put the pennies first, second, and third. Now put the dime fourth.” “Point to the second (or sixth, or eighth, or tenth) penny (in a line).”
Learn concepts about volume by playing with rice or sand and various kinds of containers.
Learn concepts about volume by playing with water and various kinds of containers.
Pick a shape that is different out from a group of other shapes.
Pick all the shapes that are the same out from a group of shapes.
Pick a number that is different out from a group of other numbers.
Pick all the numbers that are the same out from a group of numbers.
Find “hidden pictures” in a background picture.
Find your way through a maze (on paper).
Create a simple pattern using two or more colors.
Create a pattern using two colors and one or two shapes.

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Learn to count to 100, then 500.
Learn to count backwards from 10 to 1, then 20 to 1.
Learn to “count on,” i.e.; give the child a number and he or she must count on from that number. For example: Give “33.” The child should say, 34, 35, 36, 37, etc.
Learn the concept, name, and symbol for 0.
Learn to write numbers 0-100.
Learn to recognize number names (printed) 0 to ten.
Learn the signs: plus (add) minus (take away, subtract), and equals (equal to, equal).
Learn to add numbers to 10, then 20 using manipulatives. Later, memorize the facts.
Learn to subtract numbers from 10, then 20 using manipulatives. Later, memorize the facts.
Learn to skip count by 10s and 5s. (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, etc.)
Learn to solve simple word problems up to 20.
Learn the sign X (i.e.; times).
Learn to multiply numbers: 2s, 1s, 10s, 5s, 0s (in that order) using manipulatives.
Learn place value for ones and tens.
Learn to recognize the nickel, quarter, half dollar, dollar bill.
Learn the worth of each coin and bill.
Learn to add money.
Learn the names of the hour, minute, and second hands on a clock.
Learn how many minutes in an hour, half, and quarter hour.
Learn to tell time on a manual (not digital) clock.
Learn to solve simple word problems about money.
Learn to solve simple word problems about time.
Learn fractions: one-half.

Learn to count to 1,000.
Learn to skip count by 2s, 3s, 100s, and 1,000s.
Learn place value for tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands, etc.
Learn to add numbers in two, then three, four, and five places (i.e.; 25, 693, 3,089), without carrying over (regrouping) and then with carrying over (regrouping).
Learn to subtract numbers in two, then three, four, and five places (i.e.; 42, 978, 1576), without borrowing (regrouping) and then with borrowing (regrouping).
Learn the multiplication tables 0-12 using manipulatives.
Memorize the multiplication tables.
Learn to divide using manipulatives.
Learn the signs for division.
Learn to divide using the multiplication tables. For example: 6 X 8 = 48. 48 / 8 = 6  and 48 / 6 = 8
Learn to subtract money.
Learn to make change.
Learn to solve word problems about money.
Learn to solve word problems about time, including days, months, and years.
Learn measurement (English/American and metric): linear.
Learn fractions: all types, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
Learn decimals.
Learn simple percentages: 10%, 50%, 25%.

Continue learning fractions.
Continue learning decimals.
Learn percentages.
Learn measurement (English/American and metric): volume.
Begin simple algebra.
Begin simple geometry.
Learn to solve word problems with two or three steps.

Algebra
Geometry
Trigonometry
Learn to solve word problems with many steps.
Calculus
Consumer Math (Computing interest, tax, comparing prices, etc.).

MathsHands

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Question by Joshua A: Math ?….?
I’ve always been alright at math, taking Academic level classes in high school and completing up to Alg. II. My question is: Since my college path requires me to take up to Calc I, will I be alright at it? How difficult will it be for a so-so math student?

Best answer:

Answer by burgler09
ehh when you get into college just take precalc. If you do calc homework its not that hard.. I usually teach myself the chapter the morning of the tests and have not gotten lower than a b+ on a test.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!