Education, Math, and Miscellaneous Articles

Trigonometry for Dopes - What's Your Sine?
Trigonometry is a word which derives from the Greek, meaning "measure of triangles." Its origins can be traced back to early Mesopotamia where sailors and navigators invented this discipline to help determine position and location. To think an act so simple as the measurement of triangles and the study of relationships between its angles and sides could harbinger the development of a mathematical discipline which in turn would find itself involved in such diverse fields as astronomy, navigation, music theory, acoustics, optics, electronics, economics, number theory, pharmacy, chemistry, geodesy, cartography, crystallography, architecture, oceanography, engineering, game theory, ultrasound, cryptography, meteorology, seismography, medical imaging (i.e. CAT scans), phonetics, statistics, and biology, to name a few-then you have thought rightly. [January 07, 2008 04:08:26 pm]

Why Study Math? Trigonometry and SOHCAHTOA
Trigonometry is that curious branch of mathematics that deals with the measurements and relationships of the various triangles and their sides and angles. It would appear hard to imagine that so seemingly unglamorous a discipline as this would find itself intertwined in so many physical applications of the world around us and in many branches of physics and upper mathematics. Yet this is indeed the case. [January 03, 2008 08:34:42 am]

Start the Year Right - Work Your Brain
Now that the New Year is upon us it's time to start putting all those creative resolutions into action. Do you want this year to be a same boring repeat of last year or do you want to make those changes that will really impact your life in a positive way? Even if last year was a good one, it's time to make this one an even better one. Let's start by resolving to work our brains so that all the other things fall into place. [January 02, 2008 01:44:32 pm]

So How Smart Are You Really?
Why is being smart so important? And of the two, being smart or being beautiful, which one ranks first? What if you are one of the lucky ones that is both smart and beautiful-and what if you are also rich? God, some people are so darn lucky! Really, being smart is considered an important attribute and most people would never admit to being anything less. So how do we determine whether you are smart or not, and if you pass muster, how do we rank you by degree of smartness? [January 02, 2008 10:34:44 am]

Materialism - How Much is Enough?
How materialistic our children have become never ceases to amaze me. Did you ever look at what our children want and desire and how much these things cost? Ed Hardy is making a killing marketing to our kids and so is Michael Jordan with his never ending barrage of new-release Air Jordans. How much is enough? What happened to the days of $2.95 Converses and $5 Levi Jeans? No wonder our country is in the mess it is. [December 31, 2007 02:15:07 pm]

Making Money Fast - The Secret Is There Is No Secret
You've read hundreds of the self-help books, in which the gurus tout a thousand ways to make money and become an almost instant millionaire. The internet is littered with hundreds - yes thousands - of programs that promise incomes of thousands per day, even per hour. You were gullible enough to sign up and purchase some of these supposed "wealth-panaceas." Yet you're still living paycheck to paycheck. How come? Read on. [October 09, 2007 12:11:55 pm]

Why Study Math? - The Mathematics of Finance - Calculating Your Mortgage Payment
In the first two parts of this series we discussed how compound interest is computed and the effects of various compounding on your net return. Here we discuss how that dreaded of all dreaded payments is calculated. What is it? - yes, you got it, that death pledge of a debt - the mortgage. You'll want to read this. [October 08, 2007 01:02:30 pm]

Why Study Math? - The Mathematics of Finance - Interest - Part II
In the first part of this article series on the mathematics of finance, we discussed the compound interest formula and how it is used to calculate the accumulated value of money deposited over time. In this next part, we examine the different methods of compounding and the impact this has on the growth of your money. The interesting thing of all this compounding stuff is that you will see that regardless of how frequently we compound, at some point we reach an upper limit. In other words, frequent compounding helps but at some point you have to do more than just leave your money with "Frequent Compounding Bank USA" to get more of a return. Keep reading. [October 02, 2007 10:51:42 am]

Why Study Math? - The Mathematics of Finance - Interest - Part I
All right kids. So you hate math and you don't care whether you do well in this subject or not. But know one thing. Mathematics is the language of money. That's right. Whether we're talking interest on CD's or bonds, dividend yields on stocks, or returns on investment for a business venture, math is the lingua franca-or universal language. So remember that if you don't learn math well, you just might be giving an opportunity to some other hungry kid who wants to own more Jordan sneakers than you. Simply put: if you want the goodies in life, you best learn now that math can lead you to the land of fruit and nuts. [October 01, 2007 03:58:22 pm]

Algebra for Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - Absolute Value Part IV
The last of this series deals with those absolute value inequalities which are greater than some other value. These inequalities fall under the disjunctive case because the graph of these produces two distinct regions on the number line. In other words, the regions are separated by the area in between, and because of this separation we give these inequalities the name "disjunctive," or separate. As you will see after reading this piece, these inequalities are quite simple to solve. [September 26, 2007 02:05:22 pm]

Algebra For Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - Absolute Value Part III
With this article, we move into the realm of absolute value inequalities. Yuk! I can hear the groans now. Yet wait! These curiosity provoking creatures don't have to inflict as much pain as you think. So if you're worrying about you're next algebra test because the topic of absolute value inequalities will reign supreme, hang on to your hat and read the next two parts of this series of articles. You'll be glad that you did. [September 24, 2007 02:25:24 pm]

Algebra For Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - Absolute Value Part II
As we discussed in Part I of this series on absolute value, this topic is an absolute killer in algebra because of the choice that this concept presents. Absolute value can mean more than one thing, and as such, this duality of nature, so to speak, can wreak havoc on the less than intrepid warriors of algebra. However, if we break this concept down for what it really is, absolute value should never be a problem at all. You can then worry about the thousand and one other things in mathematics that are troublesome. [September 24, 2007 02:23:58 pm]

Sudoku, Crossword Puzzles, and Math - A Lovely Trio
You know I have not yet caught on to the sudoku craze but from what I understand this puzzle game can become quite addictive. Maybe that's the reason I havent dived in yet. You see, there is something delectably delightful about solving puzzles and other brain teasers and I simply have way too much to do already. Yet with all my busyness, I try to get in a good crossword or two from time to time, and I make sure to do some brain teasers. You should too and here's why. [September 18, 2007 08:12:55 am]

Algebra for Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - Absolute Value Part I
One of the topics that is an absolute killer (no pun intended) in algebra and indeed higher branches of mathematics is absolute value. Yes that dreaded symbol "| |" of two straight vertical bars with some expression in between is usually enough to send shudders through most students. Yet this is not the way it has to be. You just need to know how to break this concept down into its bare components. [September 05, 2007 02:28:46 pm]

Calculus for Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - The Limit Part II
In Part I of this series of articles, we introduced the concept of limit and discussed how this seemingly simple concept launched a branch of mathematics which would come to be known as the calculus. As we learned, the limit is nothing more than a value which is approached by a function when we let the independent variable become arbitrarily close to some value. Aside from defining the derivative-an essential function in all of calculus-the limit allows us to talk about things like division by zero. How strange! [September 04, 2007 04:21:45 pm]

Calculus for Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - The Limit Part I
When Sir Isaac Newton was among other things working out the orbits of the planets in the 1600's, he realized that the mathematics of the day were simply-well-too simple. Thus he invented a new branch of mathematics called the calculus. What was different about this new math was that it enabled one to deal with "infinitesimals," or extremely small quantities. In fact, by virtue of these infinitesimals, mathematicians can calculate such things as the exact velocity of a moving body at any particular instant in time, or the exact area of a bizarrely irregular shape. The limit is one of the key aspects of calculus that allows us to do these extraordinary things. [August 29, 2007 10:31:37 am]

Don't Shoot Me, I'm Just The Math Teacher!
Yes, all you high school math teachers out there. The time has come for another year of teaching that dreaded of all dreaded subjects - math. No matter you teach basic math, algebra, or pre-calculus, the reaction of the students on that first day is always the same - fear. And because of the pain, you the math teacher, are going to inflict all year round on the students, with all those nasty tests, dreaded homework assignments, projects, and what-have-you's, those thirty or so pairs of eyes in that first class are going to drill you so deep on that first day that you are going to want to shout, "Don't shoot me, I'm just the math teacher." [August 24, 2007 08:55:40 am]

Algebra For Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - The Quadratic Equation - Part V
In Part V of this series, we examine how we solve the last class of factorable quadratics of the form ax^2 + bx - c, in which the b-term is positive and the c-term is negative. Such an example would be x^2 + 4x - 5. This subclass of quadratics are as easily solvable as those of the "bc-negative" class discussed in Part IV of this series. [August 24, 2007 08:54:14 am]

Algebra For Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - The Quadratic Equation - Part IV
In Part IV of this series, we examine how we solve factorable quadratics of the form ax^2 - bx - c, in which both the b and c terms are negative. Such an example would be x^2 - 4x - 5. This subclass of quadratics, which we will call the "bc-negatives," are easily solvable using the factoring techniques we learned about in Parts II and III of this series of articles. [August 24, 2007 08:52:57 am]

Algebra for Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - The Quadratic Equation - Part III
In Part III of this series, we examine how we solve factorable quadratics of the form ax^2 - bx + c, in which both the a and c terms are positive, but the b, or middle term, is negative. Such an example would be x^2 - 5x + 6. This class of quadratics, which we will call the "b-negatives" are easily solvable using the factoring techniques we learned about in Part II. [August 23, 2007 01:32:37 pm]

Algebra for Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - The Quadratic Equation - Part II
As mentioned in Part I of this series, mastering algebra requires little more than clear-cut explanation and some concerted practice. Conquering the diverse aspects of this field necessitates focused thought and willingness to see through the trees to view the forest. Rather than view algebra - which encompasses many different topics and has vast extensions throughout - in one fell swoop, it is much better to view this subject piecemeal. This is the approach that will be taken in this series of articles. [August 20, 2007 03:23:25 pm]

Great Teachers Don't Write Lesson Plans
When I think back to teaching high school, one of the most dreaded things was writing lesson plans. I realize now that great teachers should not have to write lesson plans. Great teachers should worry about teaching great lessons. Looking back, I realize I wasted a huge amount of time writing lesson plans that I never really used and ones that nobody really looked at. So why all the fuss? [August 20, 2007 01:44:28 pm]

Algebra for Dopes - It Ain't That Hard - The Quadratic Equation Part I
When Persian mathematician al-Kwarizmi formulated the first algebraic principles, his purpose was to solve equations that up to his time were unsolvable by the methods then available. This math whiz doubtless was unaware that he would start a discipline which would thousands of years later cause all kinds of trouble for misguided high school students. Indeed the word algebra is derived from the word al-jabr, one of the two operations used to solve quadratic equations; and quadratic equations have enjoyed a royal romp of thousands of students throughout the ages since al-Kwarizmi's time. Yet it doesn't have to be this way. [July 03, 2007 01:05:09 pm]

Your Kids Can Conquer Fractions
Your kids can learn to conquer fractions. The most important thing is that they not acquire an unnecessary fear of these tamable mathematical creatures. Many times, kids fear things because they have overheard parents or adults say things like, "I hated math too, Sue, so don't feel so bad," or "I know. Fractions are the pits, Johnny." Rather than instill fear of the unknown, you as parents, need to instill joyous expectancy. [June 20, 2007 01:38:25 pm]

This is One Tough World in Which to Raise Kids
The world of today is not a favorable one in which to raise kids. With morals falling to unprecedented lows and both parents working round the clock to maintain just the barest essentials of a lifestyle, kids are being left exposed to a world of internet porn, harsh and strife-inducing music, and a whole array of other toxic mental poison. Technology, while blessing us with comforts and conveniences that would have been unimaginable just a generation ago, has spawned economic hardship for parents trying to give their kids the latest high-tech fodder. Basically, what this new world paradigm has done is place unprecedented pressure on parents trying to raise healthy, responsible children. [June 19, 2007 01:20:00 pm]

Why Study Math? - The Odds of Becoming Rich
So you think you can strike it rich with the lotto? Well, maybe you can, but I have to tell you that the odds are not that good. In fact, according to mathematics your odds of winning are essentially nil. Understanding math and probability will allow you to calculate your probability of striking it rich in any given year, but then again maybe this knowledge might depress you somewhat- for the chance of you getting that big check is actually a lot less than your chance of being struck by lightning. [May 30, 2007 09:28:47 am]

Math Can Be Strange but Quantum Physics is Even Stranger - Part II
"A whiff of a quiff is enough of a sniff to cause quite a tiff though quixotic the riff." - Author known but intentionally not revealed At the subatomic level some really strange things start to happen: new worlds of thought and curiosity are opened up, the improbable becomes highly probable, and the usual becomes quite the unusual. In fact, it is at this level that man starts to contemplate the reality of his own existence since quantum physics dares one to ask the question, "Is reality real, or just a figment of my imagination?" [May 29, 2007 09:50:25 am]

Recipe for Success in Math
Obviously, math is important in the real world. What is amazing to me is how many people get by without an even basic understanding of this most helpful subject. True, most people do not need to understand what a topological space is, or why certain functions are continuous and others not, or what the relevance of this idea is anyway; but knowing how to be quick with numbers, and understanding the nature of fractions and how they are used in the real world, as well as knowing the basics of geometry, are an absolute necessity to do better than average in this difficult world we live in. [May 26, 2007 01:40:11 pm]

Math Can Be Strange but Quantum Physics is Even Stranger - Part I
Indeed math can be strange. Especially when one delves into the upper echelons of this most mystifying discipline: multidimensional spaces, transfinite numbers, non-Euclidean geometries-you name it. But when you start reading about quantum physics and all the strange things that happen at the most microscopic of microscopic levels, then you really start to realize that math is not all that strange. [May 10, 2007 08:30:49 am]

Fractions- Why Are They So Hard?
Not even signed numbers cause as many problems as those two-headed monsters called fractions. But why so much trouble? Maybe because fractions have a dual nature, that is, they consist of the numerator and denominator, and most of us are poor at multitasking. But did you know that once you master fractions, you learn to handle multiple tasks as well? This is one of the benefits of mastering these pesky little creatures. [May 05, 2007 09:25:43 am]

James Bond and Math- Two of a Kind
Anyone who has watched any of the classic James Bond movies, particularly the earlier ones like "Diamonds are Forever" with Sean Connery, and "Live and Let Die" with Roger Moore, knows that the man with the plan, namely Agent 007, was beyond cool. He could woo the beauties like no other, defend himself in any of a dozen ways, get out of the tightest spots imaginable, and adapt comfortably to any situation, whether this find him trapped in a sewer with rats, or cavorting in a tuxedo while attending the latest royal function. With all his debonair mannerisms and sophisticated abilities, do you really think James Bond was a pushover in math? I highly doubt it. [April 30, 2007 08:21:31 am]

What's Wrong with Education in America?
Why is education so bad in America compared to other countries? I'm sick and tired of reading and hearing about all the bad things in the American educational system. As a former teacher of both college and high school mathematics, I find my insides turning every time I read a report on how we are failing our children. But are we failing, or are there other factors which need to be addressed? Let's take a look at these. [April 28, 2007 05:35:15 pm]

Why Study Calculus? - How About Cube Roots Without a Calculator!
If you thought that the only purpose of calculus was to confuse you, then think again. Continuing with my Why Study Calculus? series, I discuss yet another application of this branch of mathematics to numbers. Numbers and the operations performed on them are the linchpins to mathematics, and all higher branches are one way or another intimately linked to their inherent properties. One nice application of the Calculus to numbers is the approximation of cube roots. What is enticing is that this technique can be done without a calculator and without even a knowledge of the underlying theory. [April 19, 2007 04:55:14 am]

The Secret to Life - It's All in a Word
People are always looking hard to find the answers to things that are quite simple. Take life for example. How many times have you heard someone ask, "What's the secret to life?" You sit there scratching your head saying to yourself that if you knew the answer, you wouldn't be where you were today. However, you and I do know the answer to this question- we just might not have been exposed to its effects enough, and for this very reason, are not able to experience the power of its knowledge. The secret, you see, all lies in a word. [April 18, 2007 09:10:07 am]

Do Your Kids a Favor - Take Away the Calculator
The kids of today are so different from those of only a generation ago. Heck. I'm quite computer literate and am pretty good with electronic gadgets, but I can't even place a close second to my two kids' ability with video games and other technological toys. Yet this ability with gadgets has placed our children at a disadvantage as well. You see. They have come to lean too heavily on the electronic calculator, and this dependency has severely weakened their ability in math. [April 13, 2007 02:52:43 pm]

Mathematics and the KISS Principle
Keep it simple, stupid! That phrase resounds in your brain while you contemplate how it could ever be applied to your current course in mathematics. You remember hearing that if you kept things simple, then things would keep you. Yet you're mired in difficulty, you need to get a decent grade in your current course, and all you can think of is failure, failure, failure. What do you do? [April 08, 2007 01:57:24 pm]

Why Study Math? Prime Numbers
Remember when you were back in grade school and your teacher was going over basic arithmetic and numbers? You learned basic facts about division, as for example, how to know whether a given number is divisible by 2 or 3. You also learned about composite numbers and prime numbers. You sat there scratching your head wondering how in God's name such a thing as a prime number would ever have any use other than to give young children homework headaches. But then again God has a funny way of letting each one of his creations participate in the grand scheme of things - yes even creations like numbers. [April 03, 2007 01:17:03 pm]

Hey, Who Said You Couldn't Do Math? - It's All in Your Head
So you think you can't do math, huh? Well, what if I told you that without even an algebra background I could teach you some calculus right here and now? You don't believe me. I thought so. This unbelief proves how programmed you've been from early on to reject mathematical teachings. Whoever laid this negativity on you really did a number on you. Well, let's get rid of that negative programming and feed you some really positive stuff. [March 30, 2007 11:17:25 am]

Hey Kids - It's Cool to be Square
This article goes out to this generation of teenagers who think that being cool means smoking dope, hanging out with their drug-taking friends, having promiscuous sex, and being defiant to authority figures like teachers, police, and yes-parents. This behavior is not cool but rather dopey. You see, before long you will be entering the real world, and the real world does not take particularly well to defiance or irresponsible attitudes. Enter the world expecting it to give you freebies just because you deserve them and you will soon be wishing you listened to your parents and acted more square than cool. [March 28, 2007 11:23:27 am]

Concepts In Infinity - Some Ideas To Ponder
Could God really be lurking within the extraordinary realm of mathematics? Could the language of God be closely connected to the language of mathematics? How could a set of numbers be connected to the infinite mind of God and the infinite expanse of the universe? Well read on to get a fascinating glimpse into this most extraordinary idea. [March 27, 2007 04:05:28 pm]

Take a Bow Stephon Marbury - Boo Michael Jordan
When I watched John Stossell's show on the comparison between Michael Jordan's Air Jordan sneaker line and Stephon Marbury's Starbury line, I quickly realized that greed in America is becoming more and more the rule rather than the exception. To wit, the shoe experts cut open the two brands of sneakers and found that there were no essential differences -only price. That Marbury can sell his shoes for $15 while Jordan sells his for up to $175-200 per pair only shows that marketing hype is big business and that some people are just never satisfied in ripping off the public. [March 25, 2007 03:25:29 pm]

Reading and Reviewing Articles - Be Fair, Not Square
For those of you who have discovered article writing as a way to get worldwide internet exposure, take a bow. Welcome to the international brotherhood of article writers. As part of this brotherhood, you should be aware of some article etiquette, particularly as pertains to supporting and encouraging your article brothers. One of these manners of etiquette has to do with rating articles. [March 19, 2007 09:03:19 am]

If You're Selfish, Teaching's Not for You
Thinking of entering the teaching profession? Maybe you're even thinking of teaching a subject like mathematics. What a crazy thought! Why would you want to do such a thing? I mean, I can come up with at least a hundred other ways of frustrating the heck out of yourself. All joking aside, teaching has to be the most noble profession on earth, but one that should not be entered into on a wing and a prayer, nor after only perfunctory consideration. And if you are selfish, then teaching is definitely not for you. [March 14, 2007 06:45:36 am]

Taking Back Our Youth - A Plea for Unity
So you're tired too of dealing with your teenage son or daughter? You mean you're walking on eggshells when he or she is home? Can't get them out of bed in the morning? Having trouble getting them to follow any rules? Well, welcome to child rearing in the rip-roaring new millennium. [March 12, 2007 07:05:07 am]

Learn Math Through Poetry
Since mathematics as a whole is a difficult subject to learn, maybe different approaches are needed in the teaching of this discipline. Certainly the hands-on approach gives students a tactile perspective to the inner workings of this subject, while the real-life applications approach lets students see and understand how mathematics is used in the real world and in different worldly settings. Could poetry be another approach through which to teach and learn this most fascinating subject? [March 11, 2007 03:14:13 pm]

Eulogy on the Sonnet
There is just something simply elegant about packing a ton of meaning into a fourteen line poem, which we know as the sonnet. I came to write sonnets as a result of having been asked by a student, whom I was tutoring over the internet via email, to help her with an English assignment. This task involved writing a sonnet. Having been a big fan of the Sonnets of William Shakespeare (having memorized at one time at least twenty-five or so, and having written a short book on the subject), I delighted in the task. The result was that I became an avid writer of this famous English poem. [March 11, 2007 12:24:30 pm]

Teach Your Kids Algebra: The Quadratic Formula
When I first saw the quadratic formula, I was amazed that there existed such a thing no less a way to derive this elegant formula. For those who remember, this formula gives a sure-fire way of getting the solution to those things we call quadratic, or second-degree equations, in mathematics. For many students, this formula is a nightmare of grand proportions and its mastery seems no more probable than striking it rich with the lottery. However, with some novel techniques and some different approaches, the mastery of this formula-which provides a linchpin to understanding algebra on a deeper level-becomes a walk in the park. [February 26, 2007 07:33:37 am]

Rap Music - Good for our Children's Ears?
So we all know the rap music industry is big business. How big? Assuredly in the billions of dollars. But is this rap music-and more specifically the genre referred to as gangsta rap-good for our children's ears and moreover society? Common sense would dictate that the last question is quite a rhetorical one. [February 25, 2007 10:19:11 am]

Einstein's Number Trick: Fun for All
When we attach the name Einstein to a number trick, however, the idea takes on an entirely different dimension, both literally and figuratively. If you are interested in some fun with numbers, try out the trick below on some friends and family, and by all means teach it to your kids, if you have any. [February 19, 2007 08:42:28 am]

Teenage Problems and Math - Could There Be a Connection?
Children who are difficult to manage are often poor problem solvers. Any parent who is experiencing trouble raising their teenage son or daughter knows how vexing a problem this can be. My wife and I experienced this firsthand and I can honestly tell you that the trials we went through were nothing short of nightmarish. After purchasing a specialized program to teach us how to deal with this problem, we learned that children who are behavior problems are often poor problem solvers. It was then that I saw a revelatory connection. [January 14, 2007 01:08:45 pm]

Why Study Calculus? How About Square Roots With No Calculator?
To continue with my Why Study Calculus? series, I discuss here some interesting applications of this branch of mathematics to numbers. Numbers and the operations on them are the key to mathematics, and all higher branches are one way or another intimately linked to their inherent properties. One nice application of the Calculus to numbers is the approximation of square roots. What is more, this technique can be done without a calculator and without even a knowledge of the underlying theory. [January 09, 2007 05:20:53 am]

Why Study Calculus? - Area of Irregular Shapes
You know I thank God that I was given the ability to communicate math to the masses. I guess this talent comes from my struggles with this subject early on. My ability to convey the guts of this subject derives from my belief that if I can understand it, anyone can. Such is the case with calculus. Read on as I show you how this subject allows us to calculate the exact area of even bizarrely shaped objects. [January 08, 2007 05:50:16 am]

Don't Mind Me - I'm Just a Mathematician
Look. Just because a person is a mathematician and loves numbers and that sort of thing, doesn't mean this person is an absolute weirdo. You know, if you meet me in person, I don't really look like a mathematician, or someone who spends time reading about things like topological spaces or the construction of real numbers using Cauchy Sequences. In fact, I think I'm downright cool because I like this stuff, and this attitude is what enables me to bring this subject to others and make it understandable to the math haters. [January 01, 2007 03:47:56 pm]

What Your Kids Need to Know to Excel in Math
Do you really want to get your kids off to a fast start in math? Then they need to know some basic facts. Teach kids their addition and subtraction facts as early on as possible. Once conquered, move on to multiplication facts. Finally, start plodding into the territory of division. With the four pillars of arithmetic conquered, your kids will be on the fast track to academic success. [December 31, 2006 07:12:52 am]

The Best Christmas Gift I Ever Got
There are times in one's life when something so miraculous happens that it defies ordinary explanation. We all hear of amazing stories-of miraculous recoveries from disease or illness, of daring escapes, of angelic interventions-but when it happens to you, you don't know quite how to explain it other than to say thank you God, and praise be Yours. Something like this happened to me today, and I describe it as the best Christmas gift I ever got. Here I relate the details. [December 21, 2006 04:16:37 am]

Using Math to Keep From Getting the Common Cold - Or Worse!
We all know how annoying and vexing the common cold virus can be, particularly during the winter season. Nobody likes that runny nose or that constant urge to sneeze; nor is the coughing, headache, or scratchy throat anything to write home about. To avoid catching the common cold, we know that we should wash our hands often and keep from being breathed or sneezed on by those already infected. Yet despite all our efforts, we still seem to get that yearly cold. Maybe mathematics has some clues as to how we might lessen our chance to pick up that awful cold. [December 12, 2006 04:35:38 am]

How an Article on Math Got Me a Spot on Fox TV
So you love to write and you found out about submitting articles on the worldwide web. You ask yourself whether you can actually get good exposure from spending time writing articles and whether it's worth the effort. After all, like me, you're a nobody from nowhere. But then again, at one time so were all the celebrities and people in the current media. Well, I started writing articles a little less than a year ago, and when I started, I asked the same questions. Now that the Fox TV interview has aired on television and on their website, I am thoroughly convinced that, yes, article writing is worth the effort. Read on. [December 09, 2006 05:29:44 pm]

Teaching Algebra: Slay the Demons First The Rest Is Easy
Labor Day is fast approaching and you can almost smell the students at the front door of your classroom. Another year and another sixty or so Algebra I students to grapple with. And although the first few weeks might go fine, you know that as you hit the third chapter or so of the text, the kids will start having problems. You dread having to explain things over and over again, and you loathe grading those awful tests. You just can't understand how the students don't get it. To you it's all trivial but to them it's relativistic mechanics. Ponder this situation as you may, what you might not have realized is that if you slay the demons first, the rest is - well easy. [December 08, 2006 01:21:05 pm]

Effective High School Math Teaching: A Recipe for Success
Why is math so hard to teach and why are there so few good math teachers? Whether you are a student, parent, or yes-even a math teacher-you know how true this question is. Effective math teaching requires more than just a good handle on the subject. A great high school math teacher must be a great salesperson; moreover, effective teaching-period-requires that the teacher be a better salesperson than the students. For if you can sell the students your bag of goods successfully every day, then your knowledge of the subject becomes a secondary attribute. Additionally, if you manifest a genuine concern for the individuals that you teach, mix this with a little humor, present the material with a commanding knowledge, and show enthusiasm for what you are selling, then the victory will be easily at hand. [December 07, 2006 08:12:47 am]

Your Son or Daughter Can Be A Whiz Kid Too
So do you think as a mom or dad that the prestigious status of whiz kid, accorded to children with outstanding mathematical abilities, is reserved for the other parent's children? Well think again. My bold claim is that any child can be accorded such privileged status provided that he has an interested parent and that the process of acquiring this status is begun early, preferably during the early pre-teen years. [December 06, 2006 09:08:53 am]

Why Study Math? Fractals
Mathematics has a way of taking us by the hand and not just leading us down the path of reason, as Pythagoras once said, but sometimes down the path of insanity. With all the beautiful truths that math can show us, there are also inherent contradictions of nature that this field forces upon our senses. Such seeming impossibilities are found within the world of fractals, those weird yet curious geometric objects that have caused us to look at nature in a whole new way. From the surface of a mountain to the head of a broccoli, fractals are being used to explain things that we normally take for granted. [December 05, 2006 06:29:35 am]

Math Is Hard - But Then Again So Is Life
When I contemplate the title of this article, I enter a reverie which catapults me back twenty-five years to my college days. Back then, I learned how hard mathematics was. Often I felt inferior to tackle such a difficult subject with my limited brain capacity. Little did I know then that in retrospect I would come to understand that indeed math is hard, but that life too is just as challenging. [December 04, 2006 03:33:40 am]

Why Kick Yourself When the World is Already Doing a Good Job of It?
Nothing smarts so much as when the world gives you a good butt-kicking. Nobody-not even the rich and famous-are immune to such occasional whippings. But the rich, famous, and highly successful have their riches, fame, and financial success to lean back upon. What do the regular average Joe's and Jane's have to lean on when the cold world turns its ugly head and starts its unrelenting chase? [December 02, 2006 10:28:47 am]

Article Writing - Your Key to Good Exposure
Writing has always been a favorite pastime of mine. When I discovered article writing a year ago, the means for expressing myself as well as the ability to share my knowledge with others became possible. This open forum has created a dialogue with my readers, who although unknown to me, create the necessary feedback that drives me to write even more. Moreover, well written and interesting articles can pave the way for much exposure-even to the extent of news related stories and television interviews. [December 01, 2006 08:06:02 am]

Why Study Math - Probability and the Birthday Paradox
When I decided to become a mathematics major in college, I knew that in order to complete this degree, two of the required courses-besides advanced calculus-were Probability Theory and Math 52, which was statistics. Although probability was a course I was looking forward to, given my penchant for numbers and games of chance, I quickly learned that this theoretical math course was no walk in the park. This notwithstanding, it was in this course that I learned about the birthday paradox and the mathematics behind it. Yes, in a room of about twenty-five people the odds that at least two share a common birthday are better than 50-50. Read on and see why. [November 25, 2006 03:16:33 pm]

Why Study Calculus - The Limit
Calculus does have its limits. Indeed. In order to understand the pun of the first sentence, you need to know that calculus has two key branches: differential and integral. Although the concept of limit belongs to both branches and is an essential component to the understanding and mastery of this kind of math, differential calculus gets its name from the derivative; and such a creature depends entirely on the concept of limit. In fact, the derivative is nothing more than a special kind of limit. [November 24, 2006 10:08:49 pm]

Why Study Calculus?
As part of a subcategory within my "Why Study Math" series, I am pleased to introduce a new group or articles that will touch upon some of the higher branches of mathematics. The purpose of these writings will be to introduce people-particularly the lay person-to some of the more advanced reaches of this subject. Many people unfortunately never get to glimpse the fascinating beauty of the higher realms of mathematics such as the Calculus, and far too many are under the mistaken belief that this field is only reserved for the so called erudite and genius crowd. Not so I say. Give me a chance and I will be happy to accommodate you. [November 22, 2006 09:02:35 pm]

Why Study Math? - The Fibonacci Sequence and Sex Appeal
Oh, that field of math. Don't you just love to hate it? Yet you have to admit that when someone explains some of its beauty to you and you get it, you marvel at how amazing a field it actually is. Such is the case with number sequences and in particular one called the Fibonacci sequence. For those who do not know what a sequence is, it is simply a list of numbers that follow some predefined rule. For example, the sequence 2, 4, 6, 8 is the arithmetic sequence which is defined by multiples of the number 2. The Fibonacci sequence is the following: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13...Do you see the pattern. Well hold on if you don't; what is more important-or should I say interesting-is could you ever have guessed that this sequence has something to do with sex appeal? Indeed. Read on. [November 21, 2006 08:03:09 am]

Sex Appeal and Math - You Got One, You Got the Other
So you think math isn't very sexy, heh? Well then you don't know about the aesthetic appeal of the golden ratio, which has appeared in works of art and nature from eons past. The great Da Vinci even maintained that the human body has proportions which approximate the golden mean. So what is this golden number, and what the heck does it have to do with sex appeal? Read on. [November 20, 2006 07:33:43 am]

Mathematicians and Poets - Two of a Kind?
"A mathematician who is not also something of a poet will never be a complete mathematician." -- Karl Weierstrass C'mon a mathematician who's a poet! Give me a break. Isn't that as compatible as a snake and a mongoose? You mean there really is some truth in the quote by Weierstrass, one of the most famous mathematicians of all time, who is probably responsible for the rigors of calculus? Indeed mathematics has a rhythmic structure which, when probed, reveals its poetic and musical beauty. And any person who masters this discipline rightfully then should be regarded as something of a poet. [November 17, 2006 12:09:56 pm]

Math Tricks Equal Educational Success
"Numbers are the highest degree of knowledge. It is knowledge itself." -Plato As the quote elucidates, knowledge sits on the shoulders of numbers. Whenever I encounter a quote like this, particularly when the source is as renowned as that of the likes of Plato, I sit back and muse smugly that I hit the nail on the head many years ago when I realized that numbers were indeed the highest degree of knowledge. Extrapolating from this realization, we can say with certainty then that learning to work with numbers as through math tricks and such-that is, getting an inner feel for all their intricacies and richness-will produce extraordinary results in the education of any man, woman, or child. [November 15, 2006 08:16:18 am]

You're Kid's A Genius! - The Illusion Has Become Real
There's an old joke about two schoolboys that basically goes as follows: Johnny, one of the boys would go off to school every morning, and as he left his mother would yell, "Johnny, don't forget your lunch!" The other boy, Steven, would go off, and as he did, his mother would yell, "Steven, don't forget your books!" Johnny grew up to be a successful restaurateur and Steven a world-renowned brain surgeon. [November 15, 2006 07:58:07 am]

A Poem a Day Keeps the Heartache Away
In this complex world of technological gadgetry, we run at a pace which would make our ancestors blush at the thought. Faxes are not even fast enough as we have email which is instantaneous. And no matter that you are not at your computer because many cell phones deliver email in a snap. The latest news from abroad-good or bad-the latest stock quotes to brighten or stress your day-it's all there in a digitally quick transmission of electrons. Is it any wonder that we have little or no time for self-reflection, for a quiet moment far from the maddening crowd? [November 14, 2006 08:20:37 am]

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - Subtraction Shortcuts
As students, we become comfortable with what we learn first. Of the four arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, we learn to add first and for this reason are most comfortable with addition. If we apply the principle of thinking in terms of what we are most comfortable with, then subtraction need not be a difficult operation to master. Consequently, by applying addition principles to subtraction, we find our shortcut to mastery of this operation. [November 14, 2006 07:58:55 am]

Algebracadabra - Math Shortcuts to Algebra Mastery
Probably the most important fundamental branch of mathematics is algebra. No matter what anyone tells you folks, if your kid is not good at algebra, there is no shot that he will excel in any of the higher branches. In fact, the famous calculus is really a form of "glorified" algebra and this is what I used to tell my high school students all the time. Therefore, if you want your kids to have a chance to study and enter the beautifully intellectual realm of the calculus, then be sure that they have the tools to master algebra. [November 12, 2006 07:06:33 pm]

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - Division Shortcuts
The famous Greek mathematician Pythagoras (you know the one with that theorem) said, "Numbers have a way of taking you by the hand and leading you down the path of reason." What Pythagoras was getting at, I think, is that numbers - by their very nature - permit us to do things which enable an understanding of the very universe and its intricate laws. Numbers have their roots in arithmetic, and a mastery of this field, particularly the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and - yes that monster operation of division - will certainly pave a smooth road down that path of reason. [November 11, 2006 04:40:25 pm]

Mastering Arithmetic and Singapore - What's the Connection?
The name Singapore derives from two Malay words meaning "lion city." So what's the connection between this small South-East Asian country of four million and arithmetic mastery? Well for one, the Singaporean mentality toward arithmetic mastery as the stepping stone to higher mathematics is as well ingrained in their culture as apple pie and baseball is in ours. Indeed their lion-like ferocity toward taking no prisoners in insuring that their children master the mathematical basics of arithmetic-to wit, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction-is the main reason that their country serves as a model in educational excellence, particularly in the mathematical and scientific fields. [November 09, 2006 12:20:14 pm]

HSPA Mathematics New Jersey Test Preparation
The New Jersey HSPA (High School Proficiency Assessment) Test is one which all juniors in New Jersey high schools must take and pass in order to receive their diplomas. For many, this test presents a challenge as it consists of two sections, one in English, and one in math. The English section requires that students demonstrate competency in English, both from a written and comprehension perspective; and the math section requires students to demonstrate competency in four areas in high school mathematics: number sense, concepts, and applications; spatial sense and geometry; data analysis, probability, statistics, and discrete mathematics; and patterns, functions, and algebra. [November 09, 2006 10:50:53 am]

The Seven Follies of the Common Man - Part I
What sets the exceptional man apart from the common man is the way in which he approaches most day-to-day dealings. The exceptional man knows that no good deed goes unnoticed nor does it go unreturned. Just as night must follow day, good must follow good, truth must follow truth, and justice must follow justice. This is something that the common man simply does not understand for he is plagued by the seven follies. What are the seven follies and why the to-do about this concept? [November 08, 2006 10:26:00 am]

The Seven Follies of the Common Man - Part II
In Part II of this article, I discuss the other three follies of the common man: hate, spite, and unforgiveness. Clearly, these are three negative qualities, the first two being very strong negative emotions, and the last being a cancer-causing bitterness-arousing trait. These follies wreak havoc on a man's emotional state of being and cause all kinds of disturbing conditions even to the point of making man sick. Let's discuss how we can avoid the pitfalls into which these three follies plunge us and recognize ways to rid ourselves of these onerous states. [November 08, 2006 10:25:05 am]

College Essay Preparation
Submitting a good college essay is another aspect that has to be considered by the high school student who wishes to attend a competitive school. This essay, together with the SAT (see my article on SAT Test Preparation), are two key aspects that must be satisfactorily completed by the college-bound student. Sometimes the college essay is what makes or breaks a student's chances of getting into the school of his or her choice. [November 07, 2006 10:46:40 am]

SAT Test Preparation
For many juniors in high school, the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) looms as a big ugly monster on the horizon. Indeed for both parents and students, the anticipation of taking this test creates all kinds of unwelcome anxiety. The stress becomes enhanced for the competitive college-bound individual who wants to get into a better-than-average school. In order to achieve a respectable score on the SAT and to ward off excessive amounts of stress, students should give adequate time to prepare for this examination. For those parents who can afford it, private tutoring and specialized schools are also available. [November 07, 2006 09:19:35 am]

Effective E-Mail Math Tutoring
When people think of additional school help for their child who is struggling in math, they usually think of one-on-one private tutoring. Private tutoring is a great way to get help for your struggling child. As mentioned in my article on effective math tutoring, the knowledge that a tutor brings to the table is not so important as his ability to relate well to your child and to identify with their source of difficulty. Even though private tutoring is the way parents think they need to go, there are alternatives such as email tutoring that can be a welcome help to your child. [November 06, 2006 08:10:18 am]

Problem of the Week - Some Good Old Mind Stimulation
Just as physical exercise is needed for the body, mental exercise is needed for the mind. In fact, research has shown that giving the mind a good workout regularly not only keeps those neuronal passageways clear and efficient but also mitigates against the age-induced problems that come with senescence. For this reason, a crossword or two, perhaps some sudoku-even some plain old number games-will do both you and your mind a lot of good. The feature on my website called Problem of the Week will help you achieve this mind-stimulating objective. [November 05, 2006 03:10:03 pm]

Effective Math Tutoring
People may think that the key to effective math tutoring, or tutoring in any area for that matter, is contingent upon the knowledge that the tutor brings to the table. While knowledge of one's field is certainly important if a tutor is going to be effective, more important is the tutor's ability to relate to your child and give him or her the necessary confidence to succeed in the math subject at hand. During my many years of math tutoring, students would come to know that I knew my field well, but more importantly they came to know that I could relate to them on a deeply personal level. Once this aspect of the tutor-student relationship is established, tutoring becomes markedly more effective. [November 04, 2006 04:39:16 pm]

Beside the Still Waters
Sometimes a poem can move us to such soothing emotions that we get a sense of calm and healing just from reading through to the end. Beside the Still Waters paints a picture of such beautiful imagery and halcyonic scenery that we come away with a fresh perspective on life, and perhaps a new perspective on faith. Read and enjoy. [July 03, 2006 10:30:32 am]

I Hate Fractions
Fractions are the pits. You know you can't just add or subtract them even though multiplying and dividing them is not too bad. But since addition is the most popular arithmetic operation, that's where the darn problem is. I mean those pesky denominators always get in the way. Yet fractions appear everywhere you look: look at the price of gas, which is hovering about $3.00 per gallon and you see something like "Unleaded Regular - $2.79 9/10"; or take a look at the unit prices in supermarkets and you might see something like 33 ? cents per pound, or 16 1/3 cents per ounce. Let's face it, you're not escaping these little monsters so you better just get used to them. [June 27, 2006 07:36:28 pm]

Be Smart - Love Your Neighbor
You know it troubles me more and more each day as I watch what is going on around us in this world. It seems today more than ever that individuals are so focused on themselves, exhibiting a level of self-centered, egocentric, and selfish tendencies that are unprecedented. Caring about one another or showing empathy toward others does not even factor into any equation whatsoever. In the New Testament book of Hebrews, Paul talks about letting brotherly love continue; yet today more and more people are concerned about letting their selfish ways perpetuate. This is most evident in the youth of today. This condition is sad, as we prosper or stagnate in proportion to the support and help we lend to each other as human beings. [June 26, 2006 11:24:35 am]

Death Knows No Bounds
Having just returned from the wake of a friend whose sister was killed in an apparent murder-suicide, I found myself wondering about the fragility of life and how close we all are to the portal of death. This too was the second time in a month that I was in the same funeral parlor room, the first time to pay my respects to a beautiful young woman of forty-four years who succumbed to Lou Gherig's disease, whose middle son was good friends with my younger son; and now to pay my respects to the two brothers of this thirty-two year old beautiful woman who was murdered by her husband. What made these two wakes particularly tragic was that each woman left behind young children, each was both beautiful and young, and each had great families and very successful lives from a financial perspective. [June 22, 2006 09:19:28 pm]

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - The Magic of "One" Numbers - Part II
As a follow up to my article "The Magic of One Numbers Part I" I now continue with Part II in this fascinating series. For those who have not read the first article, please do so now so that you can better understand this one. Here I will show you a method to perform the multiplication of any two "one" numbers regardless of size. The result of such multiplication-once this method is studied and learned-can be obtained effortlessly and usually within seconds. So let's get started. [June 05, 2006 08:16:04 am]

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - The Magic of "One" Numbers - Part I
Do you know that numbers are the key to life? Indeed numbers form the foundations of mathematics from number theory all the way up to partial differential equations. Without these curious creatures, we could not calculate, estimate, or compute (as in computer); nor could we transact any of the business that occurs daily throughout the known world. Yet most people find these most interesting entities just a bothersome part of life. Why should this be so? Well maybe a person's ambivalence towards numbers derives from childhood frustrations experienced when struggling to learn the basics of arithmetic and the rote calculations associated with this discipline. [June 03, 2006 10:55:46 pm]

You Must Excel in Math
You must excel in math for many reasons. Math by its very nature is a rigorous subject which conditions the mind to work more efficiently than it otherwise would. One of the reasons I teach my short-cut arithmetic techniques is so that people who learn them can exercise their brains regularly. Indeed such exercise not only stimulates the mind, but also helps keep your brain younger and less prone to degenerative diseases and decreased cognitive functioning. And there is no better brain stimulation than that obtained while you navigate within the mathematical disciplines, trying to work and solve problems of myriad levels of difficulty. [May 26, 2006 08:24:31 pm]

Aim High, Just be Willing to Work for It
"Aim High! There is little virtue in easy victory." -Sir Edmund Hillary, who with Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, was the first man to successfully summit Mount Everest. Think of the effort that Sir Edmund Hillary must have put in to mount the 29,035 feet of the Himalayan giant Mount Everest. And we think that internet marketing is hard! Yet in spite of the difficulty that is inherent in mountain climbing expeditions, there are challenges in climbing the oft reputed internet peaks that dot the cyperspace landscape. These are obstacles that any person new to this arena faces. Web site optimization, traffic regulation, search engine submission-where does it end? Each of these mountain peaks has sub-peaks, and every time we think we have reached the top, we see that-as the famous poet Alexander Pope said - "Alps on Alps arise." [May 22, 2006 06:10:25 am]

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - The Teenage Number Trick
So you think you can't do math in your head, huh? Well, it all depends on how you do such math. After all, if given the right tools to do a job, then the job comes out right often enough. So why fret over the small stuff? Too often mathematics is made out to be some mysterious subject, only to be mastered by an esoteric group of like-minded nerds who co-habitate in some forsaken land. Well, that's not the case and one of the things I'm fond of doing is debunking this oft-held yet misguided notion. [May 18, 2006 06:47:11 am]

Beware the Internet Shark - Hypocrites
If there is one thing I cannot stand more than anything else, it has to be the internet shark-hypocrite. What do I mean by this? An internet shark-hypocrite is one who goes around parading like your best friend in cyberspace, one who can help you achieve whatever your heart desires, when in fact he is really a lying shark ready to pounce on you at the first scent of blood. In the days since the internet boom, shark-hypocrites have multiplied to the point at which a person in search of some help on the internet, particularly as concerns making some extra money, cannot avoid being attacked by these omnipresent and conniving beasts. Despite their growing numbers, I will not cease to expose them at every turn, trying to educate readers of my articles so that they do not become a sumptuous meal for these lurid creatures. [April 23, 2006 08:47:16 am]

Teaching Mathematics: Alternative Strategies That Can Be Taken to the Bank
As a former teacher of high school mathematics, I understand the day-to-day frustrations that any teacher might experience, particularly when trying to teach a subject like mathematics. The first day of class was always interesting. As teacher, I felt like the enemy who was bringing messages of death and despair to the students. I could see in many of their faces how dreaded a subject this truly was. But I would win them over. Yes, one by one I would quench their fear and instill new hope. [April 21, 2006 05:08:19 am]

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - Arithmetic and Fraction Mastery
You know it's true. If you want your children to master mathematics, you need to give them certain tools so that they can whip the heck out of this difficult subject. One of those tools is a mastery of arithmetic. Another is a mastery of fractions. These two together will give your children a formidable arsenal against this notorious subject. [April 11, 2006 06:56:40 am]

Counting All the Way to the Bank
You know it's funny. I'm making so much money online that I can't believe it's true. These internet gurus out there who sell all those money making programs are right. I'm about to quit my job because of them and spend most of my time at the gym and on the beach this summer. I might even cruise down to some of the islands-maybe even take a stroll through Hawaii. My Paypal account is about ready to explode. What a great life! [April 03, 2006 09:06:00 pm]

Internet Hype - Do Leave Home Without It!
All right. I'm sick and tired of all the hype on the internet. And I can't believe people actually fall for this stuff. You know, the promises of six-figure incomes-not yearly-but monthly; the promises to help you leave your day job within three months; the promises to give you the knowledge to work three hours per day or less and spend the rest of the time on the golf course or at the gym. Come on. As John Stossel says, "Give me a break!" [March 13, 2006 09:08:32 am]

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - Calculations with Percents
How important on a scale of 1 to 10 would you say knowing how to do basic percents was? Personally, I cannot think of a more important basic math function than this. Yet most people struggle with the very basics of percent calculations. This should not be the case. My aim in writing Arithmetic Magic was to show people that they can do basic arithmetic, and this once realized would empower them to study math at a higher level and become more interested in this most precious discipline. [March 13, 2006 08:40:33 am]

Math Geeks are Cool
Why is it that math geeks are considered squares? That is, why is the straight-A math student considered Mr. Un-popular in school? It's funny how twisted things are in life. The cool kids in school are the ones smoking pot and cigarettes, perhaps taking other illegal substances, having sex with other students, and getting into at least one fight per quarter. Meanwhile, the straight-A kids are considered geeks, even though they are the ones that will build the country, write the future laws, and find the cures for the most vicious diseases that affect us all today. [March 13, 2006 05:27:56 am]

Math and Poetry
Math rules, and everything else drools. Well maybe not everything, but the truth is that math really is the king of subjects to study. For ultimately every subject in school-indeed everything-revolves around math. Even subjects that you would never think. Like English, for example. How so? you say. [March 11, 2006 03:25:31 pm]

Why Study Math? - The Hyperbola
As we continue the "Why Study Math" series of articles, here we look at the conic section called the hyperbola. The hyperbola is obtained by intersecting the double-napped cone (see the other articles in this series on this point) with a plane so that both parts of the cone are cut. Those familiar with the parabola might note that this curve almost looks like two parabolas pasted back to back with a space in between them. Mathematically, the hyperbola is not a parabola, although these two conic sections have a similar outward appearance. [March 01, 2006 03:26:54 pm]

Why Study Math? The Parabola
As we continue the "Why Study Math" series of articles, here we look at the conic section called the parabola. The parabola is obtained by slicing a nap of the cone (see the other articles in this series on this point) with a plane parallel to one of the generators of the cone. [February 26, 2006 09:57:02 am]

Why Study Math? The Ellipse
Why study math? You're kidding right? The next time you hop in that new spit-shined Mercedes of yours and start to rev the engine, remember that had it not been for the study and application of the ellipse, you might be picking up your sexy date in a horse and buggy. Read on. [February 25, 2006 03:06:31 pm]

Arithmetic Magic - The Introduction
Read the introduction to Arithmetic Magic and learn how you can finally develop confidence in math. It all starts with numbers, for once we can work with them, the rest is easy. Read on. [February 25, 2006 02:54:10 pm]

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - Fractions, Percents, and Decimals
Admittedly fractions are trouble for most students. In my previous article I talked about why this is so. Percents and decimals too present their share of problems to young students-adults as well. There is an interesting connection between these three mathematical entities and here it is: fractions, percents, and decimals are variations of one and the same thing. [February 24, 2006 05:04:31 pm]

But I Want to be Popular Too
Let's face it. We all want to be popular. Popular with friends, relatives (well, maybe not relatives-just kidding), coworkers, bosses, and so on. Popularity is associated with fun times, success, prosperity, and a whole array of other positive thoughts and emotions. [February 20, 2006 06:35:20 am]

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - Fractions, Those Devils!
Fractions. Ugh! I could just hear the squeals coming from my students any time we entered the realm of these nasty little demons. Anytime we embarked on an area of mathematics that would require heavy fraction work, students would act as though we were entering Hades after an arduous crossing of the river Acheron, led by the fearless ferry-man Charon and his three-headed dog Cerberus. Ouch! It was that bad. [February 17, 2006 07:06:46 pm]

Why Study Math? - The Circle
Analytic Geometry is a branch of mathematics that treats the relation of algebraic functions and their respective graphs, or pictures that can be drawn from these functions. Students are first introduced to analytic geometry in Algebra II courses, and delve further into its study in both pre-calculus and calculus courses. Essentially, this branch