Website Wednesday

Every year, I try and learn something new. One year I studied music theory and got to play the piano so that I knew more than just reading notes. Another year I became a ham, an amateur radio operator. I did it only because I wanted to be able to pass a technical test. I shudder to think that in national emergencies I belong to a group of people who are called on to help with communications.

However, every year my continuing goal is to solve that perennial algebraic problem:

At the same moment, two trains leave Chicago and New York. They move towards each other with constant speeds. The train from Chicago is moving at speed of 40 miles per hour, and the train from New York is moving at speed of 60 miles per hour. The distance between Chicago and New York is 1000 miles. How long after their departure will they meet? or:

Two airplanes depart from an airport traveling in opposite directions. The second airplane is 200 miles per hour faster than the first. After 2 hours they are 1200 miles apart. Find the speeds of the airplanes. (wabash.edu)

Distant, Rate, Time, (DRT) that’s all you’re looking for and every year I keep looking for it.

So, once again this year I will pull out my pencil and paper and eraser and tackle my math nemesis. I haven’t used web sites yet for the explanations. There is so much out there on the web, so many different approaches to the same issue, maybe this year, I’ll get lucky.

Which brings me to my websites for this Wednesday. All of them deal with math. No, I’m not on a crusade to bring better math understanding to the world though that might not be a bad idea. I’ve been thinking about refreshing my math recently (basically to keep up with the kids who seem to be learning a lot of complicated math in the early grades) and here are some sites I like:

Mrs. Glosser's Math Goodies at http://www.mathgoodies.com/
What It Is:
1. It's a math site to sell math CDs with a lot of free stuff for students, teachers and parents.
2. Tutorials for students ranging from integers through symbolic logic with some queer detours.
3. All the tutorials have reading material and some check-up questions but some math topics like algebra and calculus only have forums of homework help.
4. Articles on math education with one titled Math and Social Injustice and tips for parents.
5. Some printable worksheets and math crossword puzzles.
6. Pretty up-to-date math forums.
Plus:
1. The tutorials start with a problem which draws the topic into everyday life.
2. There’s a lot of information given.
3. Just enough check-up questions to solve.
Minus:
1. Font is small and there’s a lot of verbiage which may scare the average student.
2. You must type in your answers.
Conclusion: For the serious student or refresher adult.

Visual Math Learning at http://www.visualmathlearning.com/index.html
What It Is:
1. On-screen math lessons ranging from natural numbers to basic algebra where you listen to the “teacher” read the screen writing and watch visual explanations on the bottom of the screen.
2, Interactive exercises, puzzles and games.
Plus:
1. Very good explanations. Now I really understand natural numbers.
2. The "teacher" has an engaging voice.
3. Detailed lessons. (Basics of Sets is not for a light-weight.)
4. Easy to work interactive exercises. (A wolf howls if you choose the wrong answer.)
5. Forward, Back and Stop Buttons so you can review or go ahead in each lesson.
6. With the Stop button you can turn off the "teacher" and just read the lesson.
Minus:
1. The exercises, puzzles and games seem to be of a general nature, not for each lesson.
2. Instructions for some exercises/games are lengthy.
Conclusion: Excellent tutorial for the first time or returning math student.

The Math Page at http://www.themathpage.com
What It Is:
1. A complete online course in: Skill in Arithmetic, Skill in Algebra, Book I of Euclid’s Geometry, and Topics in Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, Calculus and Real Numbers.
2. You do pen and paper exercises and then you scroll over the on-screen hidden answers to check you work.
Plus:
1. This on-line course is taught by a teacher at the Borough of Manhattan Community College which is probably still a two-year AA degree college and whose students need a good basis in math. They’ll, and you, will get it here.
2. If you want a challenge, tackle Euclid’s Geometry.
Minus:
1. I got spoiled with the “teacher” speaking the lessons in Visual Math Learning.
Conclusion: Of the three, the one you should take to that desert island with you. You know the age-old question: If you were on a deserted island, what books would you bring? Of course, let’s hope your island has Internet access and you remembered the rechargeable battery.

Enjoy brushing up on your math. And yes, there will be no quiz next week.