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Getting a teenager interested in mathematics is not easy. Math is the hardest subject for a lot of teens, and it is easy to become discouraged. One of the most important things you can do is provide your teenager with opportunities to learn math outside of the classroom. Listed below are six ways you can help your teenager with her math skills. Two Equations, Two Unknowns. Solving systems of two equations with two unknowns is a fundamental algebraic problem that has applications in both science and business. The usual technique involves elimination of one of the variables by multiplying one of the equations by an appropriate number and then adding it to the other equation. This leaves an equation with one unknown, which can be solved using standard algebraic techniques. Once one of the unknowns has been solved, the other can be determined by back substitution. A useful computer simulation that allows students to practice this technique can be found at www.howe-two.com/applets/simul.html. Click on the phrase “download an executable version of simultaneous equations” and then click on the link “simultaneous equations.” Click on the gray screen that appears and run the program. Exponential Functions and Euler’s Number. Euler’s number, usually denoted by e and approximately equal to 2.718, shows up in mathematical descriptions of all kinds of natural phenomena, from population growth to the vibrations of a violin string. An excellent program that introduces students to exponential functions and e can be found at http://torus.math.uiuc.edu/eggmath/Expon/. Orienteering. Using a map and compass may not sound like it has much to do with math skills, but it actually can help students develop an understanding of angle and distance. “Be An Expert with Map and Compass: The Complete Orienteering Handbook” by Bjon Kjellstrom is an excellent introduction to the art of map and compass. Spice it Up. For particularly challenging problems, encourage your teen to organize the information provided in the problem using one of the following strategies:
Extra Help With Calculus. After their first few minutes in a calculus class, most students feel like they need all the help that they can get. Fortunately there are books available that provide the troubled calculus student with alternatives to the standard textbook. One of the best is “Calculus the Easy Way” by Douglas D. Downing. This book provides a clear introduction to the subject of calculus and is suitable for students at many different levels. When am I Ever Going to Use This? This age-old question can be difficult to counter. Try arranging a meeting with someone who works in a profession that your teenager is interested in. Ask them to explain how they use math and problem solving skills in carrying out the functions of their job. Almost every job requires math skills to some degree, and for some, math skills are indispensable. By Jim Soldenwagner Two Equations, Two Unknowns Solve the following systems of two equations with two unknowns: 1. 3x + 2y = 0, 4x + 3y = 2 2. –x + 5y = 4, 2x +5y = 10 3. x = 4, 20x –32y = 10 4. –3x – 2y = 1, 11x + 0y = 22 Exponential Functions 5. Given that y = 2t, what does y equal when t = 2? 6. Given that u = 5y, what does u equal when y = 3? 7. Given the function f(t) = 3et, what is f(0)? Note that e is Euler’s number. Answers 1. x = -4, y = 6 2. x = 2, y = 1.2 3. x = 4, y = 2.2 (approximately) 4. x = 2, y = -3.5 5. y = 4 6. u = 125 7. f(0) = 3 |
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