Category Archives: Algebra

What’s a Function?

What’s a Function?

It may be every student’s idea of the f-word, but a function is really just a question. In this post, read how you can explain functions with regular sentences. And even explain the domain! Continue Reading →

3 Places to See the Coordinate Plane in Action

I was browsing through the book Family Math and found a nifty game called Hurkle. It goes a little something like this: Someone picks a place on the coordinate plane (in secret) for Hurkle to live. Others guess Hurkle’s home by giving coordinates and pointing out those coordinates. When they are wrong, they are given… Continue Reading →

How To Teach Algebraic Closure

Thanks to Kellie D for this question: “How do I know if a set is closed under the rule of addition, same question for multiplication?” Closure under addition or multiplication is a concept from Abstract Algebra that’s taught in not-so-abstract Algebra classes. It can be intuitive, if taught properly. You first have to start with… Continue Reading →

How to Remember Exponent Rules without Brain Ooze

This post is by request from @corrincross. Exponent rules are hard. Well, they are hard to remember, anyhow. But there’s an easy way that won’t make your brain ooze – and that’s doing a mini-experiment each time you have to deal with them. First remember what an exponent really is. It’s a shortcut for multiplication. Check… Continue Reading →

How to Add and Multiply in Base 12

In the previous post, I explained some basics about base 12 counting. Since you’re back, clearly you’re a glutton for punishment (or your Algebra book is requiring you to do this). Here’s how to add and subtract in base 12. Continue Reading →

What Base 12 Means

Algebra books seem to think that base 12 is a good idea for humans to use. This is only in the case of that pianist in GATTACA that has 12 fingers. Regardless, if you’re asked to work in base 12, here’s how to do it. Continue Reading →