Kiss those Math Headaches GOODBYE!

Posts tagged ‘Mistakes’

Algebra Mistake #2: How to Understand the Difference between A x A and 2 x A without Confusion


Now that you’ve gotten a taste for the benefits of analyzing algebraic mistakes, it’s time to explore a second common mistake. This one is so common that nearly every student commits it at least once on the road to algebra success.

As you watch the video, notice how by thinking hard about two expressions, we can think this mistake through to its very root, thus discovering the core difference between two similar-looking algebraic expressions.

And along the road, we’ll learn a general strategy for decoding the meaning of algebraic expressions. What I like about this strategy is that you can use it to understand the meaning of pretty much any algebraic expression, and you’ll see that it’s not a hard thing to do. In fact, it just involves using numbers in a nifty way.

Best of all, students usually find this approach interesting, convincing and even a bit fun. So here goes, Common Algebra Mistake #2 …

 

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"Scaffolding" in Math, Algebra, Algebra Mistakes, Exponents, Learning from Mistakes, LIke Terms, Math Instruction Techniques, Mental Algebra, Order of Operations, Practice Problems, Pre-Algebra, The act of tutoring, Tutoring, Uncategorized, Understanding Variables, Using "Friendly Numbers", Using STORIES, Using stories in math, Using stories to make math clear

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Algebra Mistake #1: How to Understand the Difference Between -1^2 and (-1)^2 without Confusion


Welcome, welcome, welcome to my series on COMMON ALGEBRA MISTAKES!

We’re going to have some fun spotting, analyzing, dissecting, exploring, explaining and fixing those COMMON ALGEBRA MISTAKES, the ones that drive students and teachers UP THE WALL!

I’ve had so much experience tutoring that I find these mistakes fascinating, and I intend to share my (ok, bizarre) fascination in this series of videos.

Also, be aware that I’m very much OPEN to suggestions from you folks on mistakes that you’d like me to explore. I highly value the experience and wisdom of you students and educators, and I want to do all I can to work with you to un-earth the mistakes of algebra, and bring them to the light of day so we can find ways to stay out of their way!

Here’s the first video on these mesmerizing mistakes. Could any mistake be more classic than this very one? I doubt it. But watch the video and form your own opinion …

 

 

 

Category:

Algebra Mistakes, Exponents, Learning from Mistakes, Order of Operations, Positive & Negative Numbers, Simplifying Expressions, Uncategorized

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