www.whyslopes.com:  Parents:  Help Your Child/ Teen Learn
Appetizers and Lessons for Mathematics and Reason  (Français)
Online tutor-teacher  seminars  in a Virtual-Classroom

Online Volumes (Book Orders)
1,  Elements of Reason. (1996)
1A. Pattern Based Reason  (1995)
1B. Math Curriculum Notes (1996)
2. Three Skills for Algebra  (1995)
3.-Why Slopes & More Math  - (1995)

Read chapters 1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 & 17 
in  Three Skills for Algebra 

More Site Areas 
1.  Solving Linear Equations  (04-2005)
2.  Fractns, Rates Proportns, Units  (2006)
3.  Algebra, Odds & Ends, HS level-(2001)
4.  Euclidean Geometry  & Cmplx NOs-new 
5.  Analytic Geometry/Functions (2006)
6.  Number Theory. (2006-7)
7.  Complex Numbers (2001)
8.  Calculus Introduction (2005)
More Site Areas 
99   Real  Analysis (1995)
10. Secondary IV(?) maths (2006-7)
11. Math Education Essays  (2006-7)
12. LaTeX2HotEqn: (2004)
13. Electric Circuits Etc  (2007)
14. Quebec Math Ed (2004 -8))
15  Prequel to the How-TOs (06-2008)
16-Teacher-Tutors Seminars etc
Tutor -Teacher-How TOs-(08- 2008)
1. Arithmetic Reference
2. Algebra 
3. More Algebra 
4. Geometry  
5. More Geometry
6. Calculus
7. Logics in Maths
 Site Tour:  Click here,  here,  herehere,
 here,   herehere and  here.


Employ an online or offline tutor at your own risk from 

AU:  tutorfinder.com.au
CDN :  findatutor.ca 
CDN: .i-tutor.ca
CDN: Montreal Tutors
NZ:   findatutor.co.nz
UK:   tutorhunt.com 
UK:  tutors4me.co.uk
USA:  wiziq.com
USA: ziizoo.com

or employ the site author - View his WiZiQ profile  - Calculus students are very welcome.


YOU are better than YOU think. Show yourself  how:

      |      
//  _   _ \\
/\             /\
  <|  (o)   (o)   |> 
 \     | |      / 

 For better work & study skills, read logic chapters 1 to 5  in  Three Skills for Algebra. Sooner is better. Good luck.

 -/[]\- 
||
   / \_ 
 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||


 Logic Mastery
 Amazing, Amusing, Amorous,  Delicious, Delightful, Edifying, Strengthening Elixir. 
It eases work & learning difficulties Makes the hard easier. Opens eyes. Leads to greater precision.
in reading and writing

Do not leave here without it -  Logic mastery  will develops critical thinking, improve reading and writing, and give a firmer base for work and studies at many levels. Good luck.

   |      
//  _   _ \\
/\             /\
<|   (o)   (o)  |> 
     | |     |
   \             /   
\    =   /

Caution: Site advice is approximately correct, for some circumstances, not all. Site How-TOs are logically developed, but not tried and tested. That leaves room for thought and refinement..

 -/[]\- 
||
  _ / \     
 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 

After logic  (a) continue reading Three Skills for Algebra, chapters 8 to 14  and do so alongside site area on solving linear2007 Equations ; or (b) see this calculus starter lesson and Volume 3, Why Slopes  & More Math, chapters 2 to 6;


For online automated help in senior high school maths & calculus, visit  quickmath.com  For Automatic Calculus and Algebra Help with derivatives, integrals, graphs, linear equations, matrix algebra, visit calc101.com  With  overlap, each site quickmath & calc101offers a different range of services, some free, some not, all based on webmathematica. Good luck.


Explore collaborative whiteboards from groupboardtwiddla  or scriblink.



Chapter 3.
What is Algebra?

Previous: 3 Words Before Symbols: What is a Variable?

There are many facets of algebra, but for most people, any subject is defined by their first introduction to it. A broader, further ranging and more refined definition can come later. In this light, the description and illustration of the three skills for algebra provides an introduction and thus an initial definition of the subject. For this author, algebra starts with the symbolic description and formulation of calculations and continues with their symbolic manipulation. It could be preceded by a pre-symbolic comprehension of the answer to the question: 

?

Decimal notations and operations can be regarded as part of algebra. They are symbolic. Yet there is more to the algebraic or symbolic than this arithmetic and concrete, most definite, use of symbols. The algebraic or symbolic process of further mathematics involves another abstraction, namely the repeated use of symbols as placeholders and pronouns for numbers and quantities, known or not, constant or not. The question What is algebra? can be answered in different ways. In past centuries, algebra may have meant all of mathematics besides geometry. In the 20th Century, high school and college math courses, those taught in North America especially, give the initial impression that algebra is a mathematical subject besides say trigonometry, calculus and possibly geometry – geometry is not often taught. But algebra is represented by all subjects it touches, in mathematics and out.


Chapter 3 subsections: Up ] 3 Three Skills For Algebra ] 3 Words  and Concepts Before Symbols: Variables ] [ 3. What is Algebra? ]

Next: 4 Introduction

 

www.whyslopes.com
Volume 1B, Mathematics Curriculum Notes,

 Foreword + Chapters 1 to 10 + 12

Area Map
Inductive Principles
1 Introduction
2 For & Against Math
3 Algebraic Thought
4 Why Slopes & SQRT of -1
5  Books & Articles to Read
6 Unruly Origins of Algebra
6. Axiomatic Civilization
7 Geometry, 2 Ways
8 Modern Instruction
9 The Two Ends
10 The Transition
10 Explaining Logic
10 Explaining Algebra
10 Why Sets in Math.
12 Four Phases
Links

Chapter 11: Primary School Mathematics

11 Primary Math
11 Cue Cards
11 Counting
11 Decimals - Addition
11 Decimals -Times
11 Decimals & Subtraction
11 Fractions and Division
11 Notational Conflict
11 Reciprocals Etc
11 Decimals - Ratios
11 Size Comparison
11 Numbers, +ve or -ve
11 Rename < Sign
11 Complex Numbers

Will provide an alternative to Chapter 11 later, most likely in the Parent's Area: Help Your Child or Teen Learn 

Most students in high school are not heading for calculus, but most topics in high school mathematics are present due to calculus.  Preparation for calculus demands their coverage at  full strength.

See too, this site 55+,  Math Education Essays. Site areas and pages provide pieces of the a Mathematics Education, Jigsaw Puzzle, in formation.

-Inductive principles for course design & delivery  require a clear description of where and how skills and concepts may rest on earlier ones, so that difficulties may be explained and remedied by looking for  what was missed or forgotten in earlier studies. 


Mathematics is a demanding subject. All errors in notation and comprehension need to be identified and corrected. In reading, spelling and writing, students have to learn all the letters in the alphabet, not just some. and memorize spelling. Anything less implies difficulty.

Likewise in mathematics, students have to master key skills and concepts, one at a time and one after another. Anything less implies difficulty.


Modern mathematics curricula introduced an inconsistency into course design and delivery. They did not sanction the use of decimals nor the use of diagrams in skill and concept development but decimal arithmetic and diagrams are needed for student comprehension and for an operational mastery of quantitative skills. That implies the need for an mixed-math curricula based on a systematic development of operational skills, sufficient for applications and sufficient to provide a base & context  for  the very optional study of pure mathematis.


 


Site Tour:  Click here,  here,  here,  
here
,   hereherehere and here.

On leaving, if your next stop would
 be an internet search, do it here.

Back ] Area Map ] Up ] [Top of this Page]  
Road Safety Message  Do not walk on a road with your back to the traffic. 
  Favourite SitesBBC News  and mathematics portion of  English National Curriculum  
[Site Author Contact Form]  If you find an error, please cut and paste its 
web page location (URL) into its report.

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners.
Copyright to comments & contributions are owned by the Poster. 
The Rest © 1995 onward by site author,   Alan Selby (
email) All Rights Reserved. 

www.whyslopes.com