Math & Music

Are your kids the musical type? Well even if they don't sing or play an instrument, chances are they like to listen to music.

Here is some interesting info on how Math and Music relate to each other.

You may have known that it is widely believed that students who do well in music also excel in math. Some research shows that starting music lessons at a young age enhances math ability.

So mom and Dad if you've been putting off those piano lessons for your future maestro, you now have one more reason to get them started.

See how Time Signature in music be helpful can helpful with fractions.

Did you know that if you listen to Mozart, you can do better on tests? Well, some recent studies show that this is true. Learn more about it here and check out some Mozart as well.

Improving Math By Playing Chess

Does your child play chess? If not it might not be a bad idea for them to learn.

The reason why...It's Fun.

But that's not the only reason.....the other is that it may actually help make them a better math student.

Howard Nero, a math and science teacher at Microsociety Magnet School, turned to Chess several years ago to help students understand math coordinates.

Nero said students in the club improved their math scores on the Connecticut Mastery Test by 30 percent between fifth and sixth grade.

Pretty exciting stuff!

Studies have shown that chess can enhance creativity, concentration, critical thinking skills, memory, academic achievement, problem solving and standardized test scores.

Kids love games. Chess could be a great tool to motivate them to become willing problem solvers and spend spend hours immersed in logical thinking. Check the article out here.

Math Words R US

Ever tried to understand a definition of a math word in an algebra text book. Pretty technical for sure...

Sometimes the word you're looking for may not even be in the glossary or index. Maybe because they assumed you knew it. Don't know, but it happens to many students.

Here's a website designed for math students who need an easy-to-use, easy-to-understand math resource all in one place. It is a comprehensive listing of formulas and defintions from beginning algebra to calculus.

The explanations are readable for average math students, and over a thousand illustrations and examples are provided.

Even as a math instructor, it's a handy tool to have for quick reference. Yep, even us math teachers don't know all the math formulas and definitions.

Will I Ever Use The Pythagorean Theorem on My Job?

Remember the Pythagorean Theorem from your high school Math? Don't worry if you don't. I'm not going to give a quiz today.

But if your child is taking algebra or geometry, they might be asking, "When am I ever going to use the Pythagorean Theorem in life."

I've got the answer. Aren't you glad?

There's actually dozens of jobs that use this math theorem from algebra class to help with their jobs.

Here's a comment from a construction manager:

"Hey, I'm a commercial subcontractor and I use math everyday fractions, figuring out volume, sq footage you name it my job is math all day eveything I do is math related, figuring out scale from the blue prints etc..... also electricial trades are very dependent on math as well, carpenters, etc."

Check out the other 40 math related jobs that use the Pythagorean Theorem.

Math on the Go

As a parent with kids, I'm sure the daily routine can be a bit crazy. If you're like many parents, you run this one here and the other there. Seems like it's non-stop.

Have you thought about using your traveling times as teaching times annd throwing some math in at same time.

Check here to see some good ideas to use with your k-5th grader while on the road to help put math to good use.

Math Help - Multiplying Fractions

Fractions...Do you still shudder when you hear that word?

I found a great resource for you to help in teaching the kids about multiplying fractions . You'll find worksheets too that you can print off for extra practice.

Remember... key to getting better grades in math is practice.

This is a great source with lots of good material for you.

Check it out here .

Math and Art

Seem like an unlikely combination?

Actually the two are very related.

Take sculptures for instance. You may not have known you have to know algebra to be a great sculptor. Just Kidding. But sculptor, Helaman Ferguson sees sculpture as one of the highest forms of mathematics.

Check the article out to see how he mixes art and math to create his works.He says that math has an aesthetic component, and although math was created to solve practical problems, it has developed in directions which are not just practical but which are beautiful, interesting, and fun.

SAT and ACT PREP

As a parent, there's much to do as far getting your high shooler prepared for college. Where will they attend?...How will we pay for it?...Should I send them away to school their first year?...and oh yeah,...What's the best way to prepare for those SAT and or ACT exams?

It would be nice if your high shooler could just max out those college entrance exams. Be one less thing to worry about. In fact, I sort of wish there was not so much emphasis on the SAT and ACT exams in the first place.

But who am I? I just teach math and ride a bike.

Reality is, the SAT and ACT exams are here to stay for awhile. And better scores mean more options when it comes to which schools they can attend and not to mention more options to pay for school.

That being said, they've got to get through the entrance exams. So let me share a great place online to help them prepare. And did I say it is FREE.

It's real easy to set up an account and your high schooler can access a customized course that includes user-friendly tutorials and pratice sessions that adapt to their ability level. You can monitor your child's test prep by acting as their "coach".

Sound like a winner. Well check it out here and happy test preping.

The Human Face of a Math Career

For the high schooler that's wondering..."what kind of job can I get with math?".....there's good news.

Mom and Dad this is something you and your high schooler might need to check out. I'm sure this is a time they're thinking about what they would like to do with the rest of their lives. And as a parent, I'm sure you're trying to encourage them to begin to explore what it is that might be.

Boy, seems like just yesterday, we were in the same position. You know where I'm going with this, right. You know it has to do with Math. Here are some pretty Cool Math-Related Careers I thought they would like to find a little bit about.

Problem is most people don't realize all the different types of careers you can get into that involve math. Most kids don't realize the variety of exciting (and not to mention well-paying) math-related jobs that are out there.

In today's information-rich environment, the possibilities for mathematically trained graduates are endless.

Check out some of these everyday people who have made careers using their math skills. Be sure to click on their picture to get a peek into their job and some of their hobbies....Yeah they're just real everyday people...just loving math...and their jobs.

Check out cool some math careers here.

Interesting Math Trivia

Ever wonder about large numbers? Like, a million, billion, or a trillion. How does a million look compared to a billion? How about compared to a trillion?

We’re all familiar with numbers like 100...500...1000. Kind of have an idea of how 10 pennies looks like compared to 100 pennies---or how much larger 1000 pounds is to 10,000 pounds.

But what about way, way, way bigger numbers...Even though math class teaches how to write numbers like a million and a billion--we don’t really get to appreciate how much larger 1 billion is than 1 million!

Here’s what I mean….

• 1 million seconds equal 11 and 1/2 days.
  
• 1 billion seconds equal 31 and 3/4 years.
  
• 1 trillion seconds equal 31,710 years.

See the difference between a million and a billion!--a billion and a trillion! Mind boggling, isn’t it?

Well look here to find out what a million, billion …even a trillion pennies look like. This one's really awesome!