(A new question of the week) Last week we looked at a recent question about basic trigonometric equations. That discussion continued into the subject of identities, which we’ll look at here. We’ll be sitting in on an extended chat about many important aspects of this kind of work. It’s still very long, even after extensive …
(An archive question of the week) While I’m showing some recent explanations of basic trigonometry techniques, this is a good time to look at an even more basic explanation of the essentials of the subject for a beginner. Right triangle trigonometry Here is the question, from 2001: Trigonometry in a Nutshell I’m in 8th grade …
(A new question of the week) This week and next I will look at a recent discussion on trigonometry that dug deep into two different issues: solving equations, and proving identities. These are good summaries of how to approach these common kinds of problems. This week: solving basic trig equations. Questions about trig functions Here …
Since we just looked at a complicated rational inequality, let’s look at some simpler rational equations, first a linear equation with fractions, and then truly rational equations, in which the variable(s) appear in the denominator. This discussion dealt with a common confusion I’ve seen in students. The problem The question came from Fairooz in 2017: …
Equations with Fractions: Three Ways to Solve Them Read More »
When a challenging type of problem is written with unexpectedly large numbers, it can look impossible. Today’s discussion illustrates how to get past the hurdles. The problem The problem came from Arsh in April: Q) [x((x+5)^2016)((x-3)^2017)((6-x) ^1231)]/((x-2)^10000)((x+1)^2015)((4-x)^242) ≥ 0 Since our site doesn’t yet allow LaTeX formatting, and Arsh chose not to insert the problem …
(An archive question of the week) My title is tongue-in-cheek, as we’ll be looking at the Chinese Remainder Theorem, which is really a Chinese theorem about remainders, not a theorem about “Chinese remainders”. But we’ll work on a problem that can be solved with or without knowledge of the theorem, and with various doses of …
(A new question of the week) There are some topics that appear to be standard in certain parts of the world, but far less familiar in our own. Sometimes it takes two of us to recognize what a student is asking, due to language issues and different past experience with such questions. This is an …
(An archive question of the week) Combinatorics can be inherently tricky; making up your own problem is doubly so. Here we have a problem created by a teacher, who then is not entirely sure what it means. How can we figure out what meaning to give it? Combine that with working out how to solve …
(A new question of the week) Here is a recent discussion with a frequent user of our service, Kurisada, about combinatorics. He is new to the subject, so this involved several introductions to new ideas. Arranging 8 letters, 2 identical There are 8 letters : A, B, H, N, O, S, U, U I was …
(An archive question of the week) We’ve been looking at examples of extended discussions with students about various kinds of problems. Here, we have one (not from a student) that led to some good thinking about combinatorics – the techniques of counting the ways something can happen. The problem: Triple toppings Here’s the question, from …