Archive for the ‘Geometry’ Category

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Using the 80/20 Rule on Your Test

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

The Pareto Principle, applied to standardized tests, states that 80% of the results you get come from 20% of the work you do. If we use the SAT as an example, this can be applied to much of the test. On the essay, for example, the actual writing may take the most time, but the ideas behind the essay form the foundation of your score, and they typically come together in the first few minutes of the section. Within the Critical Reading sections, students tend to spend most of their time on a few really hard questions.

And the 80/20 rule can be applied to most of the math questions on the test, too. Here’s a sample math SAT question: (more…)

Posted in ACT, Algebra, Geometry, Math, SAT/PSAT, SSAT/ISEE, Sample Questions, Standardized Tests | No Comments »

Proofs: Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008

Okay, so maybe you don’t love ‘em. But you also can’t leave ‘em, at least not if you’re taking geometry.

What is a proof? Fundamentally, it’s a puzzle. You’re given the answer, but you have to figure out how to get there. Once you figure that out, then comes the hard part: writing it all down.

Theoretically, there should be only one right way to do a proof. Math is absolute, right? …wrong. Different teachers have different requirements for even simple proofs. Some teachers want you to write down every little step you take, right down to the “AB = AB: Reflexive Property” steps. Other teachers find that a complete waste of time and will even take points off your work. Your path to good grades: learn what your instructor wants.

Once you’ve learned the nuances of your teacher’s requirements, the hard part is over. From then on, you can concentrate on the math.

Posted in Geometry, Math | No Comments »

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