One of the complaints I’ve heard about Math for Grownupsis that it only covers basic math. And I’m not apologetic about that. The whole point of the book is to make basic math a little less mysterious and a little more practical.
But there may be times when you need an Algebra II refresher or review of basic calculus facts. If we don’t use this stuff we lose it.
Throughout the years, I’ve discovered a few really wonderful websites that offer just this kind of assistance. From explaining basic math in theoretic terms (which may be necessary to help our kids with their middle school math homework) to reviewing more complex math topics, these sites are really wonderful. When you need a little more than the basics, I recommend taking a look.
The Math Forum @ Drexel University
This site offers a wide variety of resources for parents, teachers and students. But the part I love the most is Ask Dr Math. Hundreds of college professors answer math-related questions from students, teachers and parents around the world. These responses are archived in a searchable database. Plus there are broad categories to browse, like Formulas and Middle School.
This site is devoted to algebra–from absolute value to solving systems of linear equations. Students (and parents) can skim lessons for quick answers or read them carefully for more in-depth review of the topics. You can also post a question in the forums and receive a thoughtful response that invites you to think critically or refers you back to the lessons themselves. (There are no quick answers here!)
Have you forgotten what a Cartesian plane is? Are you wracking your brain trying to remember why the y-intercept is a big deal? Mathwords offers definitions for thousands of math terms. There are no examples or explanations here, but sometimes knowing a definition is enough to jog the old synapses. Right?
Do you have any favorite math resources? Share them in the comments section!