Hot Math How-Tos

How To: Factor trinomials by grouping in algebra

Learn how to factor trinomials using the grouping method in this free video algebra lesson. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just study for that next big test).

How To: Use and find x & y-intercepts in algebra

A straight line can be represented in the form of a liner equation containing two variables x and y. When the equation is graphed on a pair of coordinate axes, the line passes cut through the axes in two points. The point where the line cuts the x-axes is called as its x coordinate and the point where the line cuts the y-axes is called as its y coordinate. In this way a line has x-intercept and y-intercept. The x-intercept of a line lies on x axes and is in the form (a,0). Similarly the y-int...

How To: Determine the age of a fossil using carbon-14

If you have a fossil, you can tell how old it is by the carbon 14 dating method. This is a formula which helps you to date a fossil by its carbon. If a fossil contains 60% of its original carbon, how old is the fossil? The half life of carbon 14 is 5600 years. That means this is how long it takes for half the nuclei to decay. After 5600 years, if we start with a gram, we end up with half a gram. This rather complex formula shows you how to solve this puzzle using accepted scientific methods.

How To: Evaluate logarithms using a calculator TI-83

A video to help calculator users find the natural logarithm (log base e, or "ln") and standard logarithm (log base 10, or simply "log") of any number using a TI-83 calculator (works for any issue of the TI-83 calculator or even a TI-84 calculator). Turn on your calculator. To find the natural log of a number, press the "ln" button (the third button from the bottom left), enter the number you want to find the natural log of, press the ")" (closed parenthesis) button, then press enter. The same...

How To: Divide small numbers by big numbers

This is a mathematical educational video on how to divide a small number by a larger number. You are aware that it is easy to divide a larger number by a small number. For example, if you want to divide 379 by 9 it is easy to do so. But if you have to divide 9 by 379 it is a bit difficult. You have to add a zero and see if you can divide. You need to add one more zero so that you can divide 900 by 379. But you should know that the answer would start like this 0.0 as we have added 2 zeros alre...

How To: Prove a triangle inscribed in a circle is right angled

When a triangle is inserted in a circle in such a way that one of the side of the triangle is diameter of the circle then the triangle is right triangle. To prove this first draw the figure of a circle. Now draw a diameter to it. It can be any line passing through the center of the circle and touching the sides of it. Now making this as the side of a triangle draw two lines from the ends of the diameter to a point on the circle. Now join the center of the circle to the other vertex of the cir...

How To: Solve word problems containing radical equations

See how to unpack and solve a word problem containing radical equations with this free video math lesson from Internet pedagogical superstar Simon Khan. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just finish your homework or study for that next big test).

How To: Use ">" (greater than) and "<" (less than) symbols

In this video the author explains how to identify the less than (<) and greater than (>) symbols and when to use them. She explains to us to relate the numbers to animals stating that the smaller numbers are smaller animals and bigger numbers are bigger animals. Now she tells us to imagine that smaller animals are eaten up by the larger animals. So she shows a smaller number comes on the left side of '<' sign and bigger number comes on the right side of '<' sign stating that the bigger number...

How To: Change Fahrenheit to Celsius

This video is a tutorial on how to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit. The title of the film says it will teach you how to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, but it does not. It does just the opposite. The video begins by comparing Fahrenheit and Celsius. He points out that Fahrenheit measures water to freeze at 32 and water to boil at 212. Celsius measures water to freeze at 0 and water to boil at 100. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply the Celsius temperature by 1.8 and add 32. Many countrie...

How To: Find the slope of a line given 2 points with fractions

In this video tutorial the instructor shows how to find the slope of a line given two points with fractional values. To do this first name your two points as point 1 with coordinates as x1, y1 and point 2 with coordinates x2, y2. Then substitute the values in the equation of the slope which is slope m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1). Now all you have to do is simply the fraction after substituting the point values. Be careful about the signs while substituting in the formula. Now finally after solvin...

How To: Determine if you have a function

In this tutorial, we learn how to determine if you have a function. You will start off with two functions and their points. The 'x' values make up the domain of the function and the 'y' values make up the range. The input values are the domain and the output are the range. If you're checking to see if you have a function, you will need one 'y' for every 'x'. This means that each value has another one that goes with it. Each of the points need to have one partner with them, no more and no less...

How To: Determine if a point lies on a line in standard form

In this video, we learn how to determine if a point lies on a line in standard form. In order to do this, you will need to substitute the X and Y value with the ordered pair that is given. The X value is the first number and the Y value is the second number. Re-write your equation, substituting in the numbers to the appropriate spots. Now, simplify the equation by doing multiplication with the negatives and positives (if given). When you get through the equation, you will end up with the solu...

How To: Calculate percent yield

This video shows you how to calculate the percentage yield in chemistry. To find the percentage yield, you will need to divide the actual yield by the theoretical yield. Then, multiply it by 100: i.e. % yield = actual yield/theoretical yield x 100. An actual yield is the amount of a substance produced in an actual laboratory experiment. It is based on an actual physical measurement of a quantity. The theoretical yield is the yield as is calculated on paper: i.e. through calculations. Therefor...

How To: Multiply & Divide Numbers (Basic Elementary Math)

Adding and subtracting may be the easiest of mathematical operations, but once you get it down, multiplication and division can be just as easy. That's why it's called elementary arithmetic. If it were harder, it would be called college algebra or trigonometry. But it's not— it's basic math, and once you get your head around the numbers, you'll never hate math class again! (Okay, maybe you will.)

How To: Divide and give an answer as a fraction

In this video we learn how to divide and give an answer as a fraction. If you are starting out with a simple fraction, you will simply take the number before the divide sign on the top and the second number on the bottom. If you end up with a number that is able to be simplified, make sure you take it down to it's most simple version possible. You can end up with a top heavy fraction, which means there will be whole numbers involved. Do the division to figure out how many times the bottom num...

How To: Draw an isosceles trapezoid

This is a video tutorial in the Education category where you are going to learn how to draw an isosceles trapezoid. This video demonstrates how to draw an isosceles trapezoid with a long base (B), a short base (b) and a 35 degree angle. First you draw the long base. Now center the short base at the center point of the long base and mark the end points of the short base with dots. Next draw perpendicular dotted lines from the dots extending upwards. Draw 35 degree angles from either end of the...

How To: Rewrite an addition problem as a multiplication problem in math

From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just finish your homework or study for that next big test). With this installment from Internet pedagogical superstar Salman Khan's series of free math tutorials, you'll learn how to unpack and solve problems requiring you to multiply whole numbers.

How To: Solve quadratic equation word problems in algebra

Need help figuring out how to unpack and solve word problems involving quadratic equations? Learn how with this free video algebra lesson. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just finish your homework or study for that next big test).

How To: Find the surface area of an aluminum can or cylinder

This video tells us the method to find the surface area of an aluminium can or cylinder. The surface area includes the outside area of the curved portion and the aluminium top and bottom. The formula to find area is the multiple of 2, pi, r, r+h or (2)(pi)(r)(r+h). The radius of the cylinder is the radius of the circular top or bottom. In the example shown in the video, the radius is 4 inches and the height is 12 inches. Substituting the values in the formula, we get the surface area as (2)(3...

How To: Find the entire length of a segment using the midpoint

This video shows the method to find the length of the total segment using the midpoint. Let the total line segment be PS. Let Q be the midpoint of PS. Let R be a point on the line segment QS. The first step involves the use of midpoint to find out the length of QS. We are given that QR = 1 and RS = 4.5. QS is equal to QR plus RS which is equal to 5.5. Now since Q is the midpoint of PS the total length of the segment PS is equal to twice the length of the segment QS. This is equal to 11 units....

How To: Antidifferentiate functions with radicals in calculus

This video demonstrates how to do anti-differentiate functions with radicals in calculus. To simply problems, try to substitute. For example, in the problem, the integral of x times the square root of x plus 2 dx. You can substitute w for everything underneath the radical: i.e. x + 2. When you simplify, it becomes: the integral of x times the square root of w dw. Now, you need to get rid of the x, which you can do with a substitution: w – 2 = x. Now, plug in the values and simplify it.

How To: Add and subtract rational expressions

This series walks you through the steps of adding and subtracting rational expressions. This excellent video shows you a clean board, with the instructors voice showing exactly what to do. Don't fret, any question you may have, will be answered. Watching this video will make you feel like your back in the classroom but rather comfortably from your home.

How To: Find the equation of a circle given: center & tangent

In this video, the instructor shows how to find the equation of a circle given its center point and a tangent line to it. To do this, take a graph and plot the given point and the tangent on that graph. Now, from the center of the circle, measure the perpendicular distance to the tangent line. This gives us the radius of the circle. Using the center point and the radius, you can find the equation of the circle using the general circle formula (x-h)*(x-h) + (y-k)*(y-k) = r*r, where (h,k) is th...

How To: Multiply mixed numbers with whole numbers

This video shows us how to multiply mixed numbers with the whole numbers. First thing you need to do is to change the mixed number into an improper fraction by multiplying the denominator with the whole number and add the resulting number with the numerator. The resulting number will be placed as a numerator with the denominator being the same. Next, is that we can't multiply a fraction with a whole number. So we need to change the whole number into a fraction and this is done by putting the ...

How To: Find the circumference of a circle

Use a simple mathematical formula to find the circumference of a circle. The circumference of a circle can be determined by using the formula 2 times pi times the circle's radius. Pi is equal to 3.14. If a circle's radius is 10 centimeters, first multiply pi times 2. Pi, or 3.14, times 2 is 6.28. The next step then is to multiply 6.28 times the circle's radius. Since the circle's radius is 10 centimeters, multiply it by 6.28. This gives you 60.28. 60.28 inches, then, is the circumference of t...

How To: Derive the basic area of a triangle

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to solve the area of a triangle. The formula for the area of a triangle is A = ½ x b x h or bh/2. The base of the triangle is always at the bottom; it is the side that the triangle sits on. The height is the length between the base and the highest point of the triangle. Multiply the base and height of a triangle; then divide by two or multiply by half. The measurement unit of the answer should be squared. This video will benefit those viewers who need...

How To: Subtract mixed numbers with borrowing

This video teaches you to subtract mixed numbers with borrowing. Consider 2 mixed numbers. For example 8 and 2/7 and the other 5 and 4/5.You have to subtract 5 and 4/5 from 8 and 2/7. First you have to convert the fractions to their common denominator. To equate the denominators of these two fractions you have to multiply the first denominator with the numerator and the denominator of the second fraction and also multiply the numerator and denominator of the first fraction with the denominato...

How To: Find the perimeter & area of a complex figure

In this video tutorial the author shows how to find the perimeter and area of a complex figure. He shows that a complex figure can be subdivided into standard geometric figures. In the current example he divides the complex figure into a rectangle and a triangle. Now he computes the perimeter by adding the three sides of the rectangle and the two sides of the triangle. Similarly he computes the individual areas of the rectangle and the triangle and finally adds then up to find the area of the...

How To: Find the slope from a set of points

To find the slope of a line you must have two points and then you must plug in the two points into the slope formula. The slope formula is m= y2-y1 over x2-x1. If the slope is a fraction be sure to reduce to the lowest. Remember if a number is divided into zero it is zero, if zero is divided into the number it is undefined. A calculator can help one remember this. Horizontal lines have slopes and vertical lines do not. Drawing the lines on a graph can help you see the actual slopes and which ...

How To: Find a slope of a straight line with: Ax + By + C = 0

In this video the instructor shows how to find the slope of an equation which is in the form Ax + By + C = 0. He says that the formula to find the slope of a line in the above form is slope m = -A/B, where A and B are the numeric constants of the variables x and y in the given equation. He goes on and further shows how to do this with a couple of examples. He shows how to reduce any equation into the general form and how to apply the slope formula then. This video shows how to find the slope ...

How To: Find extra points for a parabola (quadractic equation)

This is a mathematical educational video on how to find extra points for a parabola. In the first two examples there is no need for finding extra points as they have five points and have zeros of the parabola. In example 3 we need to find extra points. The equation is y=4xsquare-4x+4. You can take x= -1 and get the value for y. You will get a point now. Similarly you can substitute -2 for x in the same equation and get the value for y. Now you get another point. Now you can draw the parabola.

How To: Find the slope of a line given 2 points

In this video the instructor shows how to find the slope of a line given two points that like on the line. Slope of a line is the measure of the steepness of the line compared to the angle made by the line with the x-axes. A line with positive slope slants forwards and a line with a negative slope slants backwards and a line parallel to x axes has zero slope. So if you are given two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), the slope of the line passing through those two points is equal to m = (y2 - y1)/...

How To: Find a number given Its percent

This how-to video is about how to find a number when its percent is given. This video is really helpful and effective in finding the number when the percent is given, the following steps are explained in the video to find the number when its percent is given:

How To: Identify characteristics of a sample during a survey

To identify characteristics of a sample in your survey, there are many factors to consider of your samples. The first four characteristics you need to focus on are gender, age, income level, and education level. All four of these characteristics must be proportional to that of the population. You also need to consider the geographic location. Only take samples from the immediate geographical area. Finally, an important characteristic of the survey is the sample size. You do not want to ask to...

How To: Find the volume of a swimming pool

In this video, we learn how to find the volume of a swimming pool. To do this, you will first need to find the measurements of all the sides that are on the pool. After this, you will plug in the measurements that you found into the equation to find the volume. This equation is: V=AH, volume= area(height). So, plug in the area and the height to the equation for A and H and then multiply these two together. Once you do this, you will find the answer! Don't forget to label the units on the fina...

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