Posts Tagged ‘simplify’
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
How to Make Factor Trees
Description
A detailed tutorial on how to make factor trees. Step by step tutorial including several examples on how to make factor trees for reference.
Overview
A factor tree is a type of tree diagram that splits numbers into their factors. It is a very useful method of simplification. First, start with a number and draw two lines from it. Two numbers that when multiplied equal your first number need to go there. A great number to start with is 2, if your number is an even number. you can start with any two numbers you like, provided they fit the guidelines, excluding anything paired with the number one – because then you won’t get anywhere. Then for each of your two numbers, if they are not simplified, you do the same process with them. Keep it up until you are down to simplified, or prime, numbers. You will know you have reached one when the only multiples are one and itself.
Tags: algebra, diagram, even, factor, itself, multiple, number, odd, one, prime, simplification, simplified, simplify, tree, two
Posted in Algebra | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
The Numerator and Denominator of a Fraction
Description
A detailed tutorial on the numerator and denominator of a fraction. Step by step tutorial including several examples of numerators and denominators for reference.
Overview
Fractions are well known in the world of mathematics. But when first starting out, you may ask yourself why the fraction appears like it does – split into two parts. You will see a fraction either written horizontal or vertical. In a horizontal fraction, the numerator is the number to the left, and the denominator is the number to the right. In the more common and proper vertical fraction, the numerator is on the top and the denominator is on the bottom. This works when there are whole equations in either the numerator and denominator as well, not just for simpler numbers. The numerator and the denominator should never be split, but algebra tricks can sometimes help to simplify them.
Tags: algebra, arithmetic, bar, denominator, equations, fraction, horizontal, number, numerator, parts, simplify, split, tricks, two, vertical
Posted in Arithmetic | No Comments »
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Cancellation Properties of Natural Numbers
Description
A detailed tutorial on cancellation properties of natural numbers. Step by step tutorial including several examples of cancellation properties for reference.
Overview
Cancellation properties of natural numbers state that when two terms are equal to each other, if the same number is being multiplied or added on both terms, you may cancel them out and the terms will still be equal to each other. Knowledge of the cancellation properties is extremely important for simplification of equations and when trying to find the value of a variable. Mathematically stated, the cancellation properties are that if x + z = y + z or xz = yz, then x = y.
Tags: add, arithmetic, cancel, cancellation, equal, multiply, natural, number, out, properties, property, simplification, simplify, term, value, variable
Posted in Arithmetic | No Comments »
Friday, September 25th, 2009
How to Simplify Factorials
Description
A detailed tutorial on how to simplify factorials. Step by step tutorial including several examples of how to simplify factorials for reference.
Overview
A factorial is an interesting mathematical function. It is expressed as a number with an exclamation point after it – for example, 5! would be “five factorial”. What a factorial really is, is an expression of multiplication. In n!, all numbers from 1 to n, including n, are multiplied. For example: 7! = 1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 * 7. The notation of a factorial was thought up by Christian Kramp in 1808.
Tags: algebra, Christian Kramp, factorial, Math, multiplication, multiply, n!, product, simplify
Posted in Algebra | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
How to Simplify Equations by Combining Like Terms
Description
This video provides several real world examples of combining like terms to help us visualize what we are supposed to be doing to simplify equations. Several algebraic sample problems are provided in the video.
Overview
Combining like terms is very simple. It is only done with addition and subtraction. The reason they call it combining like terms is because you only combine terms that are alike. For instance, you could not combine 2x and 2y, even though the number 2 is the same. The important part is the variables, and the variables cannot be combined. You can combine the terms 3x and 5x, because they have the same variable. Another example is with exponential value. You cannot combine the terms 2x and 3x^2 because the exponential values are not the same, which makes the variable not the same. When it is possible to combine like terms, simply add or subtract the numbers, and put that number in front of the variable. Then you have combined like terms. This can be done as many times as you like in a problem provided the variables are the same.
Tags: algebra, combine, combining like terms, like terms, Math, simplify, variables
Posted in Algebra | No Comments »
