How to Understand Variables and Simple Algebraic Expressions

How to Understand Variables and Simple Algebraic Expressions

For many students, mathematics feels familiar until letters suddenly appear between the numbers. A calculation such as 5 + 7 seems straightforward, but an expression such as 5x + 7 can make algebra look like an entirely different language. Fortunately, the basic idea is much simpler than it first appears. Algebra uses letters and symbols … Read more

How to Build Strong Number Sense Through Daily Practice

How to Build Strong Number Sense Through Daily Practice

Some students can calculate an answer correctly but still feel unsure about whether that answer makes sense. Others quickly notice that 49 + 21 should be close to 70, recognize that 75 is three groups of 25, or understand that 398 is only two away from 400. That flexible feeling for numbers is often described … Read more