Joe Pagano

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - Multiplication Shortcuts - Part I

When Gauss said that mathematics was the queen of sciences and arithmetic the queen of mathematics, he was not lying. Without arithmetic, there could be no mathematics; for the essence of this most challenging discipline lies in the ability to manipulate numbers and figures. Multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction form the core of arithmetic operations. In this article, we will... (posted by Joe 276 days 21 hours ago.)

Teach Your Kids Arithmetic - Multiplication Shortcuts Part II

Did you ever watch an illusionist pull off one of those amazing mind-blowers in which a rabbit appears out of a seeming empty hat? Or one in which, a previously torn piece of paper with unique writing on it is miraculously restored whole? These mind-bending illusions might really seem like magic but there is a trick behind every one. Similarly with math, multiplying lightning fast might... (posted by Joe 276 days 21 hours ago.)

The Earned Run Average (ERA) In Baseball - Nothing More Than a Complex Fraction

Now that baseball season is well under way, many of you might be wondering how that statistic called the earned run average (era) is computed. You might know that this stat reflects a pitcher's allowed, or earned, runs per nine innings. But did you know that this stat is nothing more than a complex fraction in mathematics and can be calculated with a nice little trick?... (posted by Joe 276 days 21 hours ago.)

How to Succeed in Algebra - Factoring Non-Monic Trinomials - Part I

One of the stumbling blocks for students in algebra is factoring what is known as non-monic trinomials . Simply stated a non-monic trinomial is one of the form ax^2 + bx + c, in which a is greater than 1. These present a challenge in factoring because the traditional "guess-and-check" method produces too many possibilities to try. The approach outlined in this series of articles will... (posted by Joe 280 days 5 hours ago.)

How to Succeed in Algebra - Factoring Non-Monic Trinomials - Part II

In Part II of this article, we are going to examine a sure-fire way to factor non-monic trinomials. We are going to examine the proof which gives us this powerful method. After you are done with this presentation, you will not only be able to factor any non-monic, you will understand the reason why this method works. To begin our presentation, let us take an arbitrary non-monic... (posted by Joe 280 days 5 hours ago.)

Math and Cooking - Know Thy Fractions

So you think math does not come in handy in day-to-day living? What about in cooking that delicious Mrs. Dash Oriental Baked Chicken dish? You know that one that requires 1 Tbsp. Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy Seasoning Blend, 6 (4 oz.) boneless skinless chicken breasts, 2/3 cup oriental plum sauce, and 1 Tbsp. lite soy sauce. Now this recipe calls for 6 breasts of chicken. So what do you do when you have only four? Read... (posted by Joe 280 days 5 hours ago.)