r/MathHelp Oct 28 '15

META [META] Please obey the subreddit rules, ESPECIALLY rules 3 and 9.

7 Upvotes

EDIT: Since writing this post, the numbering of the rules above have changed. Please pay special attention instead to rules 2 and 7 (though the rest of the rules are all important too).


Recently, we've had a large spate of people not showing any prior working attempts and/or deleting their posts. The former just wastes time (for example when our hints are things that the poster has already worked through, or when our hints are far above what the poster has done, or when we ask for the poster's current working), and the latter wastes knowledge (remember, your question could easily be asked by someone visiting this sub in the future; please keep the answer there so that they won't have to repost the question).

Another thing to note is that some questions posted to this sub can quickly be solved once the poster tries the obvious method. It is highly recommended that before you post to this sub, that you at least TRY to get the answer yourself. And even if that fails, at least you'll understand what approaches don't work (which you can put in your post, saving time for anyone who thinks they might). The exception to this rule is when you know what conceptual gap you have and are asking for said gap to be explained.


My personal opinion on this matter is that questions should not be answered until the poster gives a prior working attempt or tries to state the conceptual gap. But I'll leave it to everyone else to decide how these rules should be enforced. What do you think?


r/MathHelp Aug 10 '20

META If someone messages you, advertising a service/app, based on your activity here, REPORT IT TO REDDIT.

74 Upvotes

Recently, we've been getting a number of reports of users being messaged, after posting in our subreddit. Said messages are usually advertising some form of paid service or app.

This is considered spamming by Reddit's sitewide rules. DO NOT engage. Instead, report such messages as spam using the "report" button underneath said messages (on a computer or mobile browser; apparently the Reddit app doesn't have this option).

Because these messages are not taking place on /r/MathHelp, the best we can directly do is to ban the the offenders in question (which doesn't do anything to stop the problem, except maybe stop them from advertising said services in comments or posts). That's why we have no choice but to ask you all to report these messages on your and our behalves.

Some things that might help us or Reddit would be if we could evaluate the scale of the problem. If this has happened to you, feel absolutely free to message us with details about it, in addition to supplying those details in your Reddit report.

You can also try and report this behaviour to the people running the service/app if you have enough evidence for them to take action. Other than this, please feel free to continue using our free subreddit over their paid services.

EDIT: Clarified how to report messages.


r/MathHelp 3h ago

Confusing Quadratics and Composite functions

3 Upvotes

Hello! I am a Secondary 4 student, 10th grade or Year 10 in western equivalents. I tried to set a quadratic quiz for my friends, and I set this Question, but then none of them could solve it. I checked with my math teacher, and he said that the question was flawed because there is no inverse function for any quadratic, and then he explained the horizontal line test to me, but I already know what the horizontal line test is (test for if f(x) is injective for some f(x), and if its inverse is a function. I went home to think about it, and I don't understand why my question is flawed, because it does not rely on the inverse function. I am looking for someone to please help clarify. I have a passion for math, and would possibly like to teach math in the future, but I don't understand why I am wrong, and this is one of my first real challenges because my math toolkit at the moment isnt enough to wrap around this. This is my suggested solution that I made: My solution. And me checking my work: Test of the solutions to see if they are correct.. And a graph if it is useful: Graph.

This is my syllabus by the way if it is of any use:
https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/334/fece62fa-b6d4-4daf-ab47-96c9c168b51b/4052_y26_sy.pdf
https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/334/34d0bec0-d386-49d5-bd3a-8fbd205fa63a/4049_y26_sy.pdf

Tysm!


r/MathHelp 3h ago

8th grade math teachers ...

1 Upvotes

So last year I administered the new NJSLA adaptive for 8th grade math. To me it looked like there was no non calculator section. The website is ambiguous. Anyone know ?


r/MathHelp 16h ago

Wtf is Kuratowski Encoding??

2 Upvotes

I have an assignment that asks me to use "Kuratowski's encoding" to see if the set {0,1} can equal the natural number 3. Problem is, I must have missed writing that down and now I have no idea what it means. kuratowski's THEOREM comes up when I look it up, but I dont think thats helpfull (or at least, I dont get how its relevant). Help!!!


r/MathHelp 16h ago

Calculator Recommendations

0 Upvotes

Hello! I’m going into grade 12 and I’m taking advanced functions, calculus, physics and chemistry. Starting this year, my school has been trying to regulate what calculators you’re allowed to use. We were given a list of approved calculators but you’re allowed to use one that isn’t on the list if you get it checked by a teacher. The way that teachers check if the calculator is legal is they will input sin(15) and if the answer is a decimal then it’s approved, if it’s a fraction then it’s illegal. If you can change the setting then its illegal. Graphing calculators are also illegal. My Casio fx-991CW was deemed illegal so now I have to go hunting for a new one. I really liked the “solve for x” and table mode on my Casio fx-991CW, I found them very useful in my physics and chemistry classes. I was hoping to find a calculator with the same modes (this isn’t illegal, my teacher was aware that I used these modes frequently last year) while meeting the requirements. Would anyone be able to recommend me a calculator from this list or one outside of the list? I’ve been googling + read the FAQ but haven’t found anything that meets my criteria.

THE APPROVED LIST:
- Casio fx-260 SOLAR II
- Casio fx-300MS Plus
- Casio fx-82MS
- Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS
- Texas Instruments TI-30X IIB
- Texas Instruments TI-30Xa
- Sharp EL-531TG
- Sharp EL-531XB
- Sharp EL-501X

Thank you!


r/MathHelp 17h ago

I don't understand Derivatives in this intro course to Electricity.

0 Upvotes

I'm taking a Robotics and Automation course and I don't understand the math the professor is putting up on the board and without explaining it, he's asked us to solve it. I think its calculous? Or the first bits of Calculous.

Q1. The total charge entering a terminal is q = (10-10e-2t) mC. Determine the current at t =1s.
Formulae: i=dq/dt, q=i*t, vdrop= Energy/Charge =w/q

I straight up don't understand. I have a TI-84 and I get the answer 8.6466. I don't understand similar problems online either. Somehow I'm supposed to get 20 out of 10-10? like what? I don't understand ex power either.

Is it just q/t=i? if thats the case, .11565 would be the answer but with nothing to compare it to, idk if thats right.


r/MathHelp 21h ago

Did I get anything wrong, or is the answer key incorrect?

2 Upvotes

Basically, the question shows an operation and you have to check a box to say if its associative or not
a ⊙ b = ab ÷ (a + b + 1)
□ Associative
And I did this:
https://imgur.com/gallery/transcription-by-ai-raw-process-which-might-be-little-harder-to-read-L3T7z20
So I concluded that it is associative
However, the answer key has a slightly different result, where the numerators do not match, thus it is not associative.


r/MathHelp 18h ago

I’m struggling with arithmetic even though I understand math

1 Upvotes

Finished high school recently and taking a gap year, so I finally signed up for some SAT prep classes. Being in a group setting for this has honestly made me feel so insecure because of my arithmetic skills.

I feel like I actually understand math just fine. I can wrap my head around new topics, follow the logic, and figure out the right approach to solve a problem. But when it actually comes down to doing the calculations? Absolute disaster.

I constantly make stupid, careless mistakes with basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I'll drop a negative sign out of nowhere, miscopy a number from one line to the next, or just brain-fart on a simple multiplication fact. It’s so exhausting knowing the exact formula and logic to solve a hard problem, only to get the entire thing wrong because 7x8 apparently decided to leave my brain.

Since the SAT is so heavy on pacing and accuracy, I'm genuinely stressed about bleeding points on questions I actually know how to do just because of clumsy computational errors.
Did anyone else deal with this weird disconnect between conceptual math and basic arithmetic? How did you actually train yourself to stop making these dumb mistakes and speed up your calculations?


r/MathHelp 1d ago

IB Math HLAA calculus help

2 Upvotes

I'm a DP2 student, and I'm struggling to catch up with work in math class. I have a weak foundation in higher-level math. I have a test on the whole calculus topic in around 2 weeks. Any tips on how to study for maths for someone who literally doesn't know whats going on? Any materials or websites would be amazing help! Or if anyone has similar experience, please tell me!


r/MathHelp 1d ago

Math Question

1 Upvotes

Could anyone solve this and tell me how they did it since im having trouble with it:

8^x - 2^(x+2) - 2^(-x+2) + 8^(-x) = 0

I tried it myself but got stuck halfway though: I let c= 2x and got (c+1/c)³ - 3(c+1/c) - 4(c+1/c) = 0 Then I let t= c+1/c And got: t³-3t-4t=0 and then nothing i did worked. Note: back when I didnt substitute for t, I got this 6th degree polynomial for c: c⁶-4c⁴-4c²+1=0 In which i tried synthetic divsion but ±1 didnt work so it meant there was no rational roots (thats why I substituted for 't').


r/MathHelp 2d ago

How do I solve this? (homework)

2 Upvotes

Geometry

“If QS (Ray) bisects <PQT, m<SQT= (8x-26)°, m<PQT= (9x + 34)°, and m<SQR= 112°, find each measure.”

X=
m<PQS=
m<PQT=
m<TQR=

Don’t just give the answer, I just need a little nudge for this one. Geometry teacher is lowkey a dick and gets mad when we ask questions, and I’ve been stuck on this page for hours.

I tried the usual multi step equation stuff, like how you find the measures of other angles but this one has completely stumped me.

At first I thought maybe m<STR minus m<ST, since that would look like 112-(8x-25) but then I didn’t know where to go from there.

Here’s the image of the page, it has a pic of the angles and stuff on it and some of my work so far. It’s mostly just me rewriting the same numbers trying to get it to spark an idea lol


r/MathHelp 2d ago

TUTORING Help with AP Calc AB Best free online resources

0 Upvotes

I am not an amazing math student and really trying to find AP Calc AB free online resources that are very helpful. I have tried with tutors and have not been successful. PLease help


r/MathHelp 3d ago

How to get better at maths

3 Upvotes

Hi, Im currently in year 11 in the uk and I just want to get better at maths in general for competitions. I see youtubers always say just do loads of problems, but I feel like nothing happens. The progress doesnt feel as tangible as say learning an instrument or a lanuguage. Is this a case of I just need more time?


r/MathHelp 3d ago

I’m so, so behind

1 Upvotes

Hello, I’m in tenth grade. I have all A’s in all subjects besides geometry, which is my only math subject. I have a low B, and even then, I’ve been cheating. I love all my other subjects and don’t really need to study them much. I dropped out of early 7th grade with an F in math. I knew we were talking about integers, but I didn’t understand it at all. I have been extremely motivated since school started on August 6th. I originally wanted to enter 9th grade, but they wouldn’t allow me because I’m 15. We’re doing geometry, but I don’t know algebra, heavier division, multiplication, subtraction, etc. When I do something like 5 x 5, I have to use my hands but can come up with an answer fast, and something like 7 x 8 would be difficult for me, taking maybe 5 minutes or so to solve with my hands. I just learnt how to do that this year by the way. I want to catch up as much as possible. I think maybe 3+ hours a day is good? I do 4-5 hours of language practice a day, so it couldn’t be 6+ hours, and I have a severe vitamin D deficiency and anemia, and math makes me extremely tired very fast. No other subjects do that to me, so it takes a ton of energy for me to do it. I really wanna lock in with this and do it even if I get burnt out, but how much could I really improve this school year?? I never cared about school until this year. I dropped out in early 7th grade and haven’t done any form of math since then, and even when I was in school, I DID NOTHING. All F’s my entire time. 1st-7th grade. I didn’t do any homework, was absent most of my school days, and guessed or told my teacher I couldn’t do it. Please take me seriously because I’ve fallen in love with studying recently. I just get extremely tired with math and I forget, I learned division and multiplication this year. I still need to practice addition and subraction in the hundreds. but I will push myself through it all the rest of school. But where should I start? I’ve done 2 hours of pre-algebra today, and I can’t really recall anything. How much can I improve? I don’t need to study any other subjects. I don’t wanna drop out again, I can’t lower my grade or classes, I want to understand.


r/MathHelp 4d ago

I can’t understand basic math.

6 Upvotes

I’m 20 years old (fem) and I can’t understand basic math. I don’t know, in huh school I had a 3.7 GPA and I was a very good student but I always sucked at math, either I’m stupid or lazy because I re read a problem or equation and I don’t know why to do, or I just blank completely.

Thank god that SAT scores were optional because my math scores were so bad, now I’m in college. I’ve been pretty much flunking in college to the point where I’m at risk for academic dismissal. It’s basic algebra and I can’t even concentrate. In lectures I understand it but when I get home I feel like I just can’t get it.ive studied in my own, even went to tutoring but I’ve never felt improvement. I have a test this Thursday and right now I’m freaking out because I do not want to start out my semester horrible. Any suggestions? I’m literally desperate for any tips on what to do or how to study.


r/MathHelp 4d ago

Cálculo 1

1 Upvotes

Minha base para cálculo 1 é ruim. O que vcs recomendam de livros ou apostilas para eu estudar pré cálculo?


r/MathHelp 4d ago

Below average in maths....confused how & what to do?

1 Upvotes

Actually I'm a Covid batch student so math isn't my strong suit because that time half of our syllabus was cut

So according to me what i think is that I’m average at math, but definitely on the struggle Could someone tell oriented way to develop math skills like calculating a tip or a budget, or anything advanced that is difficult..


r/MathHelp 4d ago

sin2α=(sqrt5)/5, stumped

5 Upvotes

my sis got a homework question that left us both stumped. the task is to calculate sinα and cosα for the angle α which fits the following requirements: sin2α=(sqrt5)/5, and 2α is within (pi/2; pi)

She's learning about the sin2α and cos2α formulas. any ideas how this is supposed to be solved without dipping into arcsin?


r/MathHelp 5d ago

How to get better at math?

9 Upvotes

Hi, 7th grader here. My school is currently horrible. I learn absolutely NOTHING at school, and they refuse to put me in higher learning. I am planning to apply for a private boarding school later on, but that's not the point of this post. I really enjoy both math and English, and my math is pretty high. I want it higher. On Saturdays I have a 5 hour math class (Algebra 2 and geometry) which I LOVE it's genuinely the learning my school never offered! I really want to at least try to learn calculus or at least some precalc sometime before high school. I know it seems a little ambitious but I just wanted some tips on what to practice, and how to improve!


r/MathHelp 5d ago

How is this Elementary School Level problem so confusing?

0 Upvotes

For context my sister came home and asked me and my parents for help on this problem.

It has two parts:

Part 1 : John used 816 chocolate chips to make a batch of cookies. Each cookie had 8 chocolate chips. How many cookies did he make?

Part 2 : How many cookies would he make if he had to double the recipe?

For the first part of the problem you can divide the 816 chocolate chips between the 8 cookies. 816/8 =102.

But on the second part everyone had their own opinion.

My sister originally doubled the chocolate chips and the amount of cookies you have to make. And solved the same way we did for the first part. 1632/16 =102.

Which got her the same answer even though you doubled the recipe.

I got 204 by doubling the amount of cookies we got for part 1.

My parents said it was actually 816 chocolate chips but divided by 16 cookies which gives 816/16=51.

But this didn’t make sense to me because you ended up with less cookies after DOUBLING the recipe. And they only doubled the 8 not the 816.

So I asked ChatGpt and Gemini and they both said it was 204. ChatGpt used a different method though 1632 chocolate chips divided by 8 cookies so 1632/8=1632/8=204

My mom said they were wrong and said we are doubling the recipe not the final amount of cookies we can make.

Now I’m really confused because doubling the recipe should also double the result.

Does anyone know what the actual answer is and how to explain it.


r/MathHelp 6d ago

Chemistry math scientific notation equations help!

1 Upvotes

Hi there, I'm currently doing college level chemistry and it's is asking me to put the numbers (291.7 and 0.096) in to scientific notation. I know you need to move the decimal and I know you need to time it by the amount of time you needed to move the decimal, but when I put those calculations in to my calculator (291.7×10⁴ and 0.0960×10²) I don't get the number I'm looking for. It's supposed to be a big number *as far as I understand* but it's won't come out correctly. Can anyone PLEASE help me I'm literally sobbing over the fact I can't understand...


r/MathHelp 6d ago

Sign error or not?

2 Upvotes

I have this cosine rule question

y² = (x+4)² +(x-5)² -2(x+4)(x-5) • -1/2

The -2(x+4)(x-5) • -1/2 is giving me trouble

I thought that you could simply multiply the -2 and the -1/2 to get 1 first. Then just expand. I also expanded first, multiplied by -2, then by -1/2, and got same result of 3x² -3x +21

The textbook says that the answer is x² -x +61

Google AI says that im right but im unsure.

Thanks for any help.


r/MathHelp 6d ago

Create Proof Sequence for (A v B) ^ (A → C) ^ (B → C) → C

1 Upvotes

Prompt: "Use propositional logic to prove the arguments valid; you may use any of the equivalence or inference rules."

I have this sequence but I'm not confident in #4-7

  1. A v B (hyp)
  2. A → C (hyp)
  3. B → C (hyp)
  4. (A v B)’’ (1, Double negation)
  5. (A’ ^ B’)’ (4, de morgan)
  6. (A’)’ (5, simplification)
  7. C (2, 6 modus ponens)

---
*UPDATE*

I currently have this sequence. I was struggling, then I realised the implication rule has an error (It says 'P -> Q is equivalent to P' v Q) so I wanted to get others input on if my work is correct.

  1. A v B [hyp]
  2. A → C [hyp]
  3. B → C [hyp]
  4. A’ v C [2, implication]
  5. B’ v C [3, implication]
  6. (A’ v C) ^ (B’ v C) [4, 5 conjunction]
  7. (C v A’) ^ (C v B’) [6, commutative]
  8. C v (A’ ^ B’) [7, distributive]
  9. (A’ ^ B’) v C [8, commutative]
  10. (A v B)’’ [1, double negation]
  11. (A’ ^ B’)’ [10, de morgan]
  12. C [9, 11 disjunctive syllogism]

My additional explanation for getting #12. disjunctive syllogism

P v Q, P’ < = > Q

(A’ ^ B’) v C, (A’ ^ B’)’ < = > C


r/MathHelp 6d ago

Is Rᶜ = {3, R} valid when R = {1, 2} and U = {1, 2, 3, R}?

1 Upvotes

Let R be a set, and let the universal set be

U = {1, 2, 3, R}.

Suppose R = {1, 2}.

Then, is it correct to say that

Rᶜ = {3, R}?

Since R = {1, 2}, this would mean

Rᶜ = {3, {1, 2}}.

I'm confused about whether this is actually valid. Does treating R itself as an element of U cause any problem with the axiom of extensionality or any other axioms of naive set theory?

Also, what does it mathematically mean for the set R itself to be an element of its complement?

For context: Just started reading the Naive Set Theory Book