I need some tricks for Nubmer Sense UIL. it is a competition that you do math problems in your head. my sister has made it to state for the past like 3 years or so (texas) and i have not made it past regionals. this year we both might go to state together, if i get good enough. it is in three weeks. could someone please help me? thanx... MO!
215835
Distributive Property: Great tool\n\nSay you were multiplying 543 and 199, for example:\n\n543(199) = 543(200 - 1) = 543(200) - 543 = 543(2)(100) - 543 = 108,600 - 543 = 108,057\n\n78(15) = 78(10 + 10/2) = 780 + 780/2 = 780 + 390 = 1170\n\nI mean doubling and halving is usually easier to do in your head.
473057
Wow.  Not one of these answers gives you a *general* way to approach this kind of problem (which is really what you asked for ... not just the answer, and not "that's easy" ... shortcuts are great, but you're asking for a *general* help with this kind of problem).  \n\nI've tutored kids and *adults* who panic when they see these problems, and so here are my tips to help.\n\nAll  word problems involve a basic 3-step process:\n\n1. Translate the words into math symbols.\n2. Do the math (play with the symbols using rules).\n3. Translate the math symbols back into words.\n\nIf you panic when you see word problems, it's probably because you're trying to do  Step 1 and 2 at the same time.  Stop ... translate the problem into symbols ... and *then* start doing the math.  \n\nWhy is this so important?  Because Step 1 requires some creativity ... where you're doing the hard part that varies from question to question ... that's where there are all sorts of bizarre distractions in the wording (maybe it's "Po" and "Jezebel" next time, maybe one's a lifeguard and the other a hairdresser ... this is where the question can throw all sorts of irrelevant crap at you ... you need to get rid of everything that is irrelevant (like the names of the girls).\n\nSecond, the actual math step (Step 2) involves repetition ... rewriting the same statements in different ways ... so if it's long words, this gets tedious.  So Step 1 is writing the sentences down using as few symbols as possible.\n\nStep 2 requires almost no creativity at all.  That's just applying rules to symbols ... like "subtract 4 from both sides" or "divide both sides by 2", that kind of thing.\n\nAnd Step 3 is simple, IF you remember what your symbols mean.\n\nIn this case:\n1. Translate the words into symbols:\n"The sum of Cora's age and Rose' age is 40."\nC + R = 40\n"Cora is 4 years older than Rose."\nC = R + 4\n\n2. Manipulate the symbols.\nC + R = 40  ... and\nC = R + 4\nso (rule: rewrite first eq. using definition of C from the second eq.)\n(R + 4) + R = 40\nso (rule: we can reorder things added together)\nR + R + 4 = 40\nso (rule: subtract 4 from both sides)\nR + R = 36\nso (rule: replace additions with equivalent multiplication)\nR * 2 = 36\nso (rule: divide both sides by 2)\nR = 18\nso (rule: substitute back into original equation 2)\nC = R + 4 = 18 + 4 = 22\n\n3. Translate the symbols back into words:\nR = 18 ... "Rose is 18 years old."\nC = 22 ... "Cora is 22 years old."\n\nI hope that helps.  Feel free to email if questions.
147893
yeah, it was easy. That's the great thing about this country: if you study for an exam, you'll pass. BUt on the timing part, here's my advice, if you don't know what to do as soon as you finish reading the questions, then chances are you're going to waste time trying to figure out something. First work on all the questions that you know at least 90% how to answer, then go back and try to solve the other questions.
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Roman please! Don't confuse the poor girl any more than she already is.  Which is  it, 23 or 24?\n  \nTat, Roman was on the right track with this one.  He had the right concept, but the wrong constant in the end.  Guess that's why the Caesars no longer rule.\n\nIf Greg now runs 35 miles today, then six weeks ago he started running 35 - 2(6) or 23 miles per week.  Letting m be the mileage run per week, and n the number of weeks he runs, then we come up with this equation for the mileage Greg runs each week he is on the program.:\n\nm = 23 + 2n.\n\nWe defy the normal convention of putting the constant at the end of the equation this time, because that was the mileage Greg started with, and everything else is added to it.
587348
Dear Lord,\n\nPlease help me circle the wagons!  There is no parallel for my situation.  I'm surrounded by squares who will ace this test and I forgot to study a segment.  Be my ray of light, beaming through a kite of confusion.  Send down your angles to assist me.  I need points on this test.  Please, send me a sine.
328495
Jimbo, believe in yourself. You have given enough right answers to know what you are capable of. Thanks for an answer you gave me, that I needed, so I could help my wife with her college math class. Keep up the GREAT WORK!
263599
In the amount of time it took you to type that in, you could have figured it out. Read each sentence and look for context clues.\n\nFirst sentence: It's time to start planning your next ___. Well, the clue is planning. What is something a lot of people plan? An ELECTION? No, of course not. It's a vacation. You also have a hint in the second sentence--"a trip."\n\nSecond sentence: Why not take a trip across the ___? Well, you might take a trip across the state or the country. Only one of your choices is similar to this--nation.\n\nThird sentence: There are many means of ___ to get to just about any ___. Ooh, a toughie! Two blanks. OK, first one... the clue comes after the blank. "To get to" is your clue--what word tells a way to get to somewhere else? (Starts with T.) Second blank, "to get to just about any ___." Where is somewhere you want to get to? (Starts with D.) \n\nGet the idea? It's pretty easy, and fun. Cross out the words as you use them--you'll only use each one once. Good luck!
174967
Took it last quarter, looked at it like a puzzle.  A puzzle is fun, math is not.  You start with the matrix given in the problem, and have to finish with ending matrix given.  Do what you need to do to get to the last matrix.  The best part, if you mess-up, just do another set.  There are no wrong answers, try doing it like a puzzle, more fun than Soduko.  Good Luck
388749
Good luck on the bar exam!!  I took (and passed, thank goodness) the NC bar this past July.  I didn't take PMBR -- I only took BarBri.  I will tell you, however, the MBE was BY FAR the hardest part for me.\n\nI was afraid that I would be completely burned out if I took the PMBR too.  I had friends that took it and said it was basically three more days of doing practice tests then going over the answers.  My advice is save your money -- just make sure you do plenty of practice questions on your own!
356740
To a third grader the task seems insurmountable so you need to make it seem less intimidating.  With all my classes I always did this activity at "times tables" time.\n\nI wrote all the times tables lists on the chalk boardor white board, from 0x0 to 9x9 in lists of the 0 times, 1 times, and so on.  Then I would say to the kids something like, "Ok, here are all the times tables you have to learn" and they would all groan.  Then I'd say, "Let's look at this and see how easy it really is".  So first we'd see how many they already knew, and usually we could establish that everyone already knew all the 0 times, 1 times, and often 2 times and 5 times, and we would clean all of those off the board in each place they occurred (two places) so we would begin to have gaps. \n\nThen we'd talk about the finger math method of figuring out all the 9 times and erase all of those because they could quickly come up with those.  (The method is described in the first link.) \n\nThen we'd look at the ones that were left and talk about the fact that every single one was there twice, as 8x7 is the same as 7x8, etc., and we'd erase one of each pair.  Then we'd be left with the ones they actually had to concentrate on learning.  By then the task didn't seem nearly as insurmountable.\n\nI've included a couple of other links that should be helpful.  Good luck with it.
11575
First off.......I am such a language/English/literature person. But in college I had to take a statistics class. I was scared to death because I just so don't have a mathematical mind. I loved it! The teacher was amazing......and related to each of us on  such a personal level. The hilarious part was that it was one of those huge lecture type classes with over 200 people. Yet, she had this way of making it seem like she was talking straight to you. We would all be working problems and laughing and poking fun at our silly mistakes instead of feeling like we were losers for screwing up. Her tests were monstrously hard, but I ended up with an "A" in the course. Shows you what amazing teaching skills mixed with personable skills can do for students. I loved this question......I'm so glad you asked it. I haven't thought of her in so long. I really should go find her and tell her thanks sometime!
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I just took one of those a couple of weeks ago.  And to be honest, I wrote it in one hour instead of two and I think I got a hundred percent.\n\nIn this exam there were 5 types of questions.  I will tell you about them and then give a link to a test very similar to the one I wrote.  I suspect that the test you are going to write will be quite similar.\n\nType 1- Word definitions.  They give a word and then 4 choices of that the real definition might be.  Only one is closest.\n\nType 2- Number sequences.  They give a string of numbers and you are supposed to look at them, discern the pattern, and give the next number in logical sequence. \n\nType 3- Math problems.  They give you some conditions and ask you to figure out a problem.  Here is one common type:\nJim has a 100-gallon tank of gas.  He fills 3 identical tanks and has 25 gallons left.  How big were the tanks he filled? [It's not hard!]\n\nType 4- Logical puzzles.  They give you some information, enough to solve the questions if you combine what you know into some logical deductions.\n\nType 5- Spatial reasoning.  They show you a sequence of shapes and you are supposed to pick what the next one would be out of 4 or 5 choices.  Using simple logic and looking for patterns, these are not that hard if you take a few seconds and look at them calmly.\n\nHere is a link to the test and some practice tests.  It is in Canada but I do not think that the rules of logic are very different here.\n\n<http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/ppc/assessment_pg2_ka_e.htm>\n\nFinally, you asked what kind of book to buy.  I was only concerned about the logic puzzles so I bought a magazine of them (there are monthly compendiums of them available here, like crosswords or sudoku).  And they were the wrong kind, actually more intricate than I required.  I just loooked on the net for any type of puzzle sites or IQ tests.  Seriously, just do a lot puzzles and whenever possible, read the explanations for why the answer is what it is.\n\nGood luck to you.
675753
To get into the big $$ tourneys, you have to pay big $$.  Try going to the FLW website.  They have the tour schedule on that site.  Also try the B.A.S.S. website, they have listings as well.  It's like the girl above me said, you really have to research it yourself.  There are so incredibly many different tourney out there, you just have to find some that you can afford, and can get to.  The tournament trail is an expensive one, so unless your rich, or are very resourceful, you really have to work your way up from the bottom.  The bottom being a start at a local fishing club.  Fish those tourneys untill you can put together a good resume of your winnings.  Then try to get some smaller sponsers.  Just remember that you have to help them out, like they help you.  After you are ready, you can move up on the tourneyment scale.  I don't know of any pros who made it to the top the easy way.  They all had to put their time in, and work up the "boarding" ladder.  Try this link, for more thourough info on tourney fishing.  Tight lines, and maybe I'll see you at the top.
236539
One of my co-worker's wife was on it a few years ago.  Ended up winning a lot of stuff and missed out on the showcase by just a few hundred bucks.  They have folks that come out and do short interviews with the people waiting outside....I think  they like to get folks from other parts of the country and it helps if you have a lot of personality.  \n\nIncidentally, my co-worker's wife didn't take some of the stuff she won.....the taxes were just outrageous so she only kept some of it.\n\nAddendum:  I forgot my nephew and some of his friends drove out there after graduation a couple of years ago.  They tried to get on the show but I can understand why they weren't picked.  They literally just rolled out of bed and showed up.  So make sure you look neat!  :)
361784
SLap yourself about ten times and take ten deep breathes. Calm down. In chemistry you miss one thing you start to fail. I'm taking Chemistry right now, and its a piece of cake. What you need to so is talk to your teacher and your parents. Come out and say, " I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING ON!!" Tell your teacher to break it down so far that a toddler could understand. You can get it, you just need the confidence. You'll have to spend more time with your teacher. Also look to the smartest person in the class, ask them for help. You'll understand a lot better since they're you're age. I haven't gone too far in chemistry but feel free to ask me questions about electron configuration, and other things at donovangray6@yahoo.com . Other than that, i have nothing. Sorry. But please e-mail me. I live on the east coast. I'll try to help you.
465743
If there is a "math division" of your science fair, you've got it made, all the`way to state. There are usually few math entries in science fairs, so I feel pretty confident you'll make it at least to Regionals.\nAs a starting point, do a search for the Golden Ratio and/or Golden Rectangle [featured in "The Da Vinci Code"].  \nThis month's Discover Magazine has an article entitled Million Dollar Math and has a few ideas you may want to pursue. Actually the entire mag has some great starting points for science projects. www.DiscoverMagazine.com
594681
Congratulations! Well you can contact any major local company and ask them if they will be willing to sponsor you. We wrote a letter to Georgia paper and they sent us a check for $2500. I know that it only puts a small dent in the large expense. The other thing you can do is contact your state officers they might be able to work some thing out. Georgia FBLA pays for every thing maybe your state will do the same. I know that your advisers had to go to some meetings in order to get some of the help for nationals. I wish that I could have the opportunity to see you compete but I moved to California so I could not go with our school. If you meet the girl from South Effingham high school from Georgia tell her good luck, it is her first year and first national competition.  Good Luck!!