Certified Tutors From Harrison College

We talked about monomials and how to multiply them, what are the rules that we need to apply. We also did some examples.

We reviewed the first 3 chapters for the student's test by going through her study guide. We also reviewed a few concepts that were not apparent to her from class by going through example problems from the book.

The student's class had two homework assignments provided by his teacher via an online website. We worked through each problem together slowly so that I could see his skill level in the subject of solving quadratic equations using the "completing the square" method. He and I worked on this skill last semester in his algebra 1 class, so I expected him to remember how to perform this operation. Once we reviewed this topic, he was easily able to complete his homework assignment. There were a few problems on the worksheet that were actually quite tedious to complete, so I did not fault him for struggling with these particular problems. For these select equations, we worked them together step by step so that he felt comfortable working on these types of complex equations. Overall, he did a great job today and seems to be improving his skills in arithmetic.

The student and I reviewed several homework worksheets. We covered the calorimetry equation (q=mC deltaT) and how to calculate each of the variables, calculating initial and final temperatures, unit conversions, determining whether entropy is positive or negative using moles of gas and phases of reactants and products, calculating the reaction enthalpy using stoichiometry, and endothermic and exothermic reactions. She did excellently on the problems, and she quickly understood and applied the new concepts.

We looked through the student's notes to determine topics he's covered so far - simplifying exponential expressions; factoring equations using the quadratic formula, by grouping and using formulas; finding the difference quotient; and finding the domain and range of a function. After I showed him a few examples of each and helped him through some examples, he was able to complete the problems on his own. He was missing some fundamental ideas from algebra, but he was able to catch on quickly once I explained some ideas to him.

The concepts we covered were finding the zeroes of a function given its factors and determining a polynomial function given its zeroes. The student's attitude toward the material reviewed was perseverant, which was great!