Friday, May 1, 2009

I owe it all to ...

David frequently asks how a particular math lesson will help him be a video game designer (this is his ambition). Often it's not too hard to let him know how, since game design is so math-intense.

Of course, sometimes the math lessons are challenging. Recently, after David finally mastered a difficult concept, he turned to me and said, "When I'm a game designer, I'll owe it all to YOU." (You can probably see the smile on my face from wherevever you are reading this.)

Math Techniques

So since we're talking about math (again), I thought I'd share some of the things I've come up with to help David with his math. We have been solving linear equations with 2 values, identifying slope-intercepts, etc. To solve a linear equation involves finding a single variable and equating it to something solvable.

So, in order to get David's attention, I tell him we have to find the "naked" y (or x). In order to do that, we "MARCH to the Other Side and Change The Sign." [I literally march around for this one.] Then we "Divide and Conquer." [We do this with waving of arms and pointing.] Just thought I'd share ..