Pass The GED - Tips and Tricks

Many times it is the little things that stand between passing and failing. 

Here's a video to help everyone pass the GED exam by dealing with those little things.

Find the video here.

Khan Academy 200 Videos

The Florida Literacy Coalition 

has put together a playlist of   200

math instruction videos from the
Khan Academy. 



Here's the link...


Press here

Don't Call it Algebra (And Nobody Will Know!)

The word Algebra can be intimidating to GED students.

Many people have this conception of Algebra...

I always tell my students that they did algebra back in Grade 2 but they just didn't know it.

Grade 1 -    1 + 1 = ▭

We followed the directions and added the 2 numbers together and wrote "2" in the box.

1 + 1 = 2

Grade 2  Day 1

1 + 1 = ▭

We followed the directions and added the 2 numbers together and wrote "2" in the box.

Grade 2  Day 2

1 + ▭ = 4

We followed the directions and added the 2 numbers together and wrote "5" in the box.

1 + 5 = 4

It looked wrong, and we knew it was wrong, but we followed the directions that said we had to add the two numbers together and put the answer in the box.

After a leap in our thinking, we were able to say that...

1 + "something" = 4

That "something" is 3. 

1 + 3 = 4

1 + ▭ = 4        The ▭ = 3

So how about 1 + x = 4?

"x" is just a ▭                  x = 3

I tell my students that they did Algebra in Grade 2 so they can certainly do it now in GED study.

Hot Dog! It is the Top Dog! Speed Distance Time Triangles

Any question involving Speed Distance Time 

can be solved with this triangle...

and... your thumb

Oh, and a bit of multiplication and division...

But let`s worry about the 

first.

They key here is COVER. You COVER the letter of the element that you are looking for.

1) Here's a sample question...

You drive at a speed of 50 km per hour for 2.5 hours. What distance will you have driven? 

Let's get that thumb out!

You COVER the letter of the element that you are looking for. (Distance) The S and T are next to each other, so you need to multiply the values.

You drive at a speed of 50 km per hour for 2.5 hours. What distance will you have driven? 

50 X 2.5 = 125  What distance will you have driven? 125 km.

2) Here's another sample question...

You drive a distance of 125 miles at a speed of 50 km per hour. How much time will it take you? 

Let's get that thumb out!

You COVER the letter of the element that you are looking for. (Time)  The D is on top of the S, so you need to divide.  

You drive a distance of 125 miles at a speed of 50 km per hour. How much time will it take you? 

125 divided by 50 = 2.5   2.5 hours.

3)  Here's a third sample question...

You drive a distance of 125 miles in 2.5 hours. What was your average speed? 

Let's get that thumb out!

You COVER the letter of the element that you are looking for. (Speed) 

The D is on top of the T, so you need to divide.  

You drive a distance of 125 miles in 2.5 hours. What was your average speed? 

125 divided by 2.5 = 50    50 mph.

So how do you remember which letter goes where on this triangle? Which, by the way, is worth its weight in gold....

Easy... just thing of the Top Dog...

and guess what? The order of the S and T doesn't really matter. You'll get the same answer if the S and T are reversed. The important thing is to keep that DOG on top. 

Work SMART and not HARD

Purr Cent

What Does "Percent" Mean? 

I always say it means "for every hundred."   

Per = for 

cent (dollar, century) = 100.

Percent – think of Purr – Cent.    

One Hundred Cats. 

1 cat = 1 PurrCent.

1  / 

1/100 is...                1 %

9/100      is          9 %

18/100  is 18 %

        

I have to shut our 100 cats in the basement at night because they makes too much noise. 

Remembering that we put ALWAYS put cats in the basement...

So here's a question...

What is 18% of 25?

 18   X 25   

100 (basement)

18 x 25 = 450

Now divide 450 by those 100 pesky cats down in that basement!

450 divided by 100 = 4.5

 Answer - 18% of 25 is 4.5

Work SMART, not HARD

Nice Day Updated

Which one is the numerator and which one is the denominator? A common question, answered easily by "Have a Nice Day." N, D - Nice Day, Numerator, Denominator.

Here are a few more... ND - No Date

ND - No Dice

ND - Nice Dog

ND - North Dakota

ND - Nice Dangle (Hockey players will get this one.)

Dividing Fractions #%$^&*() Don't choke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dividing fractions? Don't choke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't one of the fractions supposed to be flipped around or something? I can never remember which one...

Here's the easy way to remember the process...

(Note - you are under no obligation to use this simple and easy to remember explanation. You can use any unnecessarily long and convoluted method you wish to help explain it.)

So what is 6/31  divided by 2/3?

Here's dad and son. Dad is 6 feet tall and aged 31. Dad is first in age so he's the first fraction.

Son is 2 feet tall and aged 3 months. Son is second.

Son starts to choke...

Dad, being dad, starts to swear. (He never swore much before the had children.) Swearing is bad (apparently), so we cross this out. Son gets turned upside down and becomes 3/2. Choking stopped!


So now we have 6/31  X   3/2

Solve as you would a normal fraction multiplication question. Remember....

Leave the first fraction alone. The guy is trying to save his son's life, here, people, so leave him alone to get on with the job. Please disperse. Back away from the man. Go about your business.

Turn the 2nd fraction upside down.

Put an X between your two fractions.

Solve as you would a normal fraction multiplication question.



Work smart, not hard.