Does your teacher have trouble reading your math homework papers? Do YOU have trouble reading your own math homework papers? Do you find that you sometimes get a problem wrong because you╒ve made a little error somewhere? Do you sometimes get stuck, and forget what you╒re supposed to do when working a problem? Do you maybe work the problems OK, but find that it seems like it takes forever to do an assignment? Do you wish that your computer could give you some help in doing your math work? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are a perfect candidate for using MathHomework, the program that lets you do your homework right on the computer.
MathHomework lets you quickly enter and work any math problem that requires addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. You can do whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and mixed numbers. MathHomework guides you through the working of the problem and even checks each step of your work. You can copy your answers into an answer column if you wish. When you get done, you can print out your assignment and turn it in like everyone else - only your work will be neat and correct!
You can also use MathHomework to really improve your speed and accuracy in working basic math problems. Many MathHomework Worksheets, created with MathHomework, are available These Worksheets cover different grade levels, levels of difficulty, and different types of math problems. As you select each problem on these worksheets, you are automatically timed as you work the problem. Try to reach the speed goal for each problem. There is a second timer which you can use to time yourself for a whole assignment or for any number of problems. You can compare your times with others or with yourself.
Registration
MathHomework is shareware. If you like it and use it, please send in your $24 shareware fee. You will receive, as a thank-you gift, a disk with a personalized, registered copy of the latest version of MathHomework. You will also receive over 85 MathHomework Worksheets.
Please tell your teacher at school about MathHomework. A very reasonable School Site License is available which will permit the program to be used on all the computers at the school.
User╒s Guide
If you╒re like me, you might wish to try to figure out how to use MathHomework on your own. There is a Help menu which offers an abbreviated User╒s Guide. Another way to avoid reading a bunch of stuff is to ask me directly. My name is Steve Smith and I can be reached by e-mail at MathHW on America Online or mathhw@aol.com on the Internet. However, if you don╒t mind reading, what follows are all of the directions for using MathHomework. You may wish to print out these directions to have as you work with MathHomework.
The Startup Screen
When you first start up MathHomework, you get a screen staring back at you, which we╒ll call the Startup Screen to be very original (see Figure 1).
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If you have already registered, your name and registration code will appear here. If you haven╒t registered yet, it will say - UNREGISTERED. There are three buttons at the bottom of the screen which will allow you to print out an order form for registration, to upgrade, or to start using the program.
If you press the Register button, you are sent off into an area in which you can print out an order form to register MathHomework, if you choose. Send in your fee to receive a thank-you gift disk with a personalized, registered copy of the latest version of MathHomework, along with over 85 MathHomework Worksheets.
You would press the Upgrade button if this is a newer version of MathHomework than you already have. You will then be asked to type in your name and registration code. This will then permit you to use the newer version. (There is no charge for registered users to upgrade to a newer version.)
The third button is labeled ╥Try It╙, if you haven╒t registered yet, and ╥OK╙, if you have. Press this button to continue╔
Now, there are two different uses for MathHomework. One use is to enter and work problems, as you would for a homework assignment. The other use is to solve problems from a MathHomework Worksheet. If you wish to use this to solve problems from a MathHomework Worksheet (maybe you have just double clicked on one of these worksheets) then pay particular attention to the section on ╥The Check/Solve Problem Tool╙ and maybe skip the section ╥The MathHomework Document╙ and the sections about the operation tools (below).
The MathHomework Document
If you have gotten this far, you should now be looking at an untitled MathHomework document. It should look pretty much like a blank sheet of paper with nothing on it but an answer column. (If you have opened a MathHomework Worksheet, you will see the worksheet, probably with the answer column hidden instead.) You will learn later how to resize or hide this answer column if you wish. (See ╥Formatting the Answer Column╙ and Figure 10 below.) Just think of this MathHomework document as a sheet of paper where you will be entering and working problems and doing all the other things that you normally do when you do a homework assignment with pencil and paper.
The Tool Palette
Along the left edge of the MathHomework document lies the Tool Palette (see Figure 2).
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The Tool Palette includes all the handy little tools which help you create a beautiful MathHomework document. We will talk about each of the tools on the palette.
The Message Box
Before we start talking about each of the tools, notice the area directly below the Tool palette, which we will call the Message Box (see Figure 3).
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It is in this box that you will be given tips on what to do after you have selected a tool. There is probably a message in there right now about things you can do with the first tool, the Text tool.
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The Text Tool
The Text tool allows you to do pretty much what you normally do with a word processing program, which is to type things into the document and to edit things. With a word processor, however, you are stuck typing in the beginning from the upper left corner of the document. With MathHomework╒s Text tool, you may click anywhere on the page to begin typing.
Use this tool to type in things like the header (your name, teacher╒s name, class period, date, etc.), page numbers, problem numbers, and words like feet, inches, oranges, and so on. You don╒t need to use this tool to type in or work problems, because there are some other tools which make this a lot easier. With this tool, you can do the normal editing things like copying your answers and pasting them in the answer column or cutting and pasting to move a problem to another part of the document page. You should also use this tool to insert commas or decimal points that you might have forgotten while working a problem. You may change the size of the text and underline the text, if you want, by choosing these options in the Text menu. You might want to make these changes if you wish to type in some fraction that isn╒t part of a problem.
The Operation Tools
(Add, Subtract, Multiply, Multiply Fraction, Divide, and Divide Fraction)
The Add, Subtract, Multiply, Multiply Fraction, Divide, and Divide Fraction tools all work pretty much in the same way. After selecting one of these tools, you can click anywhere on the page to start entering your problem. It╒s a good idea to give yourself plenty of room from the sides of the page and from other problems. The Message Box gives you instructions on typing in the problem. If you wish to type in a fraction, striking the spacebar will permit you to begin entering a numerator and pressing the ╥/╙ key will allow you to start entering the denominator. When you are ready to solve the problem, press the ╥=╙ key. If you make a mistake while entering a problem, you may use the Backspace (or Delete) key to back up. (See section ╥Solving Problems╙ below for information on solving the problem.)
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The Add Tool
Guess what you can do with the Add tool? Enter and work addition problems. You may sum up to three numbers if they involve fractions or up to 19 numbers if they are all whole numbers or decimals. Press the ╥+╙ key for each addend after the first.
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The Subtract Tool
The Subtract tool is used to enter and work subtraction problems. Press the ╥-╙ key when you want to enter the subtrahend.
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The Multiply Tool
Use the Multiply tool to multiply whole numbers or decimals. The numbers are arranged vertically with this tool. Press the ╥*╙ key when you want to enter the multiplier.
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The Multiply Fraction Tool
Use the Multiply Fraction tool to multiply numbers which contain a fraction or fractions, or for very simple whole number multiplications. The numbers are arranged horizontally with this tool. Press the ╥*╙ key when you want to enter the multiplier.
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The Divide Tool
Use the Divide tool to do long division with whole numbers or decimals. Press the ╥/╙ key when you want to enter the divisor. You can choose to have remainders expressed either with the letter ╥r╙ and the value, or as a fraction reduced to lowest terms. Choose the Remainder╔ item in the Format menu to select which way you want your remainder expressed (see "Formatting the Remainder" and Figure 11 below).
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The Divide Fraction Tool
Use the Divide Fraction tool to divide numbers which contain a fraction or fractions, or for very simple whole number divisions. The numbers are arranged horizontally with this tool. Press the ╥/╙ key when you want to enter the divisor. (Note: The ╥/╙ key is also used when you want to begin entering the denominator in a fraction. MathHomework can tell from the context what you intend.)
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The Check/Solve Problem Tool
If you intend to use a MathHomework Worksheet, this is about the only tool you will ever need to use. If, on the other hand, you are using MathHomework to do your own homework assignment, you will probably only use this tool occasionally to do things like checking to see if you have relocated a decimal point in the correct place (see ╥Solving Problems╙, below) or reworking a problem where you have changed a number or two in the problem. Once you have chosen this tool, you need to click the pointer on the problem you wish to solve or check. (see Figure 4).
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Solving Problems
Whether you have entered in your own problem, using one of the operation tools, or have selected a problem by using the Check/Solve Problem Tool (from maybe a MathHomework Worksheet), there comes a time when you actually need to work the math problem. If you have gotten to this point, you should see a ╥marquee╙ (or a bunch of marching ants) around your problem, and a small highlighted rectangle, where you should start entering a number for the solution (see Figure 5).
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The highlighted rectangle moves around to guide you on where you type each number. If you should strike the wrong key, don╒t worry, just keep working along and MathHomework will eventually return you to the place where the error occurred. (It would be kind of nice to ╥back up╙ when you realize you hit the wrong key, but MathHomework just doesn╒t work that way.) When all the numbers for the solution of the problem are correct, the marquee or marching ants disappear.
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Decimals are handled just a little bit differently. Since MathHomework is not sure which decimal point you may have in the wrong place, it only checks to make sure that the decimals make sense. If there is a problem with the placement of the decimals, you are notified with a dialog box (see Figure 6).
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You may then choose the Text tool to insert or delete a decimal. Then you may choose the Check/Solve Problem tool, and then select the problem to see if the decimals are now correct. If you don╒t receive a dialog message, then it must be OK.
There is one other thing about decimals and commas when working a problem. If you mistakenly type in one of these characters, you may instantly erase the character by just typing the same character again.
Timers
You may use two timers with MathHomework (see Figure 7).
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The Problem Timer automatically times the solving of a problem. The Assignment Timer may be used to see how long it takes to complete an assignment or how long it takes to do any number of problems. You may use the Start/Stop button and the Reset button to operate the Assignment Timer just as you would a stopwatch. Most MathHomework Worksheets have speed goal values for each problem and for the entire worksheet (see Figure 8).
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When using these worksheets, you should try to reach or beat the speed goals.
Format Menu
The Format menu gives you some choices as to how the answer column is to be displayed, how to display the remainder in a long division problem, and allows you to add pages to your document (see Figure 9).
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Formatting the Answer Column
You have a choice on whether or not you want to show an answer column. In the Format menu, you may choose the Hide/Show Answer Column item to toggle between the two conditions. When the answer column is showing, you may choose the Resize Answer Column item to change the size of the answer column (see Figure 10).
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When the Resize Answer Column item is selected, a handle appears in the upper left corner of the answer column. Click and drag this handle to size the answer column as you wish. When you release the mouse button, the handle disappears and the answer column is resized.
Formatting the Remainder
Select the Remainder╔ item in the Format menu to choose between displaying the remainder in a long division problem as a value with the character - r or as a fraction reduced to lowest terms (see Figure 11).
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Adding Pages
Once you have typed something on a page, you may select the Add Page item in the Format menu to add another page. You may have up to three pages for each document. If you need more than three pages, then open a new document.
Tips
To quickly enter and work problems, it really helps a lot if you take the time to learn to use the numeric keys. The numeric keys have most of the keys that you will ever use for entering and working problems. If you can get in the habit of typing those keys without peeking at them, you can get really fast.
It saves time when using MathHomework if you can minimize switching between tools. Most homework assignments usually have groups of problems which use only one operation, like, say, multiplication. It helps to enter and work the entire group of multiplication problems using the Multiply tool before placing the problem numbers on the page, and before copying and pasting the answers in the answer column. You can come back later and use the text tool to do your editing and number the problems. Remember, the less switching between tools, the faster you can go.
Getting Really Good At Math
I find that the best way to get really good at math is to go all the way back to the beginning (adding 0 to 0) and to get accurate and fast with even the most basic skills. Use the MathHomework Worksheets that come as a free gift when you register MathHomework. Even if you are doing fractions at school, take the time to go back to the most basic MathHomework Worksheet that you can find. See if you can solve each problem in less time than the speed goal that is given. Better yet, see if you can solve each problem in less than half the time of the speed goal. Progress gradually to harder worksheets, but always work to beat the speed goals. It╒s a good idea to repeat an old worksheet from time to time to see if you still have the old speed. Mastering math takes both accuracy and speed.
Please Send Your Comments
Don╒t be shy! Please tell me what you like about MathHomework, and what you don╒t like about it. Please let me know about any new uses you have found for the program, so that I may share with others. Please tell me how you would like to see the program improved. Don╒t be surprised if your suggestions are actually used in future versions of MathHomework. I can be reached at the following e-mail addresses:
MathHW on America Online
mathhw@aol.com on the Internet.
Enjoy this program, and I hope to hear from you soon.
