Science Subjects Tutorials and Lectures

You May Not Like School, But................

2015-02-28T01:49:00.000-08:00

You don’t really have a choice… please keep reading what the statistics reveal about staying in school…

High school graduation rates reached a record high of 80% in 2012!
That would be great news, if it wasn’t for the fact that this “record-high” rate meant a full 20%, or one in five kids, didn’t finish the most basic level of education.

It’s possible that those who didn’t graduate got a General Education Development (GED) certificate instead, or will at a later point, but people with a GED tend to fare as well economically as those who got neither a diploma nor a GED.

So while reaching the 80% mark might be a move in the right direction, this is not a number that brings a lot of cheer.

And then there’s college… The percentage of the population with a college degree has continued to grow, albeit slowly, for decades. This trend is coming to an end because the percentage of high school graduates enrolling in college has rolled over.

After reaching a high point of 70% in 2009, only 66% of these kids enrolled in college in 2013. There’s an argument to be made that in years past, too many kids were entering college.

They simply went to college because everyone else did, but lacked direction, preparation, or both. Given the cost of college, the recent economic downturn caused many families to re-evaluate if pursuing higher education was the right choice.

This is a great development, but it was brought on by a tough situation.

Now there are a few more kids (in the United States) that are getting all the way through high school, but fewer young people entering college, so there are more people getting off the education train in the middle.

Unfortunately, this isn’t translating into more employment. While recent US college graduates work to find jobs in their field, recent high school graduates struggle to find any employment. Those without high school diplomas are being left behind in record numbers.

In the late 1990s, over 80% of those with just a high school diploma were participating in the labor force (either employed or looking for work) the year after graduation, and roughly 70% had jobs.

By the early 2000s, participation in the labor force — the year after graduation — had dropped to around 78%, while employment had fallen to 60%. Over the decade, participation dropped well below 70%.

Now, with a slight upturn after the massive drop in employment during the financial crisis, labor force participation is back up to 74% while employment is at 51%.

The net effect is that unemployment the year after high school — among those with just a high school diploma — was running at 10% in the 1990s, and is currently at 23%.

As noted above, for those who didn’t graduate high school, it’s worse. That group had a roughly 65% labor force participation rate the year after high school in the late 1990s, while their employment rate was near 50%.

But the numbers have fallen dramatically since then, and have not staged much of a recovery. At the end of 2013, only 43% of this group was either employed or actively seeking employment, with 31% holding down a job.

Oddly, this makes the unemployment rate of this group — around 12% — look better than that of high school graduates, but that’s misleading. The key is that only 43% are participating in the labor force.

Where are the rest of them?
In the year after high school, where are the 26% of graduates not participating in the labor force, and where are the 57% of those who didn’t receive a diploma who aren’t participating in the labor force?

These kids get lumped in with others who don’t count toward labor force participation rates, like retirees and homemakers, but the differences are obvious. These young people are not on a path to a productive life.

It doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t get there; it simply means that they’re not on that path today.

This is part of where the sluggish employment situation shows up. Employees have a tough time getting raises.

Those with skills and experience can get jobs, but the inexperienced college graduates are taking positions outside of their fields of study, and often in jobs that don’t require college degrees.

This pushes high school graduates out of the running for such jobs, and kicks those without a high school diploma out of the equation.

With one in five young people not achieving a high school diploma, we can expect a very large social issue to erupt in the years ahead because this group will have little work experience, and little ability to establish and grow their own household.

David Beckham’s Son Brooklyn Signs With Arsenal, Snubs Manchester Utd And Chelsea

2014-11-09T11:38:00.003-08:00

David Beckham's oldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, is a budding footballer following in the footsteps of his famous father. The 15-year-old has just been signed by Arsenal Football Club for a one year contract after Brooklyn impressed the Gunners' coaches during training.

Three of the top Premier League clubs in the UK including Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Daily Star which broke the news, quotes an Arsenal source saying:

"Brooklyn is talented and he has stood out in all of the training sessions and games he has played.

"He has had other teams sniffing around and it was always going to be a case of when, not if, he was signed up by a big-name club.

"Next summer we may see him sign a big-money deal and with Arsenal."
In addition to Brooklyn, David Beckham's younger sons, Romeo, 12 and Cruz, 9, are also interested in football. They have also been training with Arsenal's appropriate youth teams. Romeo is also a fashion model, and already scored a solo campaign with Burberry this Fall.

Like Father, Like Sons!

Photo - Getty Images

Studying with ADHD: Hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder

2014-01-07T23:17:00.004-08:00

You are not alone if you have

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
About 4% of school age children are also affected.
In addition, other students have one or a few of the characteristics of ADHD.

These strategies are suggested as part of a professionally organized program of assistance. They are derived from the American description of ADHD1. However, as a student, you also have your own personal learning style, including "intelligences" (c.f. Kolb), personality types

(c.f. Myers-Briggs), etc. These will be helpful to know and develop in overcoming ADHD

In class:

To help you follow instructions:

Simplify instructions down to a basic one or two, and build from there. Verify these with your teacher, or
Ask your teacher to break down assignments into steps for you to follow

Answering out of turn, or interrupting the class or teachers is normal for ADHD, but it is best to remember that you are trying to learn

Write your question or comment down on paper before speaking
Practice raising your hand before volunteering
Refer to our Guide on Classroom Learning

To take good notes is task for all students. These techniques may give you an advantage:

Bring a tape recorder to class
Study with a classmate taking the same class
Refer to our Guide on Taking Notes in Lectures
With ADHD, lecture is not the best form of learning. Ask your teacher for a printed summary of the lecture, or alternative methods to get the same information

Homework:

To help you concentrate:

Find a quiet place in your home, to avoid distraction such as movement and noise of your family, pets, TV, telephones, music, etc.
If space in your home is limited, your parents or tutor may find space in a library, religious center, neighbor's house, or other sympathetic place
Special "headsets" can block out noise and help you focus
get into a routine, a consistent time you study
Refer to our Guide on Concentration

To help you remember:

Develop routines/habits!
For example, before going to school, organize your schoolwork in the same way each day. Have some one help you begin to establish this pattern
Keep your assignments in the same pocket of your backpack. Tell your teacher about it
Keep a list of things to remember in a pocket of your backpack.

To help with details

Review your homework
with your parents, a classmate, a tutor
use grammar and spell checkers regularly for computer work

Remember that making mistakes, or overlooking details, is not for lack of intelligence, but rather a characteristic of this condition.

Help with learning

Take care of yourself; get the help you need:

Patience is a challenge for those with ADHD.
If you are feeling angry, discouraged, or frustrated over your progress, find some support. Our learning involves family, teachers, professionals, as well as ourselves. We all need patience. Their messages should be steady and consistent, but try to understand if they aren't always so.

Study skills series: Index study system

2014-01-03T00:50:00.002-08:00

Here is a method of studying that gives you

an accurate perception of how well you know the material,
and forces you to think about it, rather than just look over it.

Review your notes and readings frequently, so the material is "fresh"

As you're reading your text or reviewing your notes,
write down questions about the material.
Imagine you're teaching the course. What questions would you ask on the exam?

Keep track of any terms you need to know

Try the index card system:

Write each question or term on the back of an index card
On the front of each index card, write an answer
or an explanation for the question or term on the back.
Use your notes and text for a reference, but put the answer or explanation in your own words whenever possible
Shuffle the index cardsso you can't figure out any answers based on their location in the deck
Look at the card on the top of the deck:
Try to answer the question or explain the term.
If you know it, great! Put it on the bottom of the deck.
If you don't know it, look at the answer, and put it a few cards down in the deck (so you'll come back to it soon)
Proceed through the deck of cards until you know all of the information

Some Tips:

Carry your cards with you everywhere.
Take advantage of little pockets of time.
Test yourself while you're waiting on line, riding the bus, etc.
If you think you know an answer,
but can't put it into words, you probably don't know it well enough.
Explaining the information is a good way to be sure that you know it.
It's also a good way to prevent test anxiety
Test yourself someplace where nobody can see you
and recite the answers out loud.
That's the best way to be sure that you can explain them
Study with a friend from your class.
You can share ideas and help each other out with concepts.
You can use each other to make sure that you're explaining your answers adequately

20 Ideas To Help Students Get Organized 1 of 3

2013-12-01T00:44:00.005-08:00

Today’s blog post is the first of a series of three, provided by the “Queen Of Organizing”, Maria Gracia. I am a big fan of this concept that I call Voluntary Simplexity, it’s key element of my Personal Productivity Principles I teach students and business people. So let’s get to Maria’s suggestions…
Now is the perfect time for you to start off on the right foot and get organized. Here are a few tips to help you manage your time, avoid clutter, set goals and stay on an organized path to success.

SET GOALS.
Set realistic goals at the beginning of the school year and break those large goals into mini-goals. Write these goals down on index cards and keep them in a highly visible place where you can see them every day. Writing down your goals makes them more concrete, and motivates you to keep working towards them. Psst! You can do this even mid-semester!
DON’T RUSH.
Wake up early enough for school to arrive well ahead of time. If you need 30 minutes to get up, shower and dress, pad that time by waking up at least 45 minutes prior to your departure. To ensure you don’t turn off your alarm clock and go back to sleep, place your clock at the far end of your room. This way, you actually have to get out of bed to turn it off and you’re most likely to stay up.
PREPARE YOUR WARDROBE.
Before you go to bed each night, choose, iron and lay out your clothes for the next day. This way, you’ll be all set to dress and go in the morning.
AVOID CLUTTER.
At the beginning of the school year, you have no clutter. Be careful not to build clutter as the year progresses. Create separate folders for school announcements, tests that have been graded, papers you must give to your parents and so on. As papers become outdated, such as an event that has passed, toss them immediately.
MAKE TO DO LISTS.
Always spend a minimum of 15 minutes per day, preparing your To Do list for tomorrow. In doing so, you will know exactly what tasks you have to accomplish the next day.
USE AN EFFECTIVE STUDY AREA.
Designate a quiet, well-lit area for studying. Don’t study in front of the television, or in an area of your home where you’re bound to be distracted. Hang a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on your door. If you can’t find a quiet spot at home, go to the library. In addition, you should study while sitting at a table or desk. Avoid studying in a very comfortable chair or a bed, which may cause you to feel drowsy.
GET YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP.
Get a good night’s rest. This will ensure you are alert and ready to learn the following day.

Mathematics Formula For your Exams.!

2013-08-01T08:51:00.003-07:00

Important Notes and Formulas

Numbers

Type	Definition
Natural numbers	All whole numbers except 0 eg: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
Even numbers	0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10...
Odd numbers	1, 3, 5, 7, 9...
Integers	whole numbers that can be positive, negative, or zero eg: -1, -2, -3, 1, 2, 3...
Prime number	a natural number which has only 2 different factors eg: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13...
Composite number	a natural number that has more than 2 different factors eg: 4, 6, 8, 9...
Real number	Include rational and irrational numbers, fractions, and integers
Rational number	a number that can be expressed as a fraction or as a ratio
Irrational number	a number that cannot be expressed as a fraction or a ratio of 2 integers. eg: pi and roots

Test of Divisibility

Divisible by	Test
2	if the number is even
3	if the sum of the digits is divisible by 3
4	if the number formed by the last 2 digits is divisible by 4
5	if the last digit is 0 or 5
9	if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9
10	if the last digit is 0
11	if the difference between the sum of the digits in the odd places and the sum of the digits in the even places is equal to 0 or is a multiple of 11

Standard form

This is a convenient way to write very large or very small numbers, using the from a x 10ⁿ, where n is a positive or negative integer, and a s between 1 to 10 inclusive.

An example:

More examples:
123 400 written as standard form is 1.234 x 10⁵0.0000987 written as standard form is 9.87 x 10^-5Multiplying numbers in standard form

Dividing numbers in standard form

Adding and Subtracting numbers in standard form

- Make the index between the 2 numbers the same so that it is easier to factorise the numbers before adding
eg

Scales and Maps

Given that a map has a scale of 1:10 000, this means that 1cm on the map represents 10,000cm on the actual ground.

1cm : 200m = 1cm : 0.2km = 1cm² : 0.04km²

Proportion

A. Direct Proportion

This means that when y increases, x increases, and vice versa.

Use this equation: y = kx

B. Indirect Proportion
This means that when y increases, x decreases, and vice versa.

Use this equation: y=k/x

Percentage Change

Percentage Profit and Loss

Simple Interest and Compound Interest

A. Simple Interest Formula

B. Compound Interest Formula

C. Compound interest compounded MONTHLY

Formula:
S = P(1 + r/k)ⁿ
S = final value
P = principal
r = interest rate (expressed as decimal eg 4% = 0.04)
k = number of compounding periods

Note:

if compounded monthly, number of periods = 12
if compounded quarterly, number of periods = 4

Example:

If $4000 is invested at an annual rate of 6.0% compounded monthly, what will be the final value of the investment after 10 years?

Since the interest is compounded monthly, there are 12 periods per year, so, k = 12.
Since the investment is for 10 years, or 120 months, there are 120 investment periods, so, n = 120.

S = P(1 + r/k)ⁿS = 4000(1 + 0.06/12)¹²⁰S = 4000(1.005)¹²⁰S = 4000(1.819396734)
S = $7277.59

Coordinate Geometry Formulas

From: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/coordinate-geometry-formulas.html

Algebraic Manipulation

x = y+z	y = x-z
x = y-z	y = x+z
x = yz	y = x/z ; z = x/y
x = y/z	y = xz ; z = y/x
wx = yz	w = yz/x ; x=yz/w ; y = wx/z ; z = wx/y
x = y²	y = +/-sqrt.x
x = sqrt.y	y = x²
x = y³	y = cuberoot.x
x = cuberoot.y	y = x³

ax + bx = x(a+b)

ax + bx + kay + kby = x(a+b) + ky(a+b) = (a+b)(x+ky)

(a+b)² = a² + 2ab + b²(a-b)²= a² - 2ab + b^2
-a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b)

Solving algebraic fractional equations

Avoid these common mistakes!

Solution of Quadratic Equations

Completing the Square

Step 1: Take the number or coefficient before x and square it
Step 2: Divide the square of the number by 4

Eg. y = x² + 6x - 11

y = x² + 2x(6/2) + (6/2)² - 11 - (6/2)²

y = (x + 3)² - 20

Sketching Graphs of Quadratic Equations

A. eg. y= +/-(x - h)² + k

Steps
1. Identify shape of curve

look at sign in front of(x - h) to determine if it is "smiley face" or "sad face".

2. Find turning point

(h, -k)

3. Find y-intercept

sub x = 0 into the equation --> (0, y)

4. Line of symmetry reflect

x = h, reflect to get (2x, y)

B. eg. y = +/-(x - a)(x - b)

Steps
1. Identify shape of curve

look at the formula ax2 + bx + c.
if a>1, it is positive; otherwise, it is negative

2. Find turning point

(a + b)/2, sub answer into equation --> (a,b)

3. Find y-intercept

sub x = 0 into the equation --> (0, y)

4. Line of symmetry reflect

x = a, reflect to get (2a, y)

Inequalities

Ways to solve equalities:

1. Add or subtract numbers from each side of the inequality
eg 10 - 3 < x - 3

2. Multiply or divide numbers from each side of the inequality by a constant
eg 10/3 < x/3

3. Multiply or divide by a negative number AND REVERSE THE INEQUALITY SIGNS
eg. 10 < x becomes 10/-3 > x/-3

Example

Geometrical terms and relationships

Parallel Lines

Perpendicular Lines

Right Angle

Acute Angles: angles less than 90^o

Obtuse Angles: angles between 90^o and 190^o

Obtuse Angles: angles between 180^o and 360^o

^Polygons

Polygon: a closed figure made by joining line segments, where each line segment intersects exactly 2 others

Irregular polygon: all its sides and all its angles are not the same
Regular Polygon: all its sides and all its angles are the same

The sum of angles in a polygon with n sides, where n is 3 or more, is

Name of Polygons

Number of sides	Polygon
5	Pentagon
6	Hexagon
7	Heptagon
8	Octagon
9	Nonagon
10	Decagon

Triangles

Triangle	Property
Equilateral	All sides of equal length All angles are equal Each angle is 60^o
Isoceles	2 sides are equal 2 corresponding angles are equal
Scalene	All sides are of unequal length
Acute	All 3 angles in the triangle are acute angles
Obtuse	1 of the 3 angles is obtuse
Right-angled	1 of the 3 angles is 90^o

Quadrilaterals

Quadrilateral	Property
Rectangle	All sides meet at 90^o
Square	All sides meet at 90^o All sides are of equal length
Parallelogram	2 pairs of parallel lines
Rhombus	All sides are of equal length 2 pairs of parallel lines
Trapezium	Exactly 1 pair of parallel sides

Similar Plane Figures

Figures are similar only if

their corresponding sides are proportional
their corresponding angles are equal

Similar Solid Figures

Solids are similar if their corresponding linear dimensions are proportional.

Congruent Figures

Congruent figures are exactly the same size and shape.

2 triangles are congruent if they satisfy any of the following:

a. SSS property: All 3 sides of one triangle are equal to the corresponding sides of the other triangle.

b. SAS property: 2 given sides and a given angle of one triangle are equal to the corresponding sides and angle of the other triangle.

c. AAS property: 2 given angles and a given side of one triangle are equal to the corresponding angles and side of the other triangle.

d. RHS property: The hypothenuse and a given side of a right-angled triangle are equal to the hypothenuse and the corresponding side of the other right-angled triangle.

Bearings

A bearing is an angle, measured clockwise from the north direction.

Symmetry

Shape	Number of lines of symmetry	Order of rotational symmetry	Centre of point symmetry
Equilateral triangle	3	3	Yes
Isosceles triangle	1	1	None
Square	4	4	Yes
Rectangle	2	2	Yes
Kite	1	1	None
Isosceles trapezium	1	1	None
Parallelogram	0	2	Yes
Rhombus	2	2	Yes
Regular pentagon	5	5	Yes
Regular hexagon	6	6	Yes

Angle properties

No.	Property	Explanation	Example
1	Angles on a straight line	Angles on a straight line add up to 180^o 2 angles arecomplementary is they add up to 90^o 2 angles are called supplementary if they add up to 180^o
2	Angles at a point	Angles at a point add up to 360^o
3	Vertically opposite angles	Vertically opposite angles are equal
4	Angles formed by parallel lines	Alternate interior angles are equal
5	Angles formed by parallel lines	Alternate exterior angles are equal
6	Angles formed by parallel lines	Corresponding angles are equal
7	Angle properties of triangles	The sum of angles in a triangle adds up to 180^o
8	Angle properties of triangles	The sum of 2 interior opposite angles is equal to the exterior angle
9	Angle properties of polygons	sum of interior angles of an n-sided polygon = (n-2) x 180^o each interior angle of a regular n-sided polygon = (n-2) x 180o / n
10	Angle properties of polygons	sum of exterior angles of an n-sided polygon is 360^o each exterior angle of a regular n-sided polygon = 360^o / n

Angle Properties of Circles

Mensuration

All the mensuration formulas you'll ever need can by found here...
http://oscience.info/math-formulas/mensuration-formulas/

But here's a quick reference for the important ones...

Area of Figures

Triangle
Trapezium
Parallelogram		A=b x h
Circle
Sector

Radian Measure

Radian is another common unit to measure angles.
A radian is a measure of the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius of the circle.
To convert radians to degrees and vice versa, use these formulas:

π rad = 180º
1 rad = 180º/π
1º = π/180 rad

Volume of Figures

Cube
Cuboid		V = l x b x h SA = 2bl + 2hb + 2hl
Cylinder
Sphere
Prism		V = base area x height
Pyramid
Cone

Trigonometry

Pythagora's theorem

Trigonometrical Ratio

SINE RULE

To find an angle, can write as follows:

COSINE RULE

Area of Triangle

Statistics

Mean

Mode

The mode is the most frequent value.

Median

The median of a group of numbers is the number in the middle, when the numbers are in order of magnitude (in increasing order).

If you have n numbers in a group, the median in:

Types of Chart

1. Bar chart: the heights of the bars represent the frequency. The data is discrete.

2. Pie chart: the angles formed by each part adds up to 360^o

3. Histogram: it is a vertical bar graph with no gaps between the bars. The area of each bar is proportional to the frequency it represents.

4. Stem-and-leaf diagram: a diagram that summarises while maintaining the individual data point. The stem is a column of the unique elements of data after removing the last digit. The final digits (leaves) of each column are then placed in a row next to the appropriate column and sorted in numerical order.

5. Simple frequency distribution and frequency polygons: a plot of the cumulative frequency against the upper class boundary with the points joined by line segments.

6. Quartiles

Probability

Probability is the likelihood of an event happening

The probability that a certain event happening is 1
The probability that a certain event cannot happen is 0
The probability that a certain event not happening is 1 minus he probability that it will happen

2 events are independent if the outcome of one of the events does not affect the outcome of another
2 events are dependent if the outcome of one of the events depends on the outcome of another

If 2 events A and B are independent of each other, then the probability of both A and B occurring is found by P(A) x P(B)
If it is impossible for both events A and B to occur, then the probability of A or B occurring is P(A) and P(B)

Set Notation

Mathematics Formula For your Exams.!

2013-08-01T08:51:00.001-07:00

Important Notes and Formulas

Numbers

Type	Definition
Natural numbers	All whole numbers except 0 eg: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
Even numbers	0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10...
Odd numbers	1, 3, 5, 7, 9...
Integers	whole numbers that can be positive, negative, or zero eg: -1, -2, -3, 1, 2, 3...
Prime number	a natural number which has only 2 different factors eg: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13...
Composite number	a natural number that has more than 2 different factors eg: 4, 6, 8, 9...
Real number	Include rational and irrational numbers, fractions, and integers
Rational number	a number that can be expressed as a fraction or as a ratio
Irrational number	a number that cannot be expressed as a fraction or a ratio of 2 integers. eg: pi and roots

Test of Divisibility

Divisible by	Test
2	if the number is even
3	if the sum of the digits is divisible by 3
4	if the number formed by the last 2 digits is divisible by 4
5	if the last digit is 0 or 5
9	if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9
10	if the last digit is 0
11	if the difference between the sum of the digits in the odd places and the sum of the digits in the even places is equal to 0 or is a multiple of 11

Standard form

This is a convenient way to write very large or very small numbers, using the from a x 10ⁿ, where n is a positive or negative integer, and a s between 1 to 10 inclusive.

An example:

More examples:
123 400 written as standard form is 1.234 x 10⁵0.0000987 written as standard form is 9.87 x 10^-5Multiplying numbers in standard form

Dividing numbers in standard form

Adding and Subtracting numbers in standard form

- Make the index between the 2 numbers the same so that it is easier to factorise the numbers before adding
eg

Scales and Maps

Given that a map has a scale of 1:10 000, this means that 1cm on the map represents 10,000cm on the actual ground.

1cm : 200m = 1cm : 0.2km = 1cm² : 0.04km²

Proportion

Percentage Change

Percentage Profit and Loss

Simple Interest and Compound Interest

A. Simple Interest Formula

B. Compound Interest Formula

if compounded monthly, number of periods = 12
if compounded quarterly, number of periods = 4

Coordinate Geometry Formulas

From: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/coordinate-geometry-formulas.html

Algebraic Manipulation

x = y+z	y = x-z
x = y-z	y = x+z
x = yz	y = x/z ; z = x/y
x = y/z	y = xz ; z = y/x
wx = yz	w = yz/x ; x=yz/w ; y = wx/z ; z = wx/y
x = y²	y = +/-sqrt.x
x = sqrt.y	y = x²
x = y³	y = cuberoot.x
x = cuberoot.y	y = x³

ax + bx = x(a+b)

ax + bx + kay + kby = x(a+b) + ky(a+b) = (a+b)(x+ky)

(a+b)² = a² + 2ab + b²(a-b)²= a² - 2ab + b^2
-a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b)

Solving algebraic fractional equations

Avoid these common mistakes!

Solution of Quadratic Equations

Completing the Square

Step 1: Take the number or coefficient before x and square it
Step 2: Divide the square of the number by 4

Eg. y = x² + 6x - 11

y = x² + 2x(6/2) + (6/2)² - 11 - (6/2)²

y = (x + 3)² - 20

Sketching Graphs of Quadratic Equations

A. eg. y= +/-(x - h)² + k

Steps
1. Identify shape of curve

look at sign in front of(x - h) to determine if it is "smiley face" or "sad face".

2. Find turning point

(h, -k)

3. Find y-intercept

sub x = 0 into the equation --> (0, y)

4. Line of symmetry reflect

x = h, reflect to get (2x, y)

B. eg. y = +/-(x - a)(x - b)

Steps
1. Identify shape of curve

look at the formula ax2 + bx + c.
if a>1, it is positive; otherwise, it is negative

2. Find turning point

(a + b)/2, sub answer into equation --> (a,b)

3. Find y-intercept

sub x = 0 into the equation --> (0, y)

4. Line of symmetry reflect

x = a, reflect to get (2a, y)

Inequalities

Geometrical terms and relationships

Parallel Lines

Perpendicular Lines

Right Angle

Acute Angles: angles less than 90^o

Obtuse Angles: angles between 90^o and 190^o

Obtuse Angles: angles between 180^o and 360^o

^Polygons

The sum of angles in a polygon with n sides, where n is 3 or more, is

Name of Polygons

Number of sides	Polygon
5	Pentagon
6	Hexagon
7	Heptagon
8	Octagon
9	Nonagon
10	Decagon

Triangles

Triangle	Property
Equilateral	All sides of equal length All angles are equal Each angle is 60^o
Isoceles	2 sides are equal 2 corresponding angles are equal
Scalene	All sides are of unequal length
Acute	All 3 angles in the triangle are acute angles
Obtuse	1 of the 3 angles is obtuse
Right-angled	1 of the 3 angles is 90^o

Quadrilaterals

Quadrilateral	Property
Rectangle	All sides meet at 90^o
Square	All sides meet at 90^o All sides are of equal length
Parallelogram	2 pairs of parallel lines
Rhombus	All sides are of equal length 2 pairs of parallel lines
Trapezium	Exactly 1 pair of parallel sides

Similar Plane Figures

Figures are similar only if

their corresponding sides are proportional
their corresponding angles are equal

Similar Solid Figures

Solids are similar if their corresponding linear dimensions are proportional.

Congruent Figures

b. SAS property: 2 given sides and a given angle of one triangle are equal to the corresponding sides and angle of the other triangle.

c. AAS property: 2 given angles and a given side of one triangle are equal to the corresponding angles and side of the other triangle.

d. RHS property: The hypothenuse and a given side of a right-angled triangle are equal to the hypothenuse and the corresponding side of the other right-angled triangle.

Bearings

A bearing is an angle, measured clockwise from the north direction.

Symmetry

Shape	Number of lines of symmetry	Order of rotational symmetry	Centre of point symmetry
Equilateral triangle	3	3	Yes
Isosceles triangle	1	1	None
Square	4	4	Yes
Rectangle	2	2	Yes
Kite	1	1	None
Isosceles trapezium	1	1	None
Parallelogram	0	2	Yes
Rhombus	2	2	Yes
Regular pentagon	5	5	Yes
Regular hexagon	6	6	Yes

Angle properties

No.	Property	Explanation	Example
1	Angles on a straight line	Angles on a straight line add up to 180^o 2 angles arecomplementary is they add up to 90^o 2 angles are called supplementary if they add up to 180^o
2	Angles at a point	Angles at a point add up to 360^o
3	Vertically opposite angles	Vertically opposite angles are equal
4	Angles formed by parallel lines	Alternate interior angles are equal
5	Angles formed by parallel lines	Alternate exterior angles are equal
6	Angles formed by parallel lines	Corresponding angles are equal
7	Angle properties of triangles	The sum of angles in a triangle adds up to 180^o
8	Angle properties of triangles	The sum of 2 interior opposite angles is equal to the exterior angle
9	Angle properties of polygons	sum of interior angles of an n-sided polygon = (n-2) x 180^o each interior angle of a regular n-sided polygon = (n-2) x 180o / n
10	Angle properties of polygons	sum of exterior angles of an n-sided polygon is 360^o each exterior angle of a regular n-sided polygon = 360^o / n

Angle Properties of Circles

Mensuration

All the mensuration formulas you'll ever need can by found here...
http://oscience.info/math-formulas/mensuration-formulas/

But here's a quick reference for the important ones...

Area of Figures

Triangle
Trapezium
Parallelogram		A=b x h
Circle
Sector

Radian Measure

Radian is another common unit to measure angles.
A radian is a measure of the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius of the circle.
To convert radians to degrees and vice versa, use these formulas:

π rad = 180º
1 rad = 180º/π
1º = π/180 rad

Volume of Figures

Cube
Cuboid		V = l x b x h SA = 2bl + 2hb + 2hl
Cylinder
Sphere
Prism		V = base area x height
Pyramid
Cone

Trigonometry

Pythagora's theorem

Trigonometrical Ratio

SINE RULE

To find an angle, can write as follows:

COSINE RULE

Area of Triangle

Statistics

Mean

Mode

The mode is the most frequent value.

Median

The median of a group of numbers is the number in the middle, when the numbers are in order of magnitude (in increasing order).

If you have n numbers in a group, the median in:

Types of Chart

1. Bar chart: the heights of the bars represent the frequency. The data is discrete.

2. Pie chart: the angles formed by each part adds up to 360^o

3. Histogram: it is a vertical bar graph with no gaps between the bars. The area of each bar is proportional to the frequency it represents.

5. Simple frequency distribution and frequency polygons: a plot of the cumulative frequency against the upper class boundary with the points joined by line segments.

6. Quartiles

Probability

Probability is the likelihood of an event happening

The probability that a certain event happening is 1
The probability that a certain event cannot happen is 0
The probability that a certain event not happening is 1 minus he probability that it will happen

If 2 events A and B are independent of each other, then the probability of both A and B occurring is found by P(A) x P(B)
If it is impossible for both events A and B to occur, then the probability of A or B occurring is P(A) and P(B)

Set Notation

Physics Formulas to Memorize For Upcoming Exams!

2013-08-01T08:44:00.003-07:00

See Formulas below..............!

Physical Quantity	Formula	Remarks
Equations of motion at constant acceleration
Density
Weight	W = mg	W = weight, N m = mass, kg g = gravitational acceleration, m/s² or N/kg
Force	F = ma	F = force, N m = mass, kg a = acceleration, m/s²
Moment of a force about a point
Object in equilibrium with parallel forces acting on it
Work done	W = Fd	W = work done, J F = force, N d = displacement, m
Kinetic energy	K.E.= 1/2 mv²	K = kinetic energy, J m = mass, kg v = velocity, m/s
Potential energy	P.E. = mgh	Ep = potential energy, J m = mass, kg g = gravitational acceleration, N/kg or m/s² h = gain/loss in height
Efficiency
Power		P = power, W W = work done or energy transferred, J t = time, s E = energy transferred/used, J Q = thermal energy transferred, J
Pressure
Liquid pressure
Boyle's Law
Specific heat capacity
Specific latent heat of vaporization or fusion
Wave equation
Refractive index		n = refractive index i = angle in air/vacuum r = angle in medium c = speed of light in vacuum, m/s v = speed of light in medium, m/s
Critical angle
Amount of charge	Q = It	Q = charge, C t = time, s
Ohm's Law	V = IR	V = potential difference, V I = current, A
Potential difference	V = W/Q	V = potential difference, V W = work done between two points, J Q = charge, C
emf
Electrical power	P = IV = I²R	P = power, W I = current, A V = potential difference, V (voltage)
Electrical energy	E = VIT	E = electrical energy, J
Resistance		p = resistivity, ohm l = length of wire, m A = cross-sectional area of wire, m²
Transformer equations

Using Memory Effectively

2013-07-09T06:19:00.002-07:00

The following techniques with their exercises use associations with

letters, images, maps, etc. to help you remember.

As you proceed through this list of techniques, try to think of strategies that
would be useful to you!
Some people use letters, some images, even songs.
Each depends on how comfortable you are with, or how useful they are to, your way of thinking!

Acronyms
An acronym is an invented combination of letters.
Each letter is a cue to, or suggests, an item you need to remember.
PEMDAS, sequence in solving or evaluating math equations
Parenthesis | Exponents | Multiplication | Division | Addition | Subtraction

ROY G. BIV, the colors of the visible spectrum
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet

IPMAT, the stages of cell division
Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telephase

Practice your acronym
An acrostic is an invented sentence or poem with a first letter cue:
The first letter of each word is a cue to an idea you need to remember.
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS, above)Sequence in solving or evaluating math equations
Parenthesis | Exponents | Multiplication | Division | Addition | Subtraction

Acrostic exercise GARBAGE | Acrostic exercise EGBDF
Rhyme-Keys: (for ordered or unordered lists)First, memorize key words that can be associated with numbers.
example: bun = one; shoe = two, tree = three, door = four, hive = five, etc.
Create an image of the items you need to remember with key words.

Four basic food groups-- diary products; meat, fish, and poultry; grains; and fruit and vegetables

Think of cheese on a bun (one), livestock with shoes on (two),
a sack of grain suspended in a tree (three), a door to a room stocked with fruits and vegetables (four)

Practice your rhymes
The Method of Loci: (for approximately twenty items)Select any location that you have spent a lot of time in and know well.
Good for kinesthetic learners!
Imagine yourself walking through the location, selecting clearly defined places--the door, sofa, refrigerator, shelf, etc. Imagine yourself putting objects that you need to remember into each of these places by walking through this location in a direct path.

Again, you need a standard direct path and clearly defined locations for objects to facilitate the retrieval of these objects.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Nixon, you could imagine walking up to the door of your location and seeing a dollar bill stuck in the door; when you open the door Jefferson is reclining on the sofa and Nixon is eating out of the refrigerator.

Practice your loci
The Keyword Method: (for foreign language vocabulary)
First, after considering the foreign word you need to remember, select a key word in English that sounds like the foreign word.
Next, imagine an image which involves the key word with the English meaning of the foreign word.
For example, consider the Spanish word "cabina" which means "phone booth." For the English keyword, you might think of "cab in a ... ." You could then invent an image of a cab trying to fit in a phone booth. When you see the word "cabina" on the test, you should be able to recall the image of the cab and you should be able to retrieve the definition "phone booth."

Practice your keywords
The Image-Name Technique: (for remembering names)
Simply invent any relationship between the name and the physical characteristics of the person. For example, if you had to remember Shirley Temple's name, you might ingrain the name in memory by noticing that she has "curly" (rhymes with Shirley) hair around her temples.

Practice image-naming
Chaining: (for ordered or unordered lists)
Create a story where each word or idea you have to remember cues the next idea you need to recall. If you had to remember the words Napoleon, ear, door, and Germany, you could invent a story of Napoleon with his ear to a door listening to people speak in German.

"A.S.P.I.R.E." A Study System

2013-06-08T13:27:00.001-07:00

Text of the A.S.P.I.R.E. exercise:

A: Approach/attitude/arrange

Approach your studies with a positive attitude
Arrange your schedule to eliminate distractions

S: Select/survey/scan

Select a reasonable chunk of material to study
Survey the headings, graphics, pre- and post questions to get an overview
Scan the text for keywords and vocabulary: mark what you don’t understand

P: Piece together the parts:

Put aside your books and notes
Piece together what you've studied, either alone, with a study pal or group:
summarize what you understand.

I: Investigate/inquire/inspect:

Investigate alternative sources of information you can refer to:
other text books, websites, experts, tutors, etc.
Inquire from support professionals (academic support, librarians, tutors, teachers, experts,) and other resources for assistance
Inspect what you did not understand.

R: Reexamine/reflect/relay
Reexamine the content | Reflect on the material | Relay understanding

Reexamine:
What questions are there yet to ask? Is there something I am missing?
Reflect:
How can I apply this to my project? Is there a new application for it?
Relay:
Can I explain this to my fellow students? Will they understand it better if I do?

E: Evaluate/examine/explore:

Evaluate your grades on tests and tasks: look for a pattern
Examine your progress: toward achieving your goals
Explore options: with a teacher, support professional, tutor, parent if you are not satisfied.

Environmental Toxicology

2013-05-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

Toxicology is the study of the toxic effects of chemical substances on living organisms. It involves the action of toxin, their serious effects, the symptoms and treatments of poisoning, detection of the amount of substance etc.

The toxicity of a chemical depends on its dose which shows the amount of substance which should be in prescribed limit. The dose and its effects on the organism are of great significance in toxicology. This study is done for various fields like chemical, food, medical, forensic, environmental etc.
Environmental toxicology involves the studying of harmful sources, transformations, and harmful effects of both natural and synthetic chemicals on the environment. The environmental toxicology measures the effect on the living organism and the ecosystem.

Environmental Toxins

The environmental toxins are presented in our surrounding air, drinking water, our food, our surrounding atmosphere etc.

These toxins are easily entered through food in our body. The toxins present in air can easily absorbed through skin and then easily enter in our body and absorb by connective and nervous tissues, glands, muscles, and bones etc. Thus they can be adversely affected human body.

The toxins are present in pollutants which are unstable and breaks in free radicals. These radicals can damage the cellular DNA, causes for the diseases like cancer, asthma, psoriasis, disorders, headaches, hyperactivity in children, mental retardation, growth disorder etc.

The toxins amount can be measured by various techniques like bio-resonance which measures the presence and state of toxins, allergens, viruses etc.

Hazardous Chemicals

The environmental toxins includes very hazardous chemical that is circulating in our environment. These hazardous chemicals are very harmful for living organism as they increase the environmental pollution. Some of hazardous chemicals are described below.

1. PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls)

This is a type of industrial organic chemical. This is an odorless aromatic solids or oily liquids. They are used as hydraulic fluid, adhesives, pesticide, plasticizers, dusting agents, inks, and lubricants etc. Farm-raised salmon are the major source of the polychlorinated biphenyls.

These can be cause of cancer and impaired fetal brain development. The use of polychlorinated biphenyls containing water above its maximum contaminant level causes the skin changes, immune disorder, nervous system deficiencies etc.

2. Pesticides

These are the mixture of chemicals or substances which are used to destroy and control the unwanted species of the plants which are the cause of crop damaging, to kill the mosquitoes which are the cause of various disease of human being like malaria, plague, and yellow fever etc, for transporting the food stuff and their safe storage in grocery stores from insects especially for grain, industrial process etc. These can be organic or inorganic or bio pesticides.

For example, insecticides like organo chlorine (DDT) or organo phosphate are used to control the insects, fungicides and algaecides are used for destroying the fungi and algae respectively. The carcinogenic is the combination of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides of 60%, 90% and 30% respectively. The major source of pesticides are food stuff like fruits, vegetables, meats, bug sprays etc.

As pesticides are used for different concerns but it produces very harmful effect on environment. When the pesticides are sprayed for destroying the insects and unwanted species etc then the most of part of pesticides is spread in air, soil, water that causes serious diseases. They are main cause of some serious diseases like cancer, parkinson, miscarriage, nervous system damage, blocking the absorption system of food nutrients etc.

3. Mould and other Fungal Toxins

Moulds are the microscopic organism or fungi that live on plants or animals. They need only enough atmosphere of moisture to grow.
The moulds produce in the hyphae which is a multicellular filament. They are the main cause of allergic reaction and biodegradation of food stuff.
Some common moulds are acremonium, cladosporium, mucor, penicillium, rhizopus etc.
The moulds are used in food production process like for making the sujei, scarification process, for preparing the soy sause, soybean paste, rhizopus for cheese products, drugs manufacturing process etc.
The moulds can easily found in humid area, basement area, some storage departments, drainage system, in kitchen near sink or wash basins etc.
The mycotoxin is a toxic mould and grows on feedstuffs. The ergot mould grows on grain and produces mycotoxins before harvest.
Most of mycotoxins are produced during storage process and reduce productivity.
A small amount of mycotoxin (which is a type of fungal toxins) can cause a range of health problems and various types of diseases like asthma, diabetes, cell malignancy, chronic cough, multiple sclerosis and heart attack etc.

Contaminated building floor and walls, food products like peanuts and wheat or corn and alcoholic beverages are the major sources of mould and fungal toxins.

4. Phthalates

These are plasticizing and softening chemicals mainly used in consumer products containing PVC (polyvinyl chloride). These are found in vinyl flooring and shower curtains, toys, nail polish, ground water of rivers and ponds, perfumes, medical devices, plastic bottles and packing and manufacturing process of food containers, food material like cakes, fats, milk, meat, fish etc, chemical content of industrial pollution etc.

Some serious health problems are related to the environmental exposure of phthalates which are asthma, kidney and liver problems, reproductive problems in male offspring, hypospadias, genetic problems, endocrine system damage etc.

5. VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)

The volatile organic compounds are the major factor to ozone as an air pollutant.
Volatile organic compounds are human-made chemicals with low boiling point that include various chemicals and emit in the form of gases from certain solids or liquids.
Some volatile organic compounds have short- while some have long-term adverse health effects.
Some gases like propane, benzene etc are also behave as volatile organic compounds. Various organic chemicals are used for household purpose and in household products.
The concentrations of VOCs are generally higher in indoors than outdoors.
The paints, varnishes, fuels and waxes all contain organic chemicals which release some degree of the organic compounds.
The main source of Volatile Organic Compounds is paints, air fresheners, strippers, pesticides, lacquers, cleaning material, building and furnishings material, office equipment like copiers, printers, correction fluids, carbon less copy paper, material of graphics and craft like glues, adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions etc.
They are also produced in the manufacturing process of paints, petroleum products, medical products, and refrigerants.
The main risk factors are cancer, irritation in eye and respiratory system, headaches, skin infections, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory disorder etc.

6. Dioxins

The 95% of dioxins comes from the animal fats. The dioxins consist of polychlorodibenzo-para-dioxins (PCDDs) and the polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs). They are white solids with high melting point. Both are released in the industrial process. These are mainly formed in the combustion processes of municipal waste incineration, from the metallurgical industries, and burning of fuels like coal, oil etc. The dioxins are also present in ecosystem in soils, sediments, etc and contaminate in the food like dairy products, meat, fish etc. They are bound with sediments and other organic substances in the soil and present in the air with the fly ash particles and soot.

The excess exposure also causes of some disorder like organs of reproduction developmental disorders, cancer, liver damage, and skin and acne disease like chloracne, rashes, discoloration, excessive body hair etc.

7. Asbestos

These are a kind of silicates material which have good property of heat, chemical and electrical resistance power and absorption. So it is mainly used for electrical insulation.
Some commonly used asbestos are amphibole, serpentine and asbestosis which is a type of pneumoconiosis.
Due to high flexibility Mg₃(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄(serpentine) is used to spin and spun and woven with fabric. Amosite is brown amphibole asbestos with chemical formula Fe₇Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂ used as thermal insulator.
The main source of asbestos is insulation process of floors, ceilings, pipes of water and heated ducts etc. It releases the fiber in the atmosphere when it becomes old and crumbly.
These fibers can damage the tissues, asbestosis (lung tissue disorder), anemia, lungs problems and causes of mesothelioma cancer.

8. Heavy Metals

These includes the metals like arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, mercury, and lead.
These metals present around the environment and can easily absorb in soft tissues of the body.
These are absorbed by the body in the form of drinking water, non-vegetarian food like fish, vaccines, pesticides, wood, antiperspirant, building construction ingredients, amalgams, and factories producing or using chlorine etc.
Thus the contamination of heavy metal in body is the cause of neurological disorders, vomiting, cancer, disorder in the red and white blood cells, heart attack, headaches, Alzheimer etc.

9. Chloroform

This is a trichloro methane, sweet smelling, dense, colorless liquid which is mainly used in hospitals for getting the unconsciousness state of patient and as anesthetic.
It is a chemical with pleasant odor and sweet taste.
It is also used as a solvent to form the other chemicals in laboratory.
It is present in chlorinated water, air, and also in some food stuff.
The excess amount is the cause of cancer, reproductive damage, and defect in birth, dizziness, fatigue, headache, damage of liver and kidney etc.

10. Chlorine

This is pale yellow green colored toxic gas and one of the most used chemical and a strong oxidizing agent.
It is highly flammable in nature. It is found in household cleaners, drinking water, surrounding air near an industry like paper plant where chlorine is used in industrial processes.
It is mainly used in water purification process as disinfectants and in bleach.
The toxicity of chlorine is mainly due to its strong oxidizing power.
The absorption of chlorine in the body causes the serious and harmful effects.
It can be the reason of disease like respiratory system irritation, throat problem, coughing, irritation in eye and skin, breathing problems, narrowing of the bronchi, wheezing, discoloration of the skin, contamination of fluid and pain in the lungs, burning of eye and skin, lung collapse, and asthma (reactive airways dysfunction syndrome) etc.
The chlorofluorocarbons which are the chlorine containing compounds are the main cause for ozone depletion.

Precautions from environmental toxins

The environmental toxins are very harmful so their exposure in atmosphere must be avoided. But due to the advance technologies and industrial processes, it is impossible to avoid their exposure.

Some precautions can be taken for the safety from environmental toxins which are given as below.

Organic field production and wide range of organic foods should be take in for use.
The high-quality purified fish or cod liver oil should be used rather than contaminated with PCBs and mercury fish.
Try to avoid processed foods and artificial food additives as they are made with harmful chemicals.
The natural cleaning products are used in home.

Like the natural brands of toiletries, shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics and do not use artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners as they pollute the air and can easily absorbed by human body.

How To Study Subjects You Don't Like

2013-04-16T18:51:00.003-07:00

Ever feel struggle to study something because you find the subject boring? Or, worse yet, you actually hate the subject? If so, you are not alone. I just got a letter from Joy in the United Kingdom who asks:

"... as soon as I pick up my books to study I lose interest immediately again. It takes me so much time to understand a few lines of words while studying and I can hardly remember them too, which is to say I think they do not register. I am afraid I will fail and have to repeat a class if I don't find a solution quick."

How To Study Subjects You Don't Like

There are two issues at play here - the first is you THINK you are interested in the subject matter, but the reality is you're not. If you were, you'd have NO TROUBLE STARTING. I'll prove it to you.

If you are a stamp collector and you start to read about the new issue of the new Olympic Stamps for the London Games - you have NO PROBLEM with focus, attention or retention do

you?

That's because you ARE interested.

The challenge we all have as students is that EVERY ACADEMIC PROGRAM has courses we don't like. I remember hating Thermodynamics in Engineering School, Chemistry in College and Multivariate Statistics in Business School (Ph.D.).

But y'know what?

YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. It's part of the curriculum and you have to pass the course to get the diploma and the degree.

I suggest you do THAT homework FIRST - get it out of the way - DON'T DO WHAT YOU LIKE FIRST. That is a recipe for disastrous grades - it will increase your chance of failure BECAUSE you'll spend MORE time on what you like and not enough time on what you don't like.

Of course that's easier said than done. BUT if you start studying what you don't like, you'll feel RELIEF and a LOT LESS STRESS. We all have to study stuff we don't like - we NEED TO. We need to be aware of things because that's what education is all about. There is NOTHING you can do about it - EXCEPT to get it out of the way FIRST and QUICKLY.

Fundamentally - we all put ourselves under pressure - when you put the study tips, techniques and strategies in my book, Get The Best Grades With The Least Amount Of Effort in practice, you'll gain self-assurance and confidence within 2-3 weeks. You will then be able to move onto things that make you happy - and, ultimately, complete your degree so you can do what you love most.

Onward and upward!

Ways The Bible Would Be Different If Written By College Students….

2013-03-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

Someone sent this to me yesterday and I had to share it with you. This blog has a serious focus on improving your grades, but it also has a philosophy that you need to have fun and a short distraction from time to time has been proven to help you be more creative in your thinking and problem solving.

Enjoy these pearls of wisdom!

Ways the Bible Would Be Different if Written by College Students….

The last Supper would have been eaten the next morning – cold.
The Ten Commandments are actually only five, double-spaced and written in a large font.
New edition every two years in order to limit reselling.
Forbidden fruit would have been eaten because it wasn’t cafeteria food.
Paul’s letter to the Romans becomes Paul’s e-mail toabuse@romans.gov.
Reason Cain killed Abel: They were roommates.
The place where the end of the world occurs: Finals, not Armageddon.
Out go the mules, in come the mountain bikes.
Reason why Moses and followers walked in desert for 40 years: They didn’t want to ask directions and look like freshmen.
Instead of God creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh, He would have put it off until the night before it was due and then pulled an all-nighter.

How to Study Effectively?

2013-03-23T09:00:00.004-07:00

Effective study demands quality focus. It’s hard to make headway in any learning without this particular quality. It is this quality that will get you those extra marks.

Below you will find a variety of tips to help you get started. First a video from You Tube:

And now here is my small effort to help you think about how you can study better. Simply reading this stuff won’t necessarily get you top grades — applying them is what really matters.

Onto the tips…

Find a quiet place where you can work regularly. This place should be dedicated to study, free of potential distractions from friends or family — yes folks, even your cat. Regular work in such an environment helps form good, effective study habits, and improves concentration and focus. Distractions waste precious time and cause tension.

Get rid of clutter. Keep things simple — keep things tidy.

Get a study timetable organized and prioritize. Prepare a list or timetable for tasks for that day, and for the week and number them according to which ones need to be done first. These get the priority and will not necessarily be the easiest.

Mark and label all your work folders and content and place them in separate piles so that you can clearly see how much work you need to do and what has already been revised. Tick off the tasks as they are completed.

Make sure that the area for your study is well lit and has an ambient temperature where you can focus. The quality of focus determines the quality of understanding. You cannot apply what you learn without understanding and exams test your ability to apply what you have learnt.

The Motivation for Learning should be clear — top grades will mean higher earnings and a better quality life. Learn to work for them…

Food: What you eat affects your thinking. The Rule is Eat Little — but often. Eat healthy meals such as fish, fruits, and sandwiches that provide the vitamins and minerals that you need and do not make heavy demands on your digestive system.

Know when You are ‘Switched On’. Try to be aware of your bio clock and what time of the day you work best. Optimise by revising when you work best but keep an eye on the exam date and time. You will need to get used to working at that hour.

Do The Challenging Revision First — when you are fresh. Trying to focus on difficult problems when you are tired can be difficult.

Look after your physical health. Take regular breaks, get plenty of fresh air and do some walking or stretching.

Study in small chunks lasting 25 to 35 minutes. Your memory and concentration will work better if you study in short bursts but often…

Get a chair that is firm but comfortable. Avoiding back problems is important.

Drink plenty of water during the revision periods. Before an exam, avoid drinking too much, as you may need a toilet break which can waste exam time.

Get good, regular sleep and rest. You will think and work better as a consequence.

Avoid any stimulants such as caffeine. Stay natural.

Say the Stuff Out Loud —saying the stuff out loud will help promote a deeper understanding of the material you are reading. However,

You may prefer seeing things on paper. That suggests that your learning style is visual and you should use lots of diagrams and colour to memorise and understand your work.

Review stuff soon after learning. Convert any learning to personal notes as this helps understanding and memory.

Try to link any new stuff to things you know already. This is learning through association that helps long term retention.

Resources: Make a list of resources available for help and study. This means noting the places you can study such as libraries or other quiet places, and people you can turn to for help when you get stuck. These could be your classmates, family or most importantly, your teacher.
Make your learning Interactive. In class don’t hesitate to ask about the things you don’t understand as in the long term learning honesty always pays off…Explaining and discussing your work with others also helps.

Oxford University, like others, encourages the students to come well prepared before they come to any tutorial or lesson. This means doing prior reading and coming to class to get answers to the things you did not understand when working independently.
Attend all revision classes. They will help revision, provide an opportunity for you to ask teacher any questions, and get you out into some fresh air!

So who do you think is good at all this stuff? Well…strangely I keep thinking of my cat!

She is patient, has great focus, and stops to think about the bigger picture before rushing into things.

Have to admit — I don’t really measure up to her standards!

I think my cat’s a pretty brilliant teacher!

Good luck with all your exams and keep an eye on this space — we intend to help you succeed!

How To Ace Your Next Exam: Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

2013-03-21T09:06:00.001-07:00

The best way to achieve mastery is to practice, but you need to practice within the right context and environment.

Spending 1 to 2 hours on a problem the week before an exam that only allows you 20 to 30 minutes to solve it won’t help your exam related stress – in fact it will most probably INCREASE IT!

I know it’s hard to do, but you need to START your preparation much sooner than you think. What I suggest is that within a week of starting a course, you determine the exam content. I’m totally serious.

With the full content of the final exam (you can ask for copies of previous exams – usually available at the library or online), you will know what you know and what you need to learn.

One thing is for sure – you’ll be a lot less stressed if you do this than if you don’t.

Exam stress is mostly due to uncertainty – the “not knowing” what’s going to be on the exam rather than the difficulty associated with the questions.

Once you’ve figured that out, you can easily deal with it.

Otherwise you’ll continue to be best friends with DREAD and that’s no fun is it?

Managing to MANAGE?

2013-03-19T05:43:00.002-07:00

Hello Laserminders!

Are you one of those students who always places more importance on recreation than studying? Do you tend to put your studies off until tomorrow?

If you are, who can blame you? Nobody in their right mind would want to stay in studying instead of having a fun night out on the town with their friends!

But if you learn HOW to study better -- it can make the study experience all the more enjoyable.

As humans, we all prefer the fun things in life rather than the monotonous chores we're always faced with. The only problem, though, is that putting things off until the next day will nearly always result in MORE STRESS!

Writing down and maintaining a priority study list is a far better solution. A list not only helps to ensure you don't forget anything, it also allows you to work through tasks in a logical order.

The benefit of following this method is that for the most part, you'll actually end up having more free time to enjoy yourself!
See more Tips After this cut............!

While many people tend to think that they should complete all the small tasks first, before tackling the big important ones, in reality it works the other way around.

Providing you tackle all the worst jobs first, the small jobs will be a breeze and before you know it, you'll have quality free time on your hands.

Likewise, if you have a specific task which you know will take longer than average, make a commitment to tackle it at a certain time and make sure you've set aside enough time to do it.

Admittedly, what works for you may not work for someone else. The truth is though, the list method ALWAYS WORKS, providing you make any necessary adjustments in order to best meet your own requirements.

With a little bit of experimenting, you'll soon discover the formula that suits you best.

ASICS - train your brain, more to gain!

2013-03-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Laser-minders!

I was checking out running shoes the other day. Did you know that the brand 'ASICS' is actually an acronym? ASICS stands for the Latin phrase 'anima sana in corpore sano' which means 'a sound mind in a sound body'.

Your body has a major effect on your minds and how well you study and learn. Here are 4 habits of a healthy body that make good habits of a healthy mind.

Good Study Habit #1: Preparing properly

First, you need to prepare yourself to study. Like anything else, studying is a task that needs preparation. You need to have a special place setup and ready for you to 'do it'. That means a desk, table that is clear and spacious enough to do what you intend to do.

I know it may sound self-evident, but you need to have your pens, pencils, highlighters, rulers, calculator, computer, dictionary, thesaurus or other reference books READY. As well as pads or sheets of paper.

In addition - depending on what works for you - you need to have the appropriate light and 'ambience' - in some cases you might need some music. I prefer instrumental music (without words or lyrics).

You also need to PREPARE not to eat and study right away - the digestion of the meal will put you to sleep. You are better off eating 2 or 3 portions over 2-3 hours than the whole meal in one go. Even though you can stay awake watching TV - that is a PASSIVE effort with VISUAL STIMULATION - studying means you need to FOCUS with MINIMAL stimulation. The TV screen changes/moves every few seconds. A book just 'sits there'... You have to bring it to life.

Good Study Habit #2: Animate the process

Studying can be a chore and drudgery IF you don't create ways to 'liven it up'. In my study book, I explain several ways to do this. In addition to those techniques, you can also make sure you change what you do ACTIVELY, by reading for 5 to 10 minutes, then solving a problem, then searching the Internet for additional information, then re-reading your class notes, then ADDING and creating new notes - then reading some more...

ACTIVELY changing things will make it more interesting - most students sit down to READ or DO PROBLEMS and fall asleep or get bored (same thing) due to lack of variety.

Good Study Habit #3: Change Your Habits

If you come home eat and then study - CHANGE YOUR STUDY HABITS. Come home, have a snack, study and THEN have dinner. Or come home, eat, watch ONE program and THEN study. Or try getting up early BEFORE going to work and studying BEFORE or AFTER breakfast...

Chances are you have a negative association to studying - let me give you an analogy with reading.

A lot of people say they fall asleep reading. I ask them if they read before going to bed and they say yes. I tell them to STOP reading BEFORE going to bed and NEVER read in bed - ONLY when they are wide awake.

Guess what happens? Their brain gets re-wired and they STOP falling asleep reading!

Just like that - of course it takes 21 days to BREAK a bad habit and replace it with a good one - so you have to change things around and then give it TIME...

...TIME TO WORK.

Good Study Habit #4: Get Fit

Without getting into a nutrition, fitness and health discussion - you will always struggle with studying if you are not fit and healthy. The fitter and healthier you are, the better your grades will be.

Master Chess Players do weights and train for cardio vascular endurance because they KNOW that fitness = focus and concentration...

If you aren't fit, then you can try to sleep a little more and cut out some TV and see how that helps. Sometimes an extra 30 minutes of sleep means you can focus and concentrate for as much as ONE HOUR MORE...

Try these suggestions and let me know how it goes!

Onward and upward

TOTAL SCHOLARSHIP 2013: TOTAL NIGERIA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION 2012/13

2013-03-16T03:36:00.004-07:00

Total E & P Nigeria has announced her Tertiary Institutions Scholarship Awards Scheme for the 2012/2013 academic session.

Details of the Total 2012/2013 National Merit Scholarship Awards for undergraduates below;

Over the years, Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria have demonstrated a high level of commitment towards the educational development of Nigerian Students.

This commitment has been demonstrated in several ways, one of which is the annual award of scholarships to deserving Nigerian students in secondary and tertiary institutions as well as those in postgraduate studies.

The programme is aimed at promoting academic excellence and qualitative manpower development in our host communities and the nation.

The company hereby invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for its 2012/2013 National Merit Scholarship Awards for undergraduate students currently in their 1st and 2nd year of studies in recognized Nigeria Universities.

WHO IS QUALIFIED TO APPLY?

The NNPC/TEPNG National Merit Scholarship Award is open to duly admitted, recognized full time Nigerian students, pursuing undergraduate programmes in recognized universities, who are in their first or second year of studies and who are NOT beneficiaries of any other
scholarships. In addition to the above conditions, applicants must show:

- Proof of SSCE or equivalent certificate,
- Proof of UME scores and
- Admission to the course of study

LIST OF QUALIFYING COURSES

- Accounting
- Agricultural Sciences
- Business Administration
- Banking & Finance
- Engineering
- Computer Sciences
- Environmental Sciences
- Pure and Applied Sciences
- Land & Quantity Surveying
- Law
- Medical Sciences

Application forms must be completed on-line using the links:
(scholarships.totalsdd.com).

Application Closing Date: 31st of March 2013

Selection tests will hold on a later date at designated centres nationwide.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates would be contacted for the tests.

Stay updated with all SCHOLARSHIPS news plus other Nigeria University news; Join/Like Us now on Facebook | Twitter

Don’t forget to share this news with your friends using the Share buttons below…

Your comments are appreciated, let us know your thoughts by dropping a comment below…

Waec TimeTable 2013: May/June West African Examination Council Timetable

2013-03-16T03:23:00.006-07:00

Below is the Complete 2013 / 2014 Waec TimeTable.

Monday, 18th March to Friday, 26th April, 2013
Food and Nutrition 1 (Practical)
Home Management 1 (Practical)
Clothing and Textiles 1 (Practical)
Arabic 2B (Oral)
French 2 (Oral)
===================

Wednesday, 10th April, 2013
Hausa 2 (Essay) 2 hrs – 9.00am – 11.00am
Igbo 2 (Essay) 2 hrs – 9.00am – 11.00am
Yoruba 2 (Essay) 2hrs – 9.00am – 11.00am
Hausa 1 (Objective) 1 hr – 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Igbo 1 (Objective) 1 hr – 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Yoruba 1 (Objective) 1 hr – 4.00pm – 5.00pm

===================

Thursday, 11th April, 2013
Chemistry 1 (Practical) Alternative A 2 hrs – 9.00am – 11.00am (1st Set)
Chemistry 1 (Practical) Alternative A 2 hrs – 11.30am – 1.30pm (2nd set)
===================

Friday, 12th April, 2013
Literature in English 2 (Drama and Poetry) 2hrs 30minutes – 9.00am – 11.30am
Literature in English 3 & 1 (Prose & Objective) 2 hrs 15minutes – 2.15pm – 5.00pm
===================

Monday 15th April, 2013
Geography 1 (Objective & Essay) 2 hrs 40minutes – 9.00am – 11.40am
Geography 2 (Essay) 2hrs – 3.00pm – 5.00m
Electronics 2 (objective & Essay) 2 hrs – 3.00pm – 5.00pm
===================

Tuesday 16th April, 2013
Commerce 2 (Essay) 2 hrs 30minutes – 9.00am – 11.30am
Commerce 1 (Objective) 1 hr – 11.30am – 12.30pm
Physics 2 (Objective & Essay) 2 hrs 45minutes 2.00pm – 4.45pm
Music 2 (Objective & Essay) 3 hrs 30minutes 1.30pm – 5.00pm
===================

Wednesday 17th April, 2013
English Language 1 (Essay) 2 hrs 30minutes – 9.00am – 11.30am
English Language 2 (Obective) 1 hr – 2.00pm – 3.00pm
English Language 3 (test of Orals) 45 minutes – 3.30pm – 4.15pm
===================

Thursday, 18th April, 2013
Financial Accounting 2 (Theory & Practice) 2hrs 30minutes – 9.00am – 11.30am
Financial Accounting 1 (Objective) 1 hr – 11.30am – 12.30pm
Biology 2 (Objective & Essay) 2 hrs 30minutes – 2.30pm – 5.00pm
===================

Friday, 19th April, 2013
Physics 1 (Practical) Alternative A 2hrs 45minutes – 9.00am – 11.45am (1st set)
Physics 1 (Practical) Alternative A 2 hrs 45minutes – 12.15pm – 3.00pm (2nd set)
Physical Education 1 (theory of practice) 2 hrs – 3.00pm – 5.00pm
===================

Monday, 22nd April, 2013
Shorthand 1 hr 13minutes – 9.00 am – 10.13am
Government 2 (Essay) 2hrs 30minutes – 9.00am – 11.30am
Government 1 (Objective) 1 hr – 11.30am – 12.30pm
Physics 1 (Practical) Alternative B 2hrs 45minutes – 9.00am – 11.45am (1st set)
Physics 1 (Practical) Alternative B 2hrs 45minutes – 12.15pm – 3.00pm (2nd set)
Foods & Nutrition 2 (objective and essay) 2hrs 30minutes – 2.00pm – 4.30pm
===================

Tuesday 23rd April, 2013
French 1 (Objective & Essay) 2 hrs 15minutes – 9.00am – 11.15am
Chemistry 2 (Objective & Essay) 3 hrs – 12.noon – 3.00pm
Woodwork 2 (Drawing & Design) 2 hrs – 3.00pm – 5.00pm
===================

Wednesday 24th April, 2013
Woodwork 3 (Objective & Essay) 2 hrs – 9.00am – 11.00am
Auto mechanics 2 (objective & essay) 2hrs 30minutes – 2.30pm – 5.00pm
===================

Thursday, 25th April, 2013
Agricultural Science 1 (Practical) 1 hr 30minutes – 9.00am – 10.30am (1st set)
Metal work 1 (practical) 3 hrs 10minutes – 9.00am – 12.10pm (1st set)
Agricultural Science 1 (Practical) 1hr 30minutes – 11.00am – 12.30pm (2nd set)
Metalwork 1 (Practical) 3 hrs 10minutes – 12.30pm – 3.40pm (2nd set)
Visual Art 1 (Objective & Essay) 3 hrs – 2.00pm – 5.00pm
===================

Friday, 26th April, 2013
Economics 2 (Essay) 3hrs – 9.00am – 12.00noon
Economics 1 (Objective) 50minutes – 12.00noon – 12.50pm
Building Construction 1 (Building Drawing & Essay) 2hrs 30minutes – 2.30pm – 5.00pm
Clothing & Textiles 2 (Objective & Essay) 2hrs 30minutes – 2.30pm – 5.00pm
===================

Tuesday, 30th April, 2013
General Mathematics /Mathematics (Core) 2 (Essay) 2 hrs 30minutes – 9.00am – 11.30am
General Mathematics / Mathematics (Core) 1 (objective) 1 hr 30minutes – 2.00pm – 3.30pm
===================

Thursday, 2nd May 2013
Principles of Cost Accounting 2 (Theory & Practice) 2 hrs 10minutes – 9.00am – 11.10am
History 2 (Essay) 2hrs 30minutes – 9.00am – 11.30am
History 1 (Objective) 1 hr – 11.30am – 12.30pm
Principles of Cost Accounting 1 (Objective) 50minutes – 3.00pm – 3.50pm
===================

Friday 3rd May, 2013
Biology (Practical) 2 hrs – 9.00am – 11.00am (1st set)
Biology 1 (Practical) 2 hrs – 11.30am – 1.30pm (2nd set)
Metalwork 2 (Objective & Essay) 2 hrs – 30minutes – 2.30pm – 5.00pm
===================

Tuesday, 7th May, 2013
Auto Mechanics 1 (Practical) 2hrs – 9.00am – 11.00am (1st set)
Auto mechanics 1 (Practical) 2 hrs – 11.3am – 1.30pm (2nd set)
===================

Wednesday, 8th May 2013
Agricultural Science 2 (Objective & Essay) 3hrs – 9.00am – 12.00noon
Visual Art 2 (Drawing/Painting) 3hrs – 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Applied Electricity 2 (Objective & Essay) 2 hrs 15minutes – 2.00pm – 4.15pm
===================

Thursday, 9th May, 2013
Electronics 1 (Practical) – 3 hrs – 9.00am – 12.00noon (1st set)
Typewriting 2hrs 40mins – 9.00am – 11.40am (1st set)
Typewriting 2hrs 40mins – 12.00noon – 2.40pm (2nd set)
Electronics 1 (Practical) 3hrs – 12.30pm – 3.30pm (2nd set)
===================

Tuesday 14th May, 2013
Applied Electricity 1 (Practical) 2 hrs – 9.00am – 12.00am (1st set)
Physical Education 2 (objective & Essay) 2hrs – 9.00am – 11.00am
Applied Electricity 1 (Practical) 3hrs – 12.30pm – 3.30pm (2nd set)
===================

Wednesday 15th May, 2013
Christian Religious Knowledge 2 (Essay) 2hrs 30mins – 9.00am – 11.30am
Islamic Studies 2 (Essay) 2hrs 30mins – 9.00am – 11.30am
Christian Religious Knowledge 1 (Objective) 1 hr – 11.30am – 12.30pm
Islamic Studies 1 (Objective) 1hr – 11.30am – 12.30pm
Building Construction 2 (Objective & Essay) 1 hr 4mins – 2.00pm – 3.45pm
Visual Art 3 (Creative Design) 3hrs – 2.00pm – 5.00pm
===================

Thursday 16th May, 2013
Further Mathematics / Mathematics Elective 2 (essay) 2 hrs 30mins – 9.00am – 11.30am
Further Mathematics/Mathematics Elective 1 (Objective) 2hrs 10mins
Mathematics Elective 1 (Objectives) – 1hr 30mins 3.00pm – 4.30pm
===================

Friday 17th May, 2013
Technical Drawing 1 (Objective & Geometry) 2 hrs 30mins – 9.00am – 11.30am
Arabic 2A (Essay) 2hrs – 9.00am – 10.00am
Arabic 1 (Objective) 1hr – 11.30am – 12.300pm
Technical Drawing 2 (Practical Drawing) 2hr 30minutes – 2.30pm – 5.

Omasanjuwa Ogharandu is still waiting for you to join Twitter...

2013-01-18T09:03:00.001-08:00

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Omasanjuwa Ogharandu is still waiting for you to join Twitter...

2013-01-04T12:50:00.001-08:00

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Nollywood Actress Mercy Johnson, Yesterday had a New Baby Girl

2013-01-02T18:00:00.001-08:00

Can you please say, "Congratulations M.J"

Omasanjuwa Ogharandu is still waiting for you to join Twitter...

2012-12-28T04:49:00.001-08:00

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Omasanjuwa Ogharandu has invited you to join Twitter!

2012-12-20T07:58:00.001-08:00

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Highlight for Maximum Retention!!!!

2012-12-12T08:28:00.002-08:00

Hi Friends,
Do you use a highlighter when you speed read? Have you ever highlighted so much 'important' stuff that you end up highlighting more of the page than not? Have you ever wondered 'how do I know what is worth highlighting and what's not'?
I've done the same, myself. In fact, I used to highlight a lot of what I read on the page - not being sure what was really important and what was just important.
Until one delay realised that I was wasting my time and not really remembering much of what I highlighted anyway. On top of that, the stuff that I did highlight was often not even in the test!
The reason for this is because the FIRST time you read and highlight anything, it's hard for you to know
what's important and what's not. Plus, you end up reading slower and you highlight more often. And that's if you read normally!
When you speed read AND highlight, chances are that your reading speed will be slower than your usual speed and you will highlight two or three times more. Which means you'll waste a lot of time reviewing and highlighting.
Because I know this, I advise students who learn to do speed reading to NOT highlight while speed reading something for the first time. And here's why...
When you read anything for the first time, it's only when you finish the chapter that its meaning becomes obvious to you. You then understand what the important bits are that you will need to remember (and highlight) and you will be able to recognise these points in the text.
More than likely, also, these important bits may have been different than what you would have highlighted when you started reading.
Now, I'll tell you what works best for me and for thousands of other students. These strategies I teach take time to implement, and the key is to TRUST them as you apply them.

When CHOOSING to highlight something, you need to trust your instincts - to highlight LESS than you THINK you should...
Highlight ONLY those items you feel you're not going to remember automatically. Yes, I know this takes judgment on your part.
You have to trust yourself. Start with MORE highlights and REDUCE them as you get better at CHOOSING what to highlight.
You'll soon know what you MUST highlight versus what you WANT to highlight. These are not often the same thing.
You can TEST what I suggest - sometimes highlight WHILE you are speed reading and then AFTER... You determine what works best for you.
IF you are the EXCEPTION, that's OK - DO what works for you, but DO IT because it works, not because you THINK it works.
To KNOW IT WORKS, you have to track your time and comprehension BOTH ways, otherwise it's a value judgment and chances are you will be biased and wrong in your self-assessment.

For more speed learning tips, check out my Facebook here. It's guaranteed to double your reading speed in one hour.
Onward and upward!
D-LaserMinds