Hot Education How-Tos

How To: Use the PRIME operator in math

In this video, we learn how to use the PRIME operator in math. The prime operator is the opposite of something in the equation. Take a look at the illustration in the video that is shown. Once you see that, you will be able to tell what A prime and B prime are. A prime is the opposite of "A". If a number is shaded in "A" it should not be shaded in "A Prime". The same goes for the prime of the letter "B". Just pay attention to what the numbers selected for each letter is, then use the opposite...

How To: Make a light bulb from a pickle

In this Education video tutorial you will learn how to make a light bulb from a pickle. Pickles are high in ions in the form of acids and salts. These are electrolytes and they will transfer energy through the pickle. Place a pickle on a glass plate and hook it up with an AC power cord with a nail on each end as shown in the video. You must have protective gloves on. Poke the nails on each end of the pickle and hook up the cord to the power source. The pickle will start emitting light which i...

How To: Find how many toothpicks will be needed to form the nth figure in a sequence

From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps. With this installment from Internet pedagogical superstar Salman Khan's series of free math tutorials, you'll learn how to employ inductive reasoning to determine the number of toothpicks you'll require to generate the nth (e.g., the 50th) figure in a sequence of figures.

How To: Calculate the width of a fence given its length and perimeter

From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps. With this installment from Internet pedagogical superstar Salman Khan's series of free math tutorials, you'll learn how to find the width of a fence when given numbers for its length and perimeter.

How To: Convert decimeters to kilometers in basic math

From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps. With this installment from Internet pedagogical superstar Salman Khan's series of free math tutorials, you'll learn how to convert between decimeters and kilometers in basic mathematics.

How To: Make glow sticks with DEP, TCPO, sodium acetate & dye

If you prefer glow sticks over candles during a power outage, then this how-to is for you! Although glow sticks are used as temporary light sources, there are other applications for them. Divers use them for night diving, fisherman use them to catch swordfish, and the military uses them for light markers, along with infrared versions used in conjunction with night vision devices. But with all these handy uses for glow sticks, the most popular is — recreational use, like dancing at raves, some...

How To: "Back out the tax" from a receipt

In this video, we learn how to back out the tax from a receipt. If you have a receipt where you see how much you paid and know the tax rate, except you want to figure out the cost of the item before the tax. First, take the cost of the item including tax and what the tax rate is. To figure out the original price, let x equal the cost of the item. Add the tax to the cost of the item which will equal the cost you paid. Perform the equation 1x+(tax rate)= (total price). After you figure this equ...

How To: Write an introduction to your academic essay

In this tutorial, we learn how to write an introduction to your academic essay. The first part of your introduction should say why the topic is important. Using the phrase "is a topic of growing importance" is a great way to help boost your topic's importance. Next, you should have a sentence or two sentences talking about the difficulties of the topic and what issues are involved. The third part of your introduction should be a thesis statement that narrows down what the topic is going to be...

How To: Know if matrices can be multiplied

In this Education video tutorial you will learn how to know if matrices can be multiplied. If the column of the first and the row of the second match, you can multiply them. For example if, matrix A has 2 rows and 3 columns (A: 2x3) and matrix B has 3 rows and 4 columns (B: 3x4), then you can multiply them. But, if A: 3x2 and B: 3x4, you cannot multiply them. The shape of the resultant matrix will be the shape of the outer numbers. For example, we saw that if A:2x3 and B :3x2, then they can b...

How To: Find the equation for a growth pattern

From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just finish your homework or study for that next big test). With this installment from Internet pedagogical superstar Salman Khan's series of free math tutorials, you'll learn how to find an equation that describse the growth pattern of a sequence of blocks.

How To: Simplify a radical expression including variables

Want to simplify a radical expression with algebraic variables? See how it's done with this free video algebra lesson. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just study for that next big test).

How To: Use radical notation to evaluate rational exponents

Learn how to evaluate rational exponents using radical notation in this free video algebra lesson. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just study for that next big test).

How To: Factor polynomials in algebra using the GCF method

Need to know how to factor polynomials using the GCF method? Learn how with this free video algebra lesson. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just study for that next big test).

How To: Factor trinomials by grouping in algebra

Learn how to factor trinomials using the grouping method in this free video algebra lesson. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just study for that next big test).

How To: Solve a word problem for the perimeter of a rectangle

Need a little bit of help figuring out how to solve word problems involving the perimeter of a rectangle? See how it's done with this free video math lesson. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just finish your homework or study for that next big test).

How To: Apply the Pythagorean theorem

Meet the Pythagorean theorem—an indispensable tool for any budding geometer. The Pythagorean theorem will allow you to measure the hypotenuse or any other side of a right triangle when the length of its other two sides are known. For specific, step-by-step instructions on how to use this useful formula, usually given as a^2+b^2=c^2, where c^2 is equal to the length of the hypotenuse, watch this free video geometry lesson.

How To: Find the inverse of a function in algebra

Need a little help figuring out how to find the inverse of a function in algebra? Watch this free video lesson. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just finish your homework or study for that next big test). With this free math tutorial, you'll learn how to calculate the inverse of a given algebraic fun...

How To: Clear decimals from a linear equation

Need instructions on how to remove decimal values from a linear equation in algebra? Learn how with this free video lesson. From Ramanujan to calculus co-creator Gottfried Leibniz, many of the world's best and brightest mathematical minds have belonged to autodidacts. And, thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to follow in their footsteps (or just finish your homework or study for that next big test).

How To: Graph an inequality in slope-intercept form

This how to video shows you how to graph an inequality in slope intercept form. First, graph the line. Depending on the inequality, use a dash or solid line. Use a solid line for less than or equal to or greater than or equal to. Use a dash line for greater than or less than. If y is less than or less than or equal to, shade the bottom area of the line. If it is y is greater than or greater than or equal to, shade the top area of the line. Check your answer by substituting in any point from t...

How To: Create an acid-base indicator using purple cabbage

Purple cabbage is a natural indicator and this video teaches you how to easily prepare purple cabbage in the comfort of your own home to be used as an acid and base indicator. Take one leaf of your purple cabbage, tear it into smaller pieces and place all the pieces into a beaker or bowl of boiling water for an hour. Collect the liquid from your mixture into a bottle. You’ll notice that the liquid is now dark blue or purple at which point is neutral. It is ready to be used as an indicator. ...

How To: Find the equation of a line in point-slope form

When you are given a point through which a line passes and the slope of that line, you can calculate the equation of that line. The general equation to solve this kind of equations is called as point-slope form. The point slope of a line passing through (a, b) with slope of m is (y - b) = m * (x - a). Now substituting the values in the above equation you can obtain the equation of the line in terms of x and y. In case you are given with two points first find the slope of the line which is the...

How To: Isolate the sugar in a can of soda

In this video from ScienceOnTheBrain we learn how to isolate the sugar in a can of soda. To find out how much sugar is in soda, pour a can into a pot and boil it until all the water is gone. You will be left with the sugar, and then you can weigh it. First weigh your pot before pouring the soda in. Now boil the soda on the stovetop. When the water evaporates, you'll be left with a syrupy sugar. A can of soda has 39 grams of sugar in it. That equates to about 7 1/2 teaspoons. Fruit juice conta...

How To: Solve algebraic equations with the y = mx+b format

This video shows us how to solve algebraic equations with the y = mx+b format. When talking about solving y=mx+b format, it’s about solving linear equations so that y is on one side and with some terms x on the other side. Here in this equation 'm' is actually the slope of the line and slope= (rise/run) and it is interrupted with the term 'b'. This can be explained by taking an example of the same format. In the example 2x+3y=9, we need to shift the term '2x' to the other side so that the equ...

How To: Simplify exponential expressions in basic algebra

The video shows how to solved mixed property problems using the exponent rules. See if there are any rules you can apply to the problem until you get to a point where you can't simplify anymore. The instructor shows in the example problem that the two bases are the same, but there is extras happening the numerator. The power to power multiply rule is applied removing the extra issues from the numerator. Next the quotient rules is applied as there is the exact same base to the power so we keep...

How To: Calculate azimuth in trigonometry

Azimuth is simply the angle of an object in the sky along the horizon. Yes, it's spherical trigonometry but it's not difficult! Check out this video and in just a few minutes you will be able to solve azimuth problems on your own.

How To: Make a candle wax explosion

In this video, you'll see how and why wax can be a deadly. This is how it works,When the test tube is submerged in cold water, the glass forms tiny cracks. The Water enters gets into the tube and vaporizes causing a micro explosion. The hot wax is then ejected from the tube quickly as oxygen is displaced from the tube itself. Be careful, and make sure to be as safe as possible when trying this experiment at home.

How To: Multiple and divide rational expressions

This video walks you through the steps of multiply and divide rational expressions. This excellent video shows you a clean board, with the instructors voice showing exactly what to do. Don't fret, any question you may have, will be answered. Watching this video will make you feel like your back in the classroom but rather comfortably from your home.

How To: Apply zero, negative, and fractional exponents

This video walks you through the steps of applying zero, negative, and fractional exponents. This excellent video shows you a clean blackboard, with the instructors voice showing exactly what to do. Don't fret, any question you may have, will be answered. Watching this video will make you feel like your back in the classroom but rather comfortably from your home.

How To: Find the equation of a perpendicular & parallel line

This video shows how to find the equation of the line perpendicular and parallel to a given line. The video starts off with an example, given the lines and the slopes (m). When 2 lines are parallel to each other, they have the same slope. When 2 lines are perpendicular to each other, the slopes multiplied together will give -1. Knowing these rules, the tutorial maker provides an example with numbers. He then leads each step of the process. Each step is written out in either black, red, blue o...

How To: Factor trinomials with the "swing method"

This is a very interesting educational video on how to find the factor trinomials using the swing method. Let us take an example and find the factor trinomials for 2xsquare-13x-45. Let us use the swing method. So now we will get 2xsquare -13x-45. You have to find the suitable factors of 90. It is 18 and 5. If you multiply 18 by 5 you will get 90. You will get (x-18over2)(x+5over2). The final answer is (x-9)(2x+5). Now we have found out the factor trinomials of 2xsquare-13x-45. This swing meth...

How To: Make hydrogen gas & an explosion

First you need to make hydrogen gas which require a few material. Such as a glass bottle, a Full table spoon of aluminum (beer or soda can will work), a half a cup of cold water, a table spoon or two of caustic soda, a funnel, a medium size container of water, a way of cutting the aluminum, one or two balloon's, and some safety glasses just incase something goes wrong.

How To: Simplify radical expressions

In this video the instructor shows who to simplify radicals. If you have a term inside a square root the first thing you need to do is try to factorize it. First factorize the numerical term. Write down the numerical terms as a product of any perfect squares. Now split the original radical expression in the form of individual terms of different variables. Now you can pull out the perfect square numerical factors out of the radical. Similarly for the variable terms write the variables as power...

How To: Find the formula of a piecewise function given a graph

This video shows how to find the formula of a piecewise function when given a graph. The first step is to write a definition for the graph, which is done by identifying the different domains shown in the graph. The second step is writing formulas for each domain specified by the lines in the graph. The point-slope formula is used to identify the slope and y-intercept for the leftmost domain, which has a sloped line. A point and horizontal line make for simpler equations in the other pieces of...

How To: Write a sum/difference of logarithms as a logarithm

To write the sum or difference of logarithms as a single logarithm, you will need to learn a few rules. The rules are ln AB = ln A + ln B. This is the addition rule. The multiplication rule of logarithm states that ln A/b = ln A - ln B. The third rule of logarithms that deals with exponents states that ln (M power r) = r * ln M. Using these three rules you can simplify any expression that involves logarithms to arrive at a single logarithm. The instructor shows how to apply these rules to a f...