Solutions to Sept 19th review problems

D Level TABE review problems

Decimal Place Value Exercise

Ratio and Proportion Problems---Solutions

Using the Casio fx-260 solar calculator on the GED exam.

The following pages are insturctions I scanned from the User's Guide that came with my Casio fx-260 calculator. I have entered a few notes of my own to help clarify certain instructions or show alternate ways of working the given problem. I am only including those instructions that are needed for the types of math problems on the GED test. I will be adding pages to this entry until I have all the calculator functions needed by anyone preparing to take the GED test.

I have added a link (in the link section of my blog) to the Casio website where you can download a free training manual for the official GED calculator, the fx-260 solar calculator which may be used on the first half of the math test on the GED. This calculator will be provided at the GED testing site for your use on the first part to the math test...you may not use any other calculator,including your own fx-260 calculator, on the test. If asked for, a few minutes of instruction time on how to use this calculator will be given just prior to taking the test, however this is not enough time to familiarize yourself with the functions this calculator has to offer...not enough time to feel comfortable with its use, and may cause its incorrect use. Valuable time is wasted on this section of the test if you try to do all the calculations by hand without the use of the calculator. I have seen many scores that are 10 to 20 points less than the minimum passing score for the math section of the GED test, which probably would have been passing scores if the testers had known how to use this calculator effectively. This can only be achieved if you learn how to use the calculator prior to the day on which you take the test. If you can afford to purchase this calculator, I would encourage you to do so several weeks before the test so you can master its use and feel confident that you are using it correctly at test time. The best price I have seen in Cobb County is at the Office Depot on Hwy 41 a couple of blocks north of Concord Rd. I recently bought several of these calculators for $8.59 plus tax(price for 1 calculator) which I offer to my students at my cost. If you can not afford to purchase this calculator,(instuctions on the use of this calculator are provided with the purchase of the calculator) it would still be beneficial to download a copy of the free training manual(10 pages)to study... if you have access to a computer. I have a few of these calculators I can loan out for use in my class. I am currently working on a blog to explain the main functions of this calcualtor that could be useful for taking the GED test, and providing exercise problems for students to practice using the calculator. The calculator has far more functions, including trig, than are needed for taking the GED, and can be used for many beginning level college math classes. I have had one of these calculators for about 15 years and it's still working...on solar (light) energy...no batteries to go dead in the middle of testing.

Spanish translation of multiplication, division, and decimals

These are notes that I used in a class for Spanish speaking adults who wanted a review of mult., divison, and decimals in order to help their kids pass a standardized test. If you went to school in the 1950's and 60's like I did, you will be amazed at the concepts fifth graders are expected to master today.

Simplifying Fraction and Measurement Word Problems