TOS REVIEW: MathTutorDVD (Pre-Algebra & TI-83/84 Calculator)

Through the TOS Crew I have been able to receive for review 2 DVD sets from Math Tutor. Pre-Algebra, Vol. 1 and the TI-83/TI-84 Calculator Tutor, priced at $26.99 apiece, are geared toward raising grades of students by helping them to understand math, not simply do math. Math is extremely important! My daughter is contemplating a career dealing with computers and she understands the importance of doing well in math.

The Pre-Algebra 2-DVD set is a 5 hour tutorial covering the following topics:

Disk 1-
Sect 1: Real Numbers
Sect 2: The Number Line
Sect 3: Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To
Sect 4: Absolute Value and Adding Integers
Sect 5: Subtracting Integers

Disk 2-
Sect 6: Multiplying Integers
Sect 7: Dividing Integers
Sect 8: Powers and Exponents
Sect 9: Order of Operations

This 5 Hour DVD course teaches the fundamentals of Pre-Algebra through fully worked example problems. Every topic is taught with numerous problems and step by step solutions. From the website.

For our family, math really hasn't been that much of a problem. (Wait, let's not talk about fractions...) This year however both of my kids are in what you call "PreAlgebra" and things are starting to stick in places. I'm not entirely sure if this is because the foundations were not concreted or if there are new concepts. Either way, I started my daughter using this DVD to catch her up on anything that she may have not caught so far in her PreAlgebra studies. One great thing about this DVD is that it doesn't matter what curriculum you are using to do math. This can be used right along side of that. As my son progresses along in his math, I will utilize it for him as well.

Something that we do (and I don't exactly recommend this), is to speed up the DVD. It isn't that he talks slow but some aspects that the DVD goes over aren't a problem and we just speed up up a notch. Then they are not 'missing' it and can get to what they need quicker.

My daughter said that he definitely goes over things until you know it! That's good!

Moving on to the TI-83/TI-84 Calculator DVD 3-DVD set which covers the following topics:

Disk 1-

Section 1: Overview of the Calculator

Section 2: The Mode Menu
Section 3: Basic Arithmetic and Exponents
Section 4: Logarithms and Square Roots
Section 5: Sin, Cos, Tan
Section 6: Scientific Notation and Storing Variables
Section 7: The Math Menu and Catalog Menu
Section 8: Convert between Fractions and Decimals
Section 9: Finding the Min and Max of a Function
Section 10: Calculating Derivatives and Integrals
Section 11: Absolute Value, Rounding, and Integers
Section 12: Converting between Degrees and Radians
Section 13: Working with Complex NumbersDisk 2

Disk 2-
Section 14: Using the Equation Solver
Section 15: Graphing and Tracing Functions
Section 16: Using Tables and Split Screen Modes
Section 17: Find the Exact Value of a Function Using Graphing
Section 18: Finding the Zeros of a Function using Graphing
Section 19: Finding the Max and Min of a Function using Graphing
Section 20: Finding Intersections of Functions using Graphing
Section 21: Finding the Derivative of a Function by Graphing
Section 22: Calculating the Definite Integral by Graphing
Section 23: Drawing on a Graph
Section 24: Graphing and Tracing SequencesDisk 3

Disk 3-
Section 25: Graphing and Tracing Parametric Equations
Section 26: Converting between Rectangular and Polar Coordinates
Section 27: Graphing and Tracing Polar Equations
Section 28: Permutations, Combinations, and Factorial
Section 29: Working with Histograms and Box Plots
Section 30: Graphing Statistical Scatter Plots
Section 31: Calculating Mean, Median, Standard Deviation, and more
Section 32: Performing Statistical Regression
Section 33: Calculating with Matrices
Section 34: Solving Systems of Equations with Matrices
Section 35: Calculating Interest Rates
Section 36: Calculating Mortgages and Loans
Section 37: Calculating Savings and Investments

This 8 Hour comprehensive 3-DVD course teaches you how to use all of the major functions of the TI-84 / TI-83 graphing calculator by working example problems. In this way, the student "learns-by-doing" rather than a long dry lecture or with the "aid" of a dry printed manual. From the website.

This is a very very valuable DVD set! We do not have either the TI-83 or TI-84 calculator...yet. But we will need one soon for my daughter will be into Algebra before I know it. I know that some schools offer a class as part of the school day just to learn how to use one of these calculators. These are well worth their low price of $26.99! I recall very vividly when I was in college algebra and having one of these TI calculators for the first time. There was not a class for me to take but I did have the owner's manual! Many of the functions were learned in class (hopefully) or by asking someone else.

Either of these DVD sets I would recommend to others. The 'tutor' or instructor, Jason Gibson is very easy to listen to (a plus when it is audio/visual!) but not only that, he knows what he is talking about. From an email I received after signing up for the mailing list:

"Jason founded MathTutorDVD.com in 2004 and the course selection has grown from a single algebra course to over 23 courses in all math levels from basic math through advanced university calculus and physics.

Over the years Jason has worked in several research laboratories and for the last 8 years has worked as a space shuttle flight controler at NASA Houston.

In late 2009, Jason left NASA to focus on creating Math Tutor DVD course content full time."

He's knowledgeable and he presents the material in a way that is easy to understand.

My Conclusion:
Thumbs Up! These DVDs are worth their cost and are a valuable tool to use for math. See what others from the Crew have to say about these DVDs.

**Disclosure: I received this product free from The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew for an honest review. I received no other compensation for this review. The view expressed are my own. See my Disclosure/Policies for more information.**