Best of the Web. Picked by our PhDs
Websites
Still not entirely sure about the connection between negative exponents and fractions? For more help with negative exponents, check out this page at PurpleMath. You'll have only a fraction of the fun on another website (although exponentially more fun at Shmoop).
You won't be asked very often by your algebra teacher to guess. However, trial and error is a perfectly acceptable method for factoring quadratic polynomials. Click "Next" at the bottom of the page to see how to factor by completing the square or by using the quadratic formula. Quadratic formula, by the way, is what you should feed babies if you want them to grow up to be math wizzes.
Video
Exactly what it sounds like. If you're looking to get jiggy with the algebra, here's your chance. This unique video will help you firm up your understanding of scientific notation while providing a beat you can groove to at the same time. This is totally going to be your jam.
If you enjoyed the above video, you…uh, may or may not enjoy this one. The title is deceiving. This is about the furthest thing from rap we can possibly imagine. However, if you're interested in some lighter fare, this little ditty might do the trick. Or it might make you throw up. You have been warned.
Let this video help you make sense of how to smush together those monomials and polynomials without getting tragically lost. Does multiplying monomials by polynomials give us monopolynomials? That's our favorite game.
For a refresher on finding the degree of a polynomial with multiple variables, you can't go wrong with this vid. Just don't let the speaker's calm, soothing voice put you to sleep. You have homework to do tonight.
Games and Tools
See if you can simplify these polynomials and figure out which multiple choice answer is correct before the dolphin does. Yes, there's a dolphin, and he's apparently good at this sort of thing. Who would have guessed?
Play by yourself or challenge a friend to a game of Polynomial Jeopardy. Practice adding, subtracting, and multiplying polynomials, and see how many points you can rack up. When you're done, Alex Trebek will come by and shake your hand. That's awesome. We love that guy.
Fill in the given values for x or y and evaluate each of the polynomials. If you're successful, you'll make the brain wearing the shoes very happy. Collect coins and fill up your piggy bank! Yeah, there's a lot going on.
You can plug in any two polynomials and this page will give you the answer. It doesn't show you the work it took to get there, however, so please only use it for checking your answers. This is a handy tool, but you don't want to be one...if you know what we mean.