- REPRINT
- PORTLAND ATARI CLUB
- AUG - SEPT 1984
- AUTHOR: FRANK PAZEL
- SUBHEADINGS & GRAPHICS ADDED BY ATARI BASICS
(PAC Ed. Note: This review is from the Jersey Atari Computer Group – JACG Newsletter, June 1984.)
"I pay attention in class; I just can't do math."
“I pay attention in class; I just can’t do math.”
Have those plaintive thoughts come from one of your kids recently? It seems to strike about the time algebra comes along in their lives and especially when they have to do battle with simplifying and solving linear equations. Have I got a program for you.
CBS Software has produced two math tutorials:
- Success With Math – Linear Equations
- Success With Math – Quadratic Equations
They are both excellent, easy to use, and just might help that confused and frustrated teenager over the rough spots.
Linear Equations has the usual “type in your first name” but uses it judiciously throughout the prompts. A small point: when you type in your name it is in lower case but throughout the program is printed with the first letter in caps. For a non-computer type this could be confusing. I thought, “Oh, oh. Already sloppy programming.” — although this is the only structural flaw I found.
The program gives repeated drill and practice on solving equations in the form AX+B=C. The instructions are an option right at the beginning and walk you through a very complete sample solution page by page. If you want to review something on the previous page you press B to back up as far as you want.
The menu of rules are simple, complete, and unbending. To work through a problem you can:
- Add same term to both sides.
- Subtract same term from both sides.
- Multiply both sides by same term.
- Divide both sides by same term.
- Simplify both sides
To begin the drill you select how many problems you want. If you pick more than 100, a prompt asks you if you really want that many. As you work through the problem prompts tell you what to do next and even give you hints or instructions. If you pick the absolutely wrong rule you are instructed what to do; “To undo multiplication, use Rule 3 or 4.” If you make an error in logic an explanation of what you should have done appears. Once you successfully complete a problem you are given the total number of computational and procedural errors for that problem. After each set of problems you are given the total and average number of both types of errors.
Linear Equations is a very good drill and practice experience. It has only one rule I find exasperating. It doesn’t allow multiplication of both sides by –1, a procedure used by many classroom teachers. Instead, you must use the inverse of the coefficient of X, i.e., use –1/4 times –4X. This is not objectionable and poses no problems once the user acclimates to it. The author looks out for your feelings. At the final summation, even if you didn’t do too well you get conciliation like: “No one gets everything right.”, or “You will be a good math student.”
Unfortunately, he never says when.
Overall, this program, and its cousin, Quadratic Equations, get an A– in my grade book.
PHOTO CREDITS:
Pixel art image created by ChatGPT with DALL·E (© 2025 OpenAI)