Supporting Math with Khan Academy
My study in economics gave me plenty of opportunities to incorporate statistics, modeling, and mathematical reasoning, but I also recognized that certain areas of math necessary for higher education -- like trigonometry and imaginary numbers -- weren't going to come up naturally in my intro-level econ work. So I took Khan Academy's Algebra II course to round out my math education.
Below are links to my notes in each unit I've completed so far, and screenshots to prove my completion. I consider a unit "completed" when I've watched almost all the videos in the unit and achieved at least 95% unit mastery, with all skills at or above the "proficient" level.
At the end of the course, I had 79% total course mastery, because there were a couple of units I couldn't finish in time, but it left me well prepared for the trigonometry, physics, and linear algebra work I would do next year (and land me a very good score on the PSAT).
Below are links to my notes in each unit I've completed so far, and screenshots to prove my completion. I consider a unit "completed" when I've watched almost all the videos in the unit and achieved at least 95% unit mastery, with all skills at or above the "proficient" level.
At the end of the course, I had 79% total course mastery, because there were a couple of units I couldn't finish in time, but it left me well prepared for the trigonometry, physics, and linear algebra work I would do next year (and land me a very good score on the PSAT).
Completed Units
Polynomial Arithmetic |
Complex Numbers |
Quadratic Formula ReviewThis wasn't a formal unit, I just had to review some Algebra I stuff that I missed!
Link to notes |
Polynomial Factorization |
Polynomial Division |
Polynomial Graphs |
Exponential ModelsLink to image
No notes were needed this time -- this was mostly review of Algebra I stuff. |
Logarithms |
Equations |
Practice!
For the final quarter, I stopped taking new units, even though there were a couple left, and started just dedicating my time to practice of all the skills I learned. I wasn't too concerned about how problems I got right and how many I got wrong, beyond taking note of my mistakes so that I could learn from them in future. The main points was just to build a well-rounded familiarity with the problems in all areas, and I tried to spend about forty minutes to an hour a day on this.
Some of the things I did to practice included:
Some of the things I did to practice included:
- Taking Khan Academy Algebra II Mastery Challenges
- Taking random unit tests from the units I'd already done
- Doing practice questions from Khan Academy's SAT prep section
- Doing review packets sent to me by our Algebra II teachers at school