Free Math Guides & Tutorials
Clear, step-by-step explanations of essential math concepts — written for students, parents, and teachers. Each guide includes worked examples, common mistakes to avoid, and links to free practice worksheets.
How to Teach Long Division
A step-by-step guide to teaching the long division algorithm, with worked examples, common mistakes, and tips for parents and teachers.
Adding Fractions: A Complete Guide
Learn how to add fractions with common and unlike denominators, simplify results, and work with mixed numbers — explained step by step.
Tips for Memorizing Multiplication Tables
Proven strategies, clever tricks, and a recommended practice schedule to help students master all their multiplication facts through 12.
Understanding Negative Numbers
A beginner-friendly guide to negative numbers — learn how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide them, with real-world examples and clear explanations.
Regrouping: Carrying and Borrowing
A step-by-step guide to regrouping — carrying in addition and borrowing in subtraction, including borrowing across zeros — with worked examples and tips.
Multi-Digit Multiplication
A step-by-step guide to the standard multi-digit multiplication algorithm — partial products, carrying, and the placeholder zero — with worked examples.
Working with Decimals
Learn to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals step by step — how to line up the decimal point, count decimal places, and avoid the most common mistakes.
Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
How to multiply and divide fractions and mixed numbers, including keep-change-flip, cross-cancelling, simplifying, and the mistakes to avoid.
Rounding Numbers
Learn how to round whole numbers and decimals to the nearest 10, 100, or 1000 — the rule, the tricky nines rollover, worked examples, and memory tricks.
Order of Operations (PEMDAS)
A clear guide to the order of operations (PEMDAS) — why it matters, how to handle multiplication and division left to right, and fully worked examples.
Understanding Exponents
A beginner-friendly guide to exponents — what they mean, squares, cubes, powers of 10, negative bases, and why (-3) squared and -3 squared are different.
Understanding Place Value
How place value works, from tens and ones to thousands — expanded form, zero as a placeholder, and comparing numbers, with worked examples for grades 1-4.
How to Solve Word Problems
A parent-friendly guide to word problems — a reliable four-step routine, why keyword tricks backfire, bar models, and fully worked examples, including a two-step problem.
Counting Money & Making Change
Learn US coin values, how to count mixed coins by skip counting, write dollars and cents correctly, add money, and make change by counting up like a cashier.
Telling Time & Elapsed Time
Learn to read an analog clock, convert time units, and find elapsed time with the counting-up strategy — including tricky problems that cross noon.
Measurement Conversions Made Simple
Learn measurement conversions the simple way: one multiply-or-divide rule, the metric ladder, customary facts to memorize, and worked examples for grades 4-6.
Understanding Percentages
What percent really means, converting between fractions, decimals, and percents, and two reliable ways to find a percent of a number — with worked examples.
Ratios, Proportions & Unit Rates
Learn what ratios really mean, how to simplify them, solve proportions two ways, and use unit rates to spot the best buy — with fully worked examples.