What is a Vertical Line

What is a Vertical Line In a coordinate X-Y plane, there are two main axes which are always fixed. They are the X-axis and the Y-axis. The X-axis is the horizontal line and the Y-axis is the vertical line. In the coordinate plane, any axis parallel to the Y-axis is also known as the vertical line. Given any point on the plane, a vertical line can be drawn passing through the given point. Based on the point, the equation of the vertical line can be calculated. Example 1: On which line are the points (0, 3) and (0, 5) located? Given two points: (0, 3) and (0, 5) Hence for the point (0, 3), the x-coordinate = 0 and y-coordinate = 3. Similarly, for the point (0, 5), the x-coordinate = 0 and the y-coordinate = 5. We can see that both the points have the x coordinate as 0 which means that the points are on the Y-axis as only on Y-axis, all the x-coordinates of the points are 0. Example 2: On which line are the points (0, -1) and (0, -6) located? Given two points: (0, -1) and (0, -6) Hence for the point (0, -1), the x-coordinate = 0 and y-coordinate = -1 Similarly, for the point (0, -6), the x-coordinate = 0 and the y-coordinate = -6. We can see that both the points have the x coordinate as 0 and hence the points are located on the Y-axis. This Y-axis is the vertical line continuing up and down until positive infinity and negative infinity.

How to Handle the College Application Process as a Parent

How to Handle the College Application Process as a Parent The following piece was written by Kofi Kankam. Kofi has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is a former admissions interviewer for The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the co-founder of Admit Advantage. His face was alight with the joy of life. Not a care in the world, he would always greet me, arms open, beaming, I love you, Mom. Good morning. I trust you slept well. Anything I needed, from the floors being mopped to cleaning out the refrigerator, done without pestering or even request. But all of a sudden, fall semester of senior year, he morphed into some other teenager. So, if you happen to have the kid described above, God bless you because your next one is sure to be his out-of- control, system-bucking counterpart to balance things out. The reality is that few of us experience the extremes of the personas described above, but life does sometimes change, and not necessarily for the better, for many families walking through the college application process. From an already stressful and over-scheduled existence, families delve into college season viewing the application process as the element that sends someone in the family, head-first, plunging into the deep end. And quite often, it is the parents. The gripes and complaints vary, but overwhelmingly, I hear three most often. Here they are, presented in no particular order, with some tips and strategies on how to overcome them: I just cant get him motivated to complete his applications. Ah, procrastination. It is the root of much parental frustration and angst. It has reared its ugly head in the past but likely with less at stake. Heres the first thing that you, as a parent, must acknowledge this is your childs college experience, not yours. If you are in a position to assist your son or daughter with organizing their materials and you feel comfortable doing so, then by all means, feel free. Create a chart or timeline that is useful in helping them understand the time constraints that can define the pressure-cooking application season. Send them reminders about looming deadlines for standardized tests, college visits, high school recruiters, and applications. Assemble documents that they may need to reference in order to complete the applications and then check in regularly to gauge their progress. However, you must realize that the more handholding you do during this final year of high school, the harder the transition will be come freshman year of college. You kn ow the old saying about leading a horse to water? Well, consider your child the horse. At some point you will need to cut the ties that may cripplingly bind and let your child rise or fail to rise to the occasion. You know your child and the amount of assistance they may need to be nudged along; use this as your compass without crossing the line. You do not want to be that parent on the college campus advocating for a grade change next fall and then five years later discussing his promotion on the job. If your child seems resigned to failure, even with the scaffolding youve put in place, perhaps he isnt ready for college at 17 or 18 years old and a year to grow and experience what life is like outside the world of academia may suit him well and motivate him to take more of a proactive role the second time around in the application process. We cant even talk about his applications without the conversation morphing into an argument. Children are very perceptive, especially college-bound seniors. If college has become your singular focus, they will pick up on it immediately. Remember, your child is more than a mere application. Try to revert to conversations of yesteryear and show a genuine interest in your child beyond his applications and pending acceptances. Let him know that you are there to bounce ideas off of and review materials as needed. You must also realize that application season is a particularly vulnerable time for students. Try to recall your own experience with applying to college. Too long ago? Go back to your last job interview. Remember the feeling of outlining all of your experience and qualifications and then waiting for the verdict? Well, this is your childs new reality. Often, for the first time, these students are putting their existence of the last three plus years on the line for evaluation, and that is a scary prospect. A short fuse or resistance to engage in an ongoing dialogue with you about applications may be less a reflection of his feelings for you and more an indication of how scared and insecure he may be feeling during this process not to mention the delicate dance he is now doing to manage all of his academic and extracurricular commitments beyond the applications. Let your child know that you recognize the stressful nature of this period and are there as an outlet. Encourage him to take a break and plan something fun, like a trip to his favorite restaurant or seeing a movie. The greater the sense of normalcy and balance you can maintain, the more likely he is to come to you to discuss his college application questions and woes. He wont even let me read his essay. The shroud of secrecy that envelops college essays often drives parents insane. Equally, parental badgering and inquiries to read the essay often annoy kids beyond belief. As a parent, the first thing you should ask yourself is what is your motivation for reading the essay? Will you be critical or judgmental? Will you attempt to hijack the essay and make it your own? In reviewing the essay, your motivation should be to support your child in writing an essay that is authentic, relevant, and effective. It should be his voice that comes across, it should answer the question being posed, and it should leave a lasting impression on the reader. When you ask your child if you can read the essay, try to do so in a manner that is supportive and encouraging. Again, reflect on your own similar experiences in which one piece of writing or project carried significant weight, and share the experience with your child. Acknowledge the difficulty of conveying something meaningful in a few meager paragraphs but also affirm your belief that he is capable of writing a strong essay. And rather than always asking directly, Can I read the essay now?, show a genuine interest in his writing process by inquiring, Hows the essay coming along? When you do finally get the chance to read the essay, youll want to remain as objective as possible and only offer feedback that is candid and constructive. If you completely destroy the essay, its not likely that your child will continue to solicit or accept your feedback. Highlight the strengths of the essay and encourage him to develop weaker areas by pointing out portions of the essay that are effective. Finally, if you find that both you and your child have drawn lines in the sand and are unable or unwilling to talk out your differences regarding the essay, seek the advice or counsel of someone else. This may come in the form of a family friend who has recently gone through the application process. It could also be an aunt or uncle with whom your child has a strong and less contentious relationship. It could also be an English or History teacher for whom you child has written other papers. Realize that sometimes it is the collective feedback from a few trusted key sources that can ultimately shape and guide an essay that is well written and engaging. Visit Admit Advantage for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

French Grammar Basics When to Use Tu and Vous

French Grammar Basics When to Use Tu and Vous Sign up successful French grammar dictates that “vous” be used in two basic situations. In one situation, you are still speaking to only one person, but that person is your social superior. It could be your boss at work, a teacher or professor, or a friends older relative. Depending on the level of formality used in a family, it could also be used by a child speaking to his or her parents or grandparents, although many families do not require this. In any other situation that requires formality, or when in doubt, use “vous.” In the second basic situation, the speaker is talking to more than one person. It doesnt matter if you are talking to two people or a thousand, to women, to men, or to both (and yes there are languages that care about this, too!). The formality of the situation also becomes less important in this case, since the speaker will use “vous” in any case. In some regional spoken dialects of modern English, people will say “yall” (short for “you all”) when speaking to more than one person. For those English-speakers who include “yall” in their speech, this is a reasonably closer English equivalent to vous than the simple “you.” So when you are speaking and are trying to figure out which one to use, ask yourself three basic questions: Is it a formal situation? Are you speaking to more than one person? (Use “vous!”) Or are you speaking to one person in a more relaxed, familiar situation? (Use “tu!”) And keep at it with your study of French language and grammar! Learning French takes persistence, but time and effort will help you master it. Carol Beth L. teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching students since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Gareth Williams

How to Prepare for GMAT Vocabulary

How to Prepare for GMAT Vocabulary When it comes to tackling the GMAT, unlike the GRE, you wont be tested on the meanings of individual vocabulary words in context. You will need to feel comfortable with the type of vocabulary used on the GMAT, however, particularly in Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Integrated Reasoning questions. There are many ways to prepare for GMAT vocabulary, such as taking practice tests and incorporating GMAT vocabulary into your daily life to gain familiarity. When preparing for GMAT vocabulary, you will need to understand both the content of the passages and how to answer the related questions. For students who need help with GMAT vocabulary, here are four steps to prepare for the types of language you will find on the GMAT exam: 1. Take a GMAT practice test When preparing for the GMAT, sit for a full-length GMAT practice exam, including breaks. If you have already taken a practice test recently, pull it up. Then, review your results. Go through each section of the exam, and look at the questions you answered correctly or incorrectly. This will help you learn the language of the GMAT. Familiarize yourself with the types of words used in each of the sections, including Quantitative and Integrated Reasoning, and identify the words that you did not understand. Additionally, examine which questions you were able to answer correctly, even though you didnt know all of the vocabulary involved. Using clues in context will help you find the correct answers on the GMAT when you dont necessarily know every word in the question. [RELATED: How to Plan Your GMAT Prep Schedule] 2. Create a list of GMAT vocabulary words Write down every word on the test that you are unfamiliar with in a separate list. Then, write down the definition of each word on the list. As you go through the exam, you will notice these words appearing in multiple places on the GMAT. For example, the word species is often included in both Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning questions. The words prime, median, mean, and reciprocal are found in many Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency questions. Words like consumption, dramatically, proliferation, and yield are common words in the Analytical Writing Assessment topics. Making a list of unfamiliar vocabulary words can help you better understand what areas you can work to improve on. Once you know what these words mean, studying for the GMAT becomes much easier. 3. Make GMAT vocabulary flashcards From your list of unfamiliar words, write one word on one side of an index card. On the other side of the card, write the definition of the word along with your own sentence defining that word. Test yourself on 5-10 words per day, eliminating words once you are confident that you know them. Continue this practice as you study from official GMAT material and encounter more words you dont know. This will keep the words in your head and help you process GMAT passages and questions more efficiently. 4. Read magazines and newspapers with similar language to GMAT vocabulary The Reading Comprehension passages found on the GMAT exam can involve a variety of topics, including: biology astronomy American history European history economics environmental science physics human resource management In addition to working through actual GMAT passages, students can also read publications like Scientific American, Financial Times, The Economist, and Bloomberg Businessweek to get comfortable with the writing styles that appear on the GMAT. These magazines often contain composition and language found in certaintexts and case studies that you mayin encounter in your MBA program. So, understanding this vocabulary now can help not only on the GMAT, but also in business school. [RELATED:4 Reflective Questions to Guide Your GMAT Prep] Though memorizing GMAT vocabulary may not be your primary focus in preparing for the exam, becoming familiar with the types of words found on the GMAT will help improve your overall performance. Combined with a regular study schedule in which you practice on official GMAT questions, improving your GMAT vocabulary will help you prepare for the material you will face on your exam day. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Spend your summer with AJ Tutoring

Spend your summer with AJ Tutoring As the weather warms up, its time to start thinking about summer plans.  Whether this summer will find you heading to the beach or relaxing at home, we hope youll make some time for academics too. AJ Tutoring has several options for this summer, including one-on-one tutoring for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and academic classes, as well as SAT courses at our Palo Alto and San Jose offices.Rising seniors this summer is the time to prep for your final SAT and ACT tests in the fall.  We can help you with a few review sessions to target your specific weaknesses. Got some tough APs next year? Dont slack off just yet fall semester grades count for college admissions.  We have AP experts who can introduce you to calculus, statistics, physicsand almost anything else!Rising juniors   youll be taking the PSAT in October.  If youre going for National Merit recognition, you should start preparing for the test this summer.  Even if youre not thinking about National Merit, a few tutoring sessions ca n help you feel more comfortable with the test.  And dont forget, we can help introduce you to those tough academic classes youll be taking next year.  A lot of juniors take AP US History wouldnt it be nice to get a head start on the material?Rising freshmen and sophomores   AJ Tutoring can help with general study skills and summer enrichment.  We dont typically recommend SAT prep for freshmen and sophomores, but everyone can benefit from a summer program that reinforces reading, writing, and math skills.  We can create a personalized tutoring program to make sure you dont lose your edge over the summer.Everyone if youd rather take a group class and make some new friends, AJ Tutoring is offering several SAT classes at our Palo Alto and San Jose locations throughout the summer.  Our classes offer a focused learning environment, a set schedule, and an affordable price ($990 for 9 classes and four proctored full-length SATs).  Check out our summer class schedule here.If you hav e any questions about AJ Tutorings summer programs, please call (650) 331-3251, or email us at info@ajtutoring.com.  Wed love to be a part of your summer plans!

Top Tips on How to choose a tutor

Top Tips on How to choose a tutor For a parent or guardian, choosing a tutor can seem like a daunting task. This is someone who will potentially spend a lot of time with your child. If they get on well, the tutor is likely to have a great deal of influence over how your child sees their own education and the world. Firstly, before looking for a tutor, remember to discuss this with your child as this could be a sensitive issue for them. Parents then find tutors in many ways. There are a growing number of agencies throughout the country, some people use personal ads and a great number rely on personal recommendations. Tutorfair is the first website that allows you to actually book online, and since it funds charity work which addresses educational disadvantage, I would definitely suggest that you have a look there first. Before choosing a tutor it is often a good idea to meet at least a couple of other tutors first. Each will have a different style and the most important thing is to see who seems to fit best with their potential student, your child in this case. It can be tempting to base your decision on who you like the most, or indeed, the tutor that seems to have a tutoring style that you would have liked when you were a child. However, it is not you that has to work with them. It is therefore very important to listen to your child, see who they like and who they feel they could learn best from. If your child likes the tutor then half the job is done already as they will often start to work harder just to impress their new mentor. If your child doesn’t like anyone this can make the choice a little harder, and it may not be a problem with the tutors, more that the student has a problem with tutoring altogether. I’ve heard some parents actually ask their kids ‘ok, you’re going to have to work with one of them so who do you hate the least?’ This is not to say that you shouldn’t also trust your own gut instinct, just remember that it’s the student who will work with them. During your decision making process there are some key questions that I think are really worth asking your potential new tutor. If asked early on you could save a great deal of time later. Here are a few: • What kind of learner are you? Were you more visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, or did you learn by rote? • How would you deal with a student who doesn’t feel like doing any work that day? • Have you had any very difficult students and how have you dealt with them? This might all sound like an interview, and in some ways it is. I would advise against giving the potential tutor a hard time in this meeting but do voice your questions or concerns. Part of a tutor’s job can be to act as a go-between for the parents and kids regarding academics. However, I would be wary of any tutor who cannot explain what their working method is. Most of my work is gut feeling nowadays but I do have a set of approaches that I like to try first. If they can’t explain this to you in an initial meeting then I’d be concerned about their ability to explain anything challenging to a child who is really stuck. Something else to look out for is how qualified your new tutor is. Many tutoring agencies stipulate that a tutor should have qualifications that are at least one level above the ones they teach. For example, a GCSE Geography tutor should have an A-level in that subject, and some even stipulate that they should have a degree. This makes a lot of sense, however, it should also be pointed out that just because someone has a degree (or even a PhD) in a subject, doesn’t necessarily mean they can teach it. Some of the most inspiring tutors I’ve ever met have been those who struggled themselves at school. Most of the maths teachers I had in school had never really struggled with maths. However, it is clear to me now that this potentially made it more difficult for them to really empathise with a student who didn’t ‘get it’. I only started to understand maths later on, which in some ways has meant I find myself being more patient with students who do struggle, simply because I’ve been through the same struggle myself. Aside from being good teachers, the most successful tutors are those who are half way between a teacher and a best friend. These tutors inspire their students to want to learn, and often kids like them so much that they will work harder, perhaps in some way, to impress them. This is one of the most powerful tools that tutors have and therefore a great deal of their success will depend on the chemistry they have with their students. I’m not saying that every student should love every tutor they have, but if they really don’t get on then it’s bad news for both the tutor and the student. The tutor risks negative reviews from parents (and these do count in the playground outside school) and students risk wasting valuable time. It’s therefore important to see how a tutor interacts with your child, and although I do recommend leaving them alone to work together, don’t be afraid to ask your kid how they feel after the lesson. They don’t have to be overjoyed but it’s a good idea to see if they feel like they’ve learnt something and that they don’t feel completely overwhelmed and lacking in confidence… Once you have selected your tutor, the next question to ask is how to get the most out of your tutor. To find out my thoughts on this matter, please see my next blog, ‘Parents: How to get the most out of your child’s tutor’ which is coming soon

4 Ways Parents Can Help Their Kids With Homework

4 Ways Parents Can Help Their Kids With Homework How Parents Can Help Their Kids With Homework How Parents Can Help Their Kids With Homework Homework is a big part of school, which is why it’s essential to develop and encourage productive habits early. Parents can play an important role in helping their kids find success with their homework. To get you going on the right track we’ve put together four easy tips to help your kids with their schoolwork. Have some empathy; remember what a drag homework was back when you were in school book your private San Diego academic tutor for expert homework help. 1. Give them space Don’t start bugging them about their homework until you’ve given them a chance to do it on their own. If you have a designated homework hour, see if they remember and take the initiative to start before reminding them. Once they are working on their homework, sometimes it’s best to stay out of the way unless they need some help or encouragement. 2. Don’t Force it Forcing your kids to do their homework is not the answer. Of course, you have to make sure it gets done, but if they’re struggling or approaching their HW with the wrong attitude, sometimes it’s best to let them take a little break and come back to it. Encourage them to go on a walk instead of straight to their phones. If they’re struggling to remember how to solve a problem on their HW, a walk might help spark their memory. Walking is a great stress reliever, which is much needed when you’re working on a difficult assignment. 3. Set a Good Example Just like anything else in life, you set the best example for your kids to follow. It becomes that much more difficult and conflicting for your kids when they hear you telling them to do their homework while seeing you procrastinating. Set the bar high by showing them that you get things done on time, and you don’t wait until the last minute. For example, if you have work to do at home choose a designated time and stick to it (READ: Study Tips From an Orange County Tutor). 4. Have a Backup Plan It’s not unexpected that your kids will forget what their assignment is for the night, especially for projects that have due dates father off than the next day. One way parents can help their kids in the situation is to arrange a homework help buddy in their class. Tell them to get the phone number of one of their friends in class so they can call them if they ever forget a homework assignment. Another great way to ensure homework success is to book a private San Diego academic tutor. Call us today to learn more about our tutoring packages. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Rise in A-level exam resits expected

Rise in A-level exam resits expected A significant increase in the number of students resitting their A-level exams has been forecast for the coming academic year. There are approximately 60,000 students who face rejection from universities because of an unprecedented amount of competition for places. These students are expected to take a gap year in which they will undertake further study and exam revision in the hope of boosting their grades and being accepted onto a university course. Despite an ongoing media debate about whether students should be allowed to keep resitting their A-levels, Jerry Jarvis, the managing director of the Edexcel exam board, believes that resits should continue to be allowed. He used the analogy of Mount Everest, pointing out that the growing number of people who managed to conquer the peak did not mean that the mountain had somehow become easier to climb. However, students who want to resit their A-levels under the present syllabus would be well advised to start making tuition arrangements as soon as possible. As of January next year, the current A-level syllabus will be jettisoned in favour of a new system of more open-ended exam questions which are intended to stretch pupils' thinking skills. Most resit students are expected to spend the rest of 2009 undergoing additional study - often with a private tutor - to supplement a one-term A-level booster course that will prepare them for exam retakes in January 2010. If they get the necessary grades, the students can reapply to universities for the September 2010 intake.