You're Never Too Old for Factoring

Mr. Lang was my freshman geometry teacher. Something about him always reminded me of Mr. Burns from 'The Simpsons'. He was a nice man, but everytime he spoke his eyes shifted around while he twiddled his fingers back and forth. The man really frightened me, but I really can't blame him for my lack of ability or hunger for geometry. I'm a decent pool player, but something about proofs just don't make sense to me. If the answer is already known, why is it necessary to write out ten steps as to how you got there? To avoid any boredom that may come of explaining my mathmematical journey of high school, all that really needs to be said is that I lasted 3 weeks in Mr. Lang's class, transfered to the slacker class, and received my only "C" grade in all of high school in geometry. (Not to brag, but I got a 3.8 in college, so a "C" in anything is a true indicator of mediocrity for me in a subject.)

This morning, my dark past with geometry came back to haunt me. It was my first day of tutoring at a local high school. Before I signed up to do this, I was told that I may need to do a little math and science - "really nothing more than your basic geometry problem." I figure I'm fine. Aside from my "C", I have managed to graduate high school and college - I'm employed. It can't be that hard.

When I walk in, I'm asked what subjects I'd like to help with. "Anything but geometry," i say, expecting to help a tenth grader with an essay on "Grapes of Wrath". The first girl who walks in is placed with another tutor (a Cornell Med Student). She needs help with biology. They're learning about zygotes. Next up, comes in the girl I'll help for the morning. "I need help with geometry." CRAP.

Luckily it's factoring (think x^2-10x+25/x-2). We make our way through her practice problems with me hoping she doesn't realize I'm sweating. The first two problems are easy enough. We finally get to a problem that I have no clue how to explain to her how to get the answer. I know what the answer is, but in the decade since my own geometry class, I can't even begin to say how to do it step by step. As any good tutor would do, I gave her the answer right before our time was up. "Your job for next week is to figure out how to get to this answer." I'll figure out the steps before next week, but i'm hoping she'll need help with English instead. If she has proofs to do, I don't know how i'll help. It's suddenly become so clear why my parents always deferred to each other to help me with my homework.