72 explainers

Knowledge base

The reasoning behind every calculator, written out. Each article names what you need to know first, works through the method, and says where it usually goes wrong — so you can get unstuck without asking anyone.

Mistakes Basic Math5 Common Nth Root MistakesFour of the five are caught the same way: raise your answer back to the original index and confirm it reproduces the radicand.6 min read Examples Basic MathNth Root Examples: 8 Worked ProblemsEight roots, ordered so each one adds exactly one new idea to the last — every simplification here is checked by raising it back to the original number.7 min read Method Basic MathHow to Simplify an Nth Root: Step by StepSimplifying a root is finding the largest perfect power hiding inside the radicand and pulling it out — the same method for a square root, a cube root, or any root beyond.7 min read Concept Basic MathWhat Is an Nth Root? A Plain ExplanationAn nth root asks a multiplication question backward: what, raised to this power, gives this number? The answer changes shape depending on one detail — whether the power is odd or even.6 min read Mistakes Graphing5 Common Inverse Function MistakesFour of the five are caught the same way: compose your answer with the original function and confirm the input comes back.6 min read Examples GraphingInverse Function Examples: 9 Worked ProblemsNine inverses, ordered so each one adds exactly one new idea to the last — and every result here is checked by composing it back with the original function.7 min read