Math.ly
Learning and science
math practice
SHOW HN2011
28points
49comments
#387of 1,097 in 2011
Top 36%of 2011 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
4 positive, 13 neutral or asking, 4 mixed, 9 critical, out of 30 comments about the project. Thread score -0.20.
Idea: 3 for, 2 againstDesign: 0 for, 3 againstExecution: 0 for, 3 againstPricing: 1 for, 0 againstPerformance: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Useful for students and homeschoolers; suggested to homeschool lists
From 2 comments
I've emailed it to a couple of homeschool lists I belong to. Homeschoolers love stuff like this. Good luck with it.
Mz on HNI could see this being useful, actually. Flesh it out with a bunch of options (no-variables, linear, quadratic, parens, constant ranges, number of terms, etc) and it could really…
pkulak on HN
Would pay for a paid explanation or video service
From 2 comments
That sounds pretty awesome to me. Build it and I'd probably sign up.
mindcrime on HNI'm a student studying engineering. This year, I did really well in physics because my lecturer had given us a list of 40 questions from the textbook that covered everything we…
chad_oliver on HN
Objections
Pages load slowly and symbols flash or disappear in some browsers
From 3 comments
While the font gives it a real math textbook like feel, they take forever to load. I reloaded a few times before giving up and going to a new tab. It wasn't until I went to close…
SHOwnsYou on HNCool idea. One thing: 1. When the page loads, the question & answers flash for a second then disappear. Using Firefox 3.6.13 on Windows. Otherwise I have the same suggestions as…
achompas on HNThere are some problems with displaying in firefox 3.6.13. The symbols appear for a split-second, then disappear for a few seconds and then reappear again.
rednum on HN
Notation like x for multiplication is confusing
From 1 comment
I like the idea, however my first question was a bit confusing (not the math!): "2x - 2 + -1x + 2 = 5x2 - 4" Is it necessary to use 'x' for multiplication? It's a bit confusing…
ilconsigliere on HN
Questions are too hard or intimidating at first
From 2 comments
While the font gives it a real math textbook like feel, they take forever to load. I reloaded a few times before giving up and going to a new tab. It wasn't until I went to close…
SHOwnsYou on HNNot sure what the market is for this, but if the questions were simpler, I'd play @ my desk while eating my lunch. A few suggestions: - find a way for me to challenge my friends…
AndrewWarner on HN
Requests
Multiple skill levels or difficulty that adapts
From 3 comments
Not sure what the market is for this, but if the questions were simpler, I'd play @ my desk while eating my lunch. A few suggestions: - find a way for me to challenge my friends…
AndrewWarner on HN> Offer multiple skill levels. You could also start with easy questions and have it slowly adapt to harder/easier questions as you get questions right or wrong (maybe accounting…
rgarcia on HNAwesome. Should be easier at first and then, instead of just a "Next" button, you could have 2 buttons: "next" or "next but harder".
petervandijck on HN
Let friends challenge each other and boast about streaks
From 2 comments
Not sure what the market is for this, but if the questions were simpler, I'd play @ my desk while eating my lunch. A few suggestions: - find a way for me to challenge my friends…
AndrewWarner on HNI think it would be more compelling with a metagame offering an incentive to play. Edutainment games in which solving the equation slays the zombie are generally lame, but…
Dove on HN
Free-form answer input instead of multiple choice
From 1 comment
Who's the target audience or what's the prototypical use case? Also, I'd switch it from multiple choice to having a free-form text input field that allows the common ways of…
jey on HN
Step-by-step help or explanations for wrong answers
From 2 comments
While the font gives it a real math textbook like feel, they take forever to load. I reloaded a few times before giving up and going to a new tab. It wasn't until I went to close…
SHOwnsYou on HNI could see something like that being useful. Would be nice if you could select a category for "what kind of question" do you want. I'd also like to see immediate feedback after…
mindcrime on HN
Questions
What is the business model?
From 1 comment
What's the business model? Or do you plan to keep this a pet project of sort?
acangiano on HN
Who is the target audience?
From 1 comment
Who's the target audience or what's the prototypical use case? Also, I'd switch it from multiple choice to having a free-form text input field that allows the common ways of…
jey on HN
Alternatives named
Khan Academy exercises
From 1 comment
khan has something similar http://www.khanacademy.org/exercises?exid=linear_equations_1
patrickaljord on HN
IXL
From 1 comment
One way to monetize it is for standardized test preparation. Companies like Kaplan charge an arm and a leg for sample tests. Likewise you could align the questions with common…
pedanticfreak on HN
Mathletics and Rainforest Maths
From 1 comment
If you're going after students, have a look at http://www.mathletics.ca/ and http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ We signed up our kids for a year for ~$200. It was pretty good, but…
swalberg on HN
Project Euler
From 1 comment
See also Project Euler http://projecteuler.net/ . Maybe you can use these as advanced captchas?
xfs on HN