homework problem

Please ensure that your password is at least 8 characters and contains each of the following:

• a special character: @$#!%*?&

Homework Struggles May Not Be a Behavior Problem

Exploring some options to understand and help..

Posted August 2, 2022 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

• Mental health challenges and neurodevelopmental differences directly affect children's ability to do homework.
• Understanding what difficulties are getting in the way—beyond the usual explanation of a behavior problem—is key.
• Sleep and mental health needs can take priority over homework completion.

Chelsea was in 10th grade the first time I told her directly to stop doing her homework and get some sleep. I had been working with her since she was in middle school, treating her anxiety disorder. She deeply feared disappointing anyone—especially her teachers—and spent hours trying to finish homework perfectly. The more tired and anxious she got, the harder it got for her to finish the assignments.

One night Chelsea called me in despair, feeling hopeless. She was exhausted and couldn’t think straight. She felt like a failure and that she was a burden to everyone because she couldn’t finish her homework.

She was shocked when I told her that my prescription for her was to go to sleep now—not to figure out how to finish her work. I told her to leave her homework incomplete and go to sleep. We briefly discussed how we would figure it out the next day, with her mom and her teachers. At that moment, it clicked for her that it was futile to keep working—because nothing was getting done.

This was an inflection point for her awareness of when she was emotionally over-cooked and when she needed to stop and take a break or get some sleep. We repeated versions of this phone call several times over the course of her high school and college years, but she got much better at being able to do this for herself most of the time.

When Mental Health Symptoms Interfere with Homework

Kids with mental health or neurodevelopmental challenges often struggle mightily with homework. Challenges can come up in every step of the homework process, including, but not limited to:

• Remembering and tracking assignments and materials
• Getting the mental energy/organization to start homework
• Filtering distractions enough to persist with assignments
• Understanding unspoken or implied parts of the homework
• Remembering to bring finished homework to class
• Being in class long enough to know the material
• Tolerating the fear of not knowing or failing
• Not giving up the assignment because of a panic attack
• Tolerating frustration—such as not understanding—without emotional dysregulation
• Being able to ask for help—from a peer or a teacher and not being afraid to reach out

This list is hardly comprehensive. ADHD , autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety , generalized anxiety, panic disorder, depression , dysregulation, and a range of other neurodevelopmental and mental health challenges cause numerous learning differences and symptoms that can specifically and frequently interfere with getting homework done.

The Usual Diagnosis for Homework Problems is "Not Trying Hard Enough"

Unfortunately, when kids frequently struggle to meet homework demands, teachers and parents typically default to one explanation of the problem: The child is making a choice not to do their homework. That is the default “diagnosis” in classrooms and living rooms. And once this framework is drawn, the student is often seen as not trying hard enough, disrespectful, manipulative, or just plain lazy.

The fundamental disconnect here is that the diagnosis of homework struggles as a behavioral choice is, in fact, only one explanation, while there are so many other diagnoses and differences that impair children's ability to consistently do their homework. If we are trying to create solutions based on only one understanding of the problem, the solutions will not work. More devastatingly, the wrong solutions can worsen the child’s mental health and their long-term engagement with school and learning.

To be clear, we aren’t talking about children who sometimes struggle with or skip homework—kids who can change and adapt their behaviors and patterns in response to the outcomes of that struggle. For this discussion, we are talking about children with mental health and/or neurodevelopmental symptoms and challenges that create chronic difficulties with meeting homework demands.

How Can You Help a Child Who Struggles with Homework?

How can you help your child who is struggling to meet homework demands because of their ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD , school avoidance, or any other neurodevelopmental or mental health differences? Let’s break this down into two broad areas—things you can do at home, and things you can do in communication with the school.

Helping at Home

The following suggestions for managing school demands at home can feel counterintuitive to parents—because we usually focus on helping our kids to complete their tasks. But mental health needs jump the line ahead of task completion. And starting at home will be key to developing an idea of what needs to change at school.

• Set an end time in the evening after which no more homework will be attempted. Kids need time to decompress and they need sleep—and pushing homework too close to or past bedtime doesn’t serve their educational needs. Even if your child hasn’t been able to approach the homework at all, even if they have avoided and argued the whole evening, it is still important for everyone to have a predictable time to shut down the whole process.
• If there are arguments almost every night about homework, if your child isn’t starting homework or finishing it, reframe it from failure into information. It’s data to put into problem-solving. We need to consider other possible explanations besides “behavioral choice” when trying to understand the problem and create effective solutions. What problems are getting in the way of our child’s meeting homework demands that their peers are meeting most of the time?
• Try not to argue about homework. If you can check your own anxiety and frustration, it can be more productive to ally with your child and be curious with them. Kids usually can’t tell you a clear “why” but maybe they can tell you how they are feeling and what they are thinking. And if your child can’t talk about it or just keeps saying “I don't know,” try not to push. Come back another time. Rushing, forcing, yelling, and threatening will predictably not help kids do homework.

Helping at School

The second area to explore when your neurodiverse child struggles frequently with homework is building communication and connections with school and teachers. Some places to focus on include the following.

• Label your child’s diagnoses and break down specific symptoms for the teachers and school team. Nonjudgmental, but specific language is essential for teachers to understand your child’s struggles. Breaking their challenges down into the problems specific to homework can help with building solutions. As your child gets older, help them identify their difficulties and communicate them to teachers.
• Let teachers and the school team know that your child’s mental health needs—including sleep—take priority over finishing homework. If your child is always struggling to complete homework and get enough sleep, or if completing homework is leading to emotional meltdowns every night, adjusting their homework demands will be more successful than continuing to push them into sleep deprivation or meltdowns.
• Request a child study team evaluation to determine if your child qualifies for services under special education law such as an IEP, or accommodations through section 504—and be sure that homework adjustments are included in any plan. Or if such a plan is already in place, be clear that modification of homework expectations needs to be part of it.

The Long-Term Story

I still work with Chelsea and she recently mentioned how those conversations so many years ago are still part of how she approaches work tasks or other demands that are spiking her anxiety when she finds herself in a vortex of distress. She stops what she is doing and prioritizes reducing her anxiety—whether it’s a break during her day or an ending to the task for the evening. She sees that this is crucial to managing her anxiety in her life and still succeeding at what she is doing.

Task completion at all costs is not a solution for kids with emotional needs. Her story (and the story of many of my patients) make this crystal clear.

Candida Fink, M.D. , is board certified in child/adolescent and general psychiatry. She practices in New York and has co-authored two books— The Ups and Downs of Raising a Bipolar Child and Bipolar Disorder for Dummies.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Self Tests NEW
• Therapy Center
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Sticking up for yourself is no easy task. But there are concrete skills you can use to hone your assertiveness and advocate for yourself.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Additional menu

Khan Academy Blog

Free Math Worksheets — Over 100k free practice problems on Khan Academy

Looking for free math worksheets.

You’ve found something even better!

That’s because Khan Academy has over 100,000 free practice questions. And they’re even better than traditional math worksheets – more instantaneous, more interactive, and more fun!

Just choose your grade level or topic to get access to 100% free practice questions:

Kindergarten, basic geometry, pre-algebra, algebra basics, high school geometry.

• Trigonometry

Statistics and probability

High school statistics, ap®︎/college statistics, precalculus, differential calculus, integral calculus, ap®︎/college calculus ab, ap®︎/college calculus bc, multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra.

• Addition and subtraction
• Place value (tens and hundreds)
• Addition and subtraction within 20
• Addition and subtraction within 100
• Addition and subtraction within 1000
• Measurement and data
• Counting and place value
• Measurement and geometry
• Place value
• Measurement, data, and geometry
• Add and subtract within 20
• Add and subtract within 100
• Add and subtract within 1,000
• Money and time
• Measurement
• Intro to multiplication
• 1-digit multiplication
• Addition, subtraction, and estimation
• Intro to division
• Understand fractions
• Equivalent fractions and comparing fractions
• More with multiplication and division
• Arithmetic patterns and problem solving
• Quadrilaterals
• Represent and interpret data
• Multiply by 1-digit numbers
• Multiply by 2-digit numbers
• Factors, multiples and patterns
• Add and subtract fractions
• Multiply fractions
• Understand decimals
• Plane figures
• Measuring angles
• Area and perimeter
• Units of measurement
• Decimal place value
• Add decimals
• Subtract decimals
• Multi-digit multiplication and division
• Divide fractions
• Multiply decimals
• Divide decimals
• Powers of ten
• Coordinate plane
• Algebraic thinking
• Converting units of measure
• Properties of shapes
• Ratios, rates, & percentages
• Arithmetic operations
• Negative numbers
• Properties of numbers
• Variables & expressions
• Equations & inequalities introduction
• Data and statistics
• Negative numbers: addition and subtraction
• Negative numbers: multiplication and division
• Fractions, decimals, & percentages
• Rates & proportional relationships
• Expressions, equations, & inequalities
• Numbers and operations
• Solving equations with one unknown
• Linear equations and functions
• Systems of equations
• Geometric transformations
• Data and modeling
• Volume and surface area
• Pythagorean theorem
• Transformations, congruence, and similarity
• Arithmetic properties
• Factors and multiples
• Reading and interpreting data
• Negative numbers and coordinate plane
• Ratios, rates, proportions
• Equations, expressions, and inequalities
• Exponents, radicals, and scientific notation
• Foundations
• Algebraic expressions
• Linear equations and inequalities
• Graphing lines and slope
• Expressions with exponents
• Quadratics and polynomials
• Equations and geometry
• Algebra foundations
• Solving equations & inequalities
• Working with units
• Linear equations & graphs
• Forms of linear equations
• Inequalities (systems & graphs)
• Absolute value & piecewise functions
• Exponents & radicals
• Exponential growth & decay
• Quadratics: Multiplying & factoring
• Quadratic functions & equations
• Irrational numbers
• Performing transformations
• Transformation properties and proofs
• Right triangles & trigonometry
• Non-right triangles & trigonometry (Advanced)
• Analytic geometry
• Conic sections
• Solid geometry
• Polynomial arithmetic
• Complex numbers
• Polynomial factorization
• Polynomial division
• Polynomial graphs
• Rational exponents and radicals
• Exponential models
• Transformations of functions
• Rational functions
• Trigonometric functions
• Non-right triangles & trigonometry
• Trigonometric equations and identities
• Analyzing categorical data
• Displaying and comparing quantitative data
• Summarizing quantitative data
• Modeling data distributions
• Exploring bivariate numerical data
• Study design
• Probability
• Counting, permutations, and combinations
• Random variables
• Sampling distributions
• Confidence intervals
• Significance tests (hypothesis testing)
• Two-sample inference for the difference between groups
• Inference for categorical data (chi-square tests)
• Advanced regression (inference and transforming)
• Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
• Scatterplots
• Data distributions
• Two-way tables
• Binomial probability
• Normal distributions
• Displaying and describing quantitative data
• Inference comparing two groups or populations
• Chi-square tests for categorical data
• More on regression
• Prepare for the 2020 AP®︎ Statistics Exam
• AP®︎ Statistics Standards mappings
• Polynomials
• Composite functions
• Probability and combinatorics
• Limits and continuity
• Derivatives: definition and basic rules
• Derivatives: chain rule and other advanced topics
• Applications of derivatives
• Analyzing functions
• Parametric equations, polar coordinates, and vector-valued functions
• Applications of integrals
• Differentiation: definition and basic derivative rules
• Differentiation: composite, implicit, and inverse functions
• Contextual applications of differentiation
• Applying derivatives to analyze functions
• Integration and accumulation of change
• Applications of integration
• AP Calculus AB solved free response questions from past exams
• AP®︎ Calculus AB Standards mappings
• Infinite sequences and series
• AP Calculus BC solved exams
• AP®︎ Calculus BC Standards mappings
• Integrals review
• Integration techniques
• Thinking about multivariable functions
• Derivatives of multivariable functions
• Applications of multivariable derivatives
• Integrating multivariable functions
• Green’s, Stokes’, and the divergence theorems
• First order differential equations
• Second order linear equations
• Laplace transform
• Vectors and spaces
• Matrix transformations
• Alternate coordinate systems (bases)

Frequently Asked Questions about Khan Academy and Math Worksheets

Why is khan academy even better than traditional math worksheets.

Khan Academy’s 100,000+ free practice questions give instant feedback, don’t need to be graded, and don’t require a printer.

What do Khan Academy’s interactive math worksheets look like?

Here’s an example:

What are teachers saying about Khan Academy’s interactive math worksheets?

“My students love Khan Academy because they can immediately learn from their mistakes, unlike traditional worksheets.”

Is Khan Academy free?

Khan Academy’s practice questions are 100% free—with no ads or subscriptions.

What do Khan Academy’s interactive math worksheets cover?

Our 100,000+ practice questions cover every math topic from arithmetic to calculus, as well as ELA, Science, Social Studies, and more.

Is Khan Academy a company?

Khan Academy is a nonprofit with a mission to provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.

Want to get even more out of Khan Academy?

Then be sure to check out our teacher tools . They’ll help you assign the perfect practice for each student from our full math curriculum and track your students’ progress across the year. Plus, they’re also 100% free — with no subscriptions and no ads.

Get Khanmigo

The best way to learn and teach with AI is here. Ace the school year with our AI-powered guide, Khanmigo. 

For learners     For teachers     For parents

Because differences are our greatest strength

Homework challenges and strategies

By Amanda Morin

Expert reviewed by Jim Rein, MA

At a glance

Kids can struggle with homework for lots of reasons.

A common challenge is rushing through assignments.

Once you understand a homework challenge, it’s easier to find solutions.

Most kids struggle with homework from time to time. But kids who learn and think differently may struggle more than others. Understanding the homework challenges your child faces can help you reduce stress and avoid battles.

Here are some common homework challenges and tips to help.

The challenge: Rushing through homework

Kids with learning difficulties may rush because they’re trying to get through what’s hard for them as fast as possible. For kids with ADHD, trouble with focus and working memory may be the cause.

Rushing through homework can lead to messy or incorrect homework. It can also lead to kids missing key parts of the assignment. One thing to try is having your child do the easiest assignments first and then move to harder ones.

Get more tips for helping grade-schoolers and middle-schoolers slow down on homework.

The challenge: Taking notes

Note-taking isn’t an easy skill for some kids. They may struggle with the mechanical parts of writing or with organizing ideas on a page. Kids may also find it hard to read text and take notes at the same time.

Using the outline method may help. It divides notes into main ideas, subtopics, and details. 

Explore different note-taking strategies .

The challenge: Managing time and staying organized

Some kids struggle with keeping track of time and making a plan for getting all of their work done. That’s especially true of kids who have trouble with executive function.

Try creating a homework schedule and set a specific time and place for your child to get homework done. Use a timer to help your child stay on track and get a better sense of time.

Learn about trouble with planning .

The challenge: Studying effectively

Many kids need to be taught how to study effectively. But some may need concrete strategies.

One thing to try is creating a checklist of all the steps that go into studying. Have your child mark off each one. Lists can help kids monitor their work.

Explore more study strategies for grade-schoolers and teens .

The challenge: Recalling information

Some kids have trouble holding on to information so they can use it later. (This skill is called working memory. ) They may study for hours but remember nothing the next day. But there are different types of memory.

If your child has trouble with verbal memory, try using visual study aids like graphs, maps, or drawings.

Practice “muscle memory” exercises to help kids with working memory.

The challenge: Learning independently

It’s important for kids to learn how to do homework without help. Using a homework contract can help your child set realistic goals. Encourage “thinking out loud.”

Get tips for helping grade-schoolers do schoolwork on their own.

Sometimes, homework challenges don’t go away despite your best efforts. Look for signs that kids may have too much homework . And learn how to talk with teachers about concerns .

Key takeaways

Some kids have a hard time doing schoolwork on their own.

It can help to tailor homework strategies to a child’s specific challenges and strengths.

Sometimes, there’s too much homework for a child to handle. Talk to the teacher.

Explore related topics

• Solve equations and inequalities
• Simplify expressions
• Factor polynomials
• Graph equations and inequalities
• Advanced solvers
• All solvers
• Arithmetics
• Determinant
• Percentages
• Scientific Notation
• Inequalities

What can QuickMath do?

QuickMath will automatically answer the most common problems in algebra, equations and calculus faced by high-school and college students.

• The algebra section allows you to expand, factor or simplify virtually any expression you choose. It also has commands for splitting fractions into partial fractions, combining several fractions into one and cancelling common factors within a fraction.
• The equations section lets you solve an equation or system of equations. You can usually find the exact answer or, if necessary, a numerical answer to almost any accuracy you require.
• The inequalities section lets you solve an inequality or a system of inequalities for a single variable. You can also plot inequalities in two variables.
• The calculus section will carry out differentiation as well as definite and indefinite integration.
• The matrices section contains commands for the arithmetic manipulation of matrices.
• The graphs section contains commands for plotting equations and inequalities.
• The numbers section has a percentages command for explaining the most common types of percentage problems and a section for dealing with scientific notation.

Math Topics

More solvers.

• Add Fractions
• Simplify Fractions

Problems & Exercises

1.2 physical quantities and units.

The speed limit on some interstate highways is roughly 100 km/h. (a) What is this in meters per second? (b) How many miles per hour is this?

A car is traveling at a speed of 33 m/s 33 m/s size 12{"33"" m/s"} {} . (a) What is its speed in kilometers per hour? (b) Is it exceeding the 90 km/h 90 km/h size 12{"90"" km/h"} {} speed limit?

Show that 1 . 0 m/s = 3 . 6 km/h 1 . 0 m/s = 3 . 6 km/h size 12{1 "." 0`"m/s"=3 "." "6 km/h"} {} . Hint: Show the explicit steps involved in converting 1 . 0 m/s = 3 . 6 km/h. 1 . 0 m/s = 3 . 6 km/h. size 12{1 "." 0`"m/s"=3 "." "6 km/h"} {}

American football is played on a 100-yd-long field, excluding the end zones. How long is the field in meters? (Assume that 1 meter equals 3.281 feet.)

Soccer fields vary in size. A large soccer field is 115 m long and 85 m wide. What are its dimensions in feet and inches? (Assume that 1 meter equals 3.281 feet.)

What is the height in meters of a person who is 6 ft 1.0 in. tall? (Assume that 1 meter equals 39.37 in.)

Mount Everest, at 29,028 feet, is the tallest mountain on the Earth. What is its height in kilometers? (Assume that 1 kilometer equals 3,281 feet.)

The speed of sound is measured to be 342 m/s 342 m/s size 12{"342"" m/s"} {} on a certain day. What is this in km/h?

Tectonic plates are large segments of the Earth’s crust that move slowly. Suppose that one such plate has an average speed of 4.0 cm/year. (a) What distance does it move in 1 s at this speed? (b) What is its speed in kilometers per million years?

(a) Refer to Table 1.3 to determine the average distance between the Earth and the Sun. Then calculate the average speed of the Earth in its orbit in kilometers per second. (b) What is this in meters per second?

1.3 Accuracy, Precision, and Significant Figures

Express your answers to problems in this section to the correct number of significant figures and proper units.

Suppose that your bathroom scale reads your mass as 65 kg with a 3% uncertainty. What is the uncertainty in your mass (in kilograms)?

A good-quality measuring tape can be off by 0.50 cm over a distance of 20 m. What is its percent uncertainty?

(a) A car speedometer has a 5.0 % 5.0 % size 12{5.0%} {} uncertainty. What is the range of possible speeds when it reads 90 km/h 90 km/h size 12{"90"" km/h"} {} ? (b) Convert this range to miles per hour. 1 km = 0.6214 mi 1 km = 0.6214 mi size 12{"1 km" "=" "0.6214 mi"} {}

An infant’s pulse rate is measured to be 130 ± 5 130 ± 5 size 12{"130" +- 5} {} beats/min. What is the percent uncertainty in this measurement?

(a) Suppose that a person has an average heart rate of 72.0 beats/min. How many beats does he or she have in 2.0 y? (b) In 2.00 y? (c) In 2.000 y?

A can contains 375 mL of soda. How much is left after 308 mL is removed?

State how many significant figures are proper in the results of the following calculations: (a) 106 . 7 98 . 2 / 46 . 210 1 . 01 106 . 7 98 . 2 / 46 . 210 1 . 01 size 12{ left ("106" "." 7 right ) left ("98" "." 2 right )/ left ("46" "." "210" right ) left (1 "." "01" right )} {} (b) 18 . 7 2 18 . 7 2 size 12{ left ("18" "." 7 right ) rSup { size 8{2} } } {} (c) 1 . 60 × 10 − 19 3712 1 . 60 × 10 − 19 3712 size 12{ left (1 "." "60" times "10" rSup { size 8{ - "19"} } right ) left ("3712" right )} {} .

(a) How many significant figures are in the numbers 99 and 100? (b) If the uncertainty in each number is 1, what is the percent uncertainty in each? (c) Which is a more meaningful way to express the accuracy of these two numbers, significant figures or percent uncertainties?

(a) If your speedometer has an uncertainty of 2 . 0 km/h 2 . 0 km/h size 12{2 "." 0" km/h"} {} at a speed of 90 km/h 90 km/h size 12{"90"" km/h"} {} , what is the percent uncertainty? (b) If it has the same percent uncertainty when it reads 60 km/h 60 km/h size 12{"60"" km/h"} {} , what is the range of speeds you could be going?

(a) A person’s blood pressure is measured to be 120 ± 2 mm Hg 120 ± 2 mm Hg size 12{"120" +- 2" mm Hg"} {} . What is its percent uncertainty? (b) Assuming the same percent uncertainty, what is the uncertainty in a blood pressure measurement of 80 mm Hg 80 mm Hg size 12{"80"" mm Hg"} {} ?

A person measures his or her heart rate by counting the number of beats in 30 s 30 s size 12{"30"" s"} {} . If 40 ± 1 40 ± 1 size 12{"40" +- 1} {} beats are counted in 30 . 0 ± 0 . 5 s 30 . 0 ± 0 . 5 s size 12{"30" "." 0 +- 0 "." 5" s"} {} , what is the heart rate and its uncertainty in beats per minute?

What is the area of a circle 3 . 102 cm 3 . 102 cm size 12{3 "." "102"" cm"} {} in diameter?

If a marathon runner averages 9.5 mi/h, how long does it take him or her to run a 26.22-mi marathon?

A marathon runner completes a 42 . 188 -km 42 . 188 -km size 12{"42" "." "188""-km"} {} course in 2 h 2 h size 12{2" h"} {} , 30 min, and 12 s 12 s size 12{"12"" s"} {} . There is an uncertainty of 25 m 25 m size 12{"25"" m"} {} in the distance traveled and an uncertainty of 1 s in the elapsed time. (a) Calculate the percent uncertainty in the distance. (b) Calculate the uncertainty in the elapsed time. (c) What is the average speed in meters per second? (d) What is the uncertainty in the average speed?

The sides of a small rectangular box are measured to be 1 . 80 ± 0 . 01 cm 1 . 80 ± 0 . 01 cm size 12{1 "." "80" +- 0 "." "01"" cm"} {} , {} 2 . 05 ± 0 . 02 cm, and 3 . 1 ± 0 . 1 cm 2 . 05 ± 0 . 02 cm, and 3 . 1 ± 0 . 1 cm size 12{2 "." "05" +- 0 "." "02"" cm, and 3" "." 1 +- 0 "." "1 cm"} {} long. Calculate its volume and uncertainty in cubic centimeters.

When non-metric units were used in the United Kingdom, a unit of mass called the pound-mass (lbm) was employed, where 1 lbm = 0 . 4539 kg 1 lbm = 0 . 4539 kg size 12{1" lbm"=0 "." "4539"`"kg"} {} . (a) If there is an uncertainty of 0 . 0001 kg 0 . 0001 kg size 12{0 "." "0001"`"kg"} {} in the pound-mass unit, what is its percent uncertainty? (b) Based on that percent uncertainty, what mass in pound-mass has an uncertainty of 1 kg when converted to kilograms?

The length and width of a rectangular room are measured to be 3 . 955 ± 0 . 005 m 3 . 955 ± 0 . 005 m size 12{3 "." "955" +- 0 "." "005"" m"} {} and 3 . 050 ± 0 . 005 m 3 . 050 ± 0 . 005 m size 12{3 "." "050" +- 0 "." "005"" m"} {} . Calculate the area of the room and its uncertainty in square meters.

A car engine moves a piston with a circular cross section of 7 . 500 ± 0 . 002 cm 7 . 500 ± 0 . 002 cm size 12{7 "." "500" +- 0 "." "002"`"cm"} {} diameter a distance of 3 . 250 ± 0 . 001 cm 3 . 250 ± 0 . 001 cm size 12{3 "." "250" +- 0 "." "001"`"cm"} {} to compress the gas in the cylinder. (a) By what amount is the gas decreased in volume in cubic centimeters? (b) Find the uncertainty in this volume.

1.4 Approximation

How many heartbeats are there in a lifetime?

A generation is about one-third of a lifetime. Approximately how many generations have passed since the year 0 AD?

How many times longer than the mean life of an extremely unstable atomic nucleus is the lifetime of a human? (Hint: The lifetime of an unstable atomic nucleus is on the order of 10 − 22  s 10 − 22  s size 12{"10" rSup { size 8{ - "22"} } " s"} {} .)

Calculate the approximate number of atoms in a bacterium. Assume that the average mass of an atom in the bacterium is ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom. (Hint: The mass of a hydrogen atom is on the order of 10 − 27  kg 10 − 27  kg size 12{"10" rSup { size 8{ - "27"} } " kg"} {} and the mass of a bacterium is on the order of 10 − 15  kg. 10 − 15  kg. size 12{"10" rSup { size 8{ - "15"} } "kg"} {} )

Approximately how many atoms thick is a cell membrane, assuming all atoms there average about twice the size of a hydrogen atom?

(a) What fraction of Earth’s diameter is the greatest ocean depth? (b) The greatest mountain height?

(a) Calculate the number of cells in a hummingbird assuming the mass of an average cell is ten times the mass of a bacterium. (b) Making the same assumption, how many cells are there in a human?

Assuming one nerve impulse must end before another can begin, what is the maximum firing rate of a nerve in impulses per second?

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/college-physics/pages/1-introduction-to-science-and-the-realm-of-physics-physical-quantities-and-units

• Authors: Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: College Physics
• Publication date: Jun 21, 2012
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/college-physics/pages/1-introduction-to-science-and-the-realm-of-physics-physical-quantities-and-units
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/college-physics/pages/1-problems-exercises

© Mar 3, 2022 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

Game Central

Get step-by-step explanations

Graph your math problems

Practice, practice, practice

Get math help in your language

Snap Your Questions, Uncover the Solutions

Contact Info

• Savska Cesta 32, Zagreb
• Mon - Fri: 9.00am - 17.00pm
• +385 99 351 3642
• [email protected]
• terms & condition
• privacy policy

Snap Your Questions, Uncover The Solutions

Snap a photo or upload an existing image of the questions you'd like to find answers for. Answers will be more precise if you take an image of each question separately instead of all of them at once

Take a photo

© 2024 Rubycode. All rights reserved.

Homework Q&A

Drag image here or click to upload

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Astrophysics
• Earth Science
• Environmental Science
• Organic Chemistry
• Precalculus
• Trigonometry
• English Grammar
• U.S. History
• World History

AI Physics Solver

A free AI physics problem solver to ace your physics homework with ease.

Master Physics Effortlessly with Our AI Physics Problem Solver

Struggling with a challenging physics question? Look no further – HIX Tutor's physics AI homework helper is here to assist you. We excel at solving physics problems of all difficulty levels, from basic to complex, ensuring detailed and accurate answers tailored to your needs.

Why Use HIX Tutor’s Physics Question Solver?

When you opt for HIX Tutor's physics solver, you gain access to a range of powerful benefits:

Achieve Better Grades

Boost your grades efficiently with HIX Tutor's physics problem solver. Utilizing advanced AI models, we provide accurate solutions, even for complex questions.

Streamline Problem-Solving

Don’t waste hours doing manual research online. Automate the process with our tool and find solutions to physics problems in just a few minutes.

Never Get Stuck Again

You get more than just a simple answer. With our physics question solver, you receive detailed explanations that facilitate a deep understanding of the involved concepts.

Minimize Stress and Anxiety

Say goodbye to the pressure of meeting assignment deadlines. Let our physics question solver swiftly provide solutions, supporting timely completion of your physics homework.

Break Language Barrier

Struggling to find physics answers in your language? Fret no more! HIX Tutor solves physics problems in over 30 languages, ensuring no language barriers to your academic success!

Get Answers Everywhere

Whether you're using a mobile device or a desktop, the physics problem solver is always accessible. Just a few clicks and help with your physics homework is at your fingertips.

How to Solve Physics Problems with Our Physics Homework Helper

Our tool is designed to help you study physics and complete assignments in three simple steps:

Input Your Question

Whether typing in the physics problem, uploading a document, or providing an image of your assignment, start by entering your question.

Analysis of Your Input

Our powerful AI physics solver will evaluate your question, understand the context, and prepare the answers.

Get Detailed, Accurate Solutions

Receive in-depth, step-by-step AI responses you can use in your physics assignment.

Other AI Homework Helpers

From basic arithmetic to advanced calculus, get understandable steps for complex math problems.

HIX Tutor's AI chemistry homework helper is your go-to companion to master chemistry problem-solving.

Clarify doubts, and get insights on complex processes and terminologies. Get accurate answers to hard.

Learning and Completing Assignments Made Easier with Our Physics Solver

1. Can AI assist with my physics homework?

Yes, our AI-powered assistant can help with physics homework. The tool uses powerful AI technology to provide detailed, step-by-step solutions ready to be used in your homework.

2. Is the AI Physics helper suitable for various levels of physics education?

Our physics AI problem solver can answer questions regardless of grade level. Whether at the college, high school, or middle school level, our physics problem solver can assist in finding the solutions you require.

3. Can I ask questions related to specific physics topics or only general problems?

You can ask both specific and general physics questions. Our physics homework assistant is well-equipped to handle a wide range of physics problems from any topic.

4. How accurate is your physics homework solver?

Our physics problem solver is powered by industry-leading AI models and is frequently updated. As such, it ensures approximately 98% precision in answering physics questions. However, as with any AI homework assistant, it’s best to review the generated solutions before submitting your assignment.

5. Can I use the physics question solver for exam preparation?

Absolutely. The tool can simplify difficult topics and answer complicated practice questions when preparing for a physics exam.

6. Is your online physics tutor free?

You can access the physics problem solver for free to get a feel of the tool before opening your wallet. With a premium plan, you get an increased word limit and unlock access to advanced features.

Discover Frequently Asked Physics Questions and Their Answers

• Two charges of # -7 C # and # 4 C # are at points # (4, 7 ,-8) # and # ( -1 , 3, -8 )#, respectively. Assuming that both coordinates are in meters, what is the force between the two points?
• Two charges of # -1 C # and # 4 C # are at points # (-2 ,6,-8 ) # and # ( 2,-4,1 )#, respectively. Assuming that both coordinates are in meters, what is the force between the two points?
• A charge of #4 C# is passing through points A and B on a circuit. If the charge's electric potential changes from #35 J# to #9 J#, what is the voltage between points A and B?
• A charge of #7# #C# is at the origin. How much energy would be applied to or released from a # 5# # C# charge if it is moved from # (-5, 1 ) # to #(2 ,-1 ) #?
• A charge of #24 C# passes through a circuit every #6 s#. If the circuit can generate #12 W# of power, what is the circuit's resistance?
• A charge of #18 C# passes through a circuit every #4 s#. If the circuit can generate #24 W# of power, what is the circuit's resistance?
• An electric toy car with a mass of #5 kg# is powered by a motor with a voltage of #12 V# and a current supply of #1 A#. How long will it take for the toy car to accelerate from rest to #3 m/s#?
• An electric toy car with a mass of #4 kg# is powered by a motor with a voltage of #15 V# and a current supply of #15 A#. How long will it take for the toy car to accelerate from rest to #5 m/s#?
• An electric toy car with a mass of #3 kg# is powered by a motor with a voltage of #8 V# and a current supply of #18 A#. How long will it take for the toy car to accelerate from rest to #7 m/s#?
• Two charges of # 6 C # and # -7 C# are positioned on a line at points # -7 # and # 8 #, respectively. What is the net force on a charge of # 6 C# at # 2 #?
• How many kilometers is it to the next nearest star?
• How can you easily visualize the size of the universe?
• What is the densest planet in our solar system?
• How do scientists measure the distance from earth to the sun?
• What is the meaning of the word astronomy?
• Is it possible to capture UFO images by the Hubble Space telescope?
• What is the brightest planet seen from earth?
• Do any other planet in our solar system have Iron metal, not necessarily in the core?
• What is the distance from earth to the planet pluto in meters?
• How much bigger is the diameter of Jupiter compared to the Earth's?
• How was the presumed age of the Universe determined?
• How is helioseismology used to model the sun?
• Can you see a pulsar from earth?
• With no nuclear reaction occurring, are brown dwarfs visually observable?
• Are there any brown dwarfs optically visible from Earth?
• How do masers work compared to a laser?
• How does the sun atmosphere differ from its interior?
• What is interstellar medium? Where is it found?
• How is the speed of light measured?
• At what point in a star's life are they classified as AGB?

Begin Your Physics Success Story with HIX Tutor's Physics Solver

Solve physics problems quickly and easily with HIX Tutor’s physics homework helper. Use our free online physics problem solver today!

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

The 5 Best Homework Help Websites (Free and Paid!)

Other High School , General Education

Listen: we know homework isn’t fun, but it is a good way to reinforce the ideas and concepts you’ve learned in class. But what if you’re really struggling with your homework assignments?

If you’ve looked online for a little extra help with your take-home assignments, you’ve probably stumbled across websites claiming to provide the homework help and answers students need to succeed . But can homework help sites really make a difference? And if so, which are the best homework help websites you can use? 

Below, we answer these questions and more about homework help websites–free and paid. We’ll go over: 

• The basics of homework help websites
• The cost of homework help websites 
• The five best homework websites out there 
• The pros and cons of using these websites for homework help 
• The line between “learning” and “cheating” when using online homework help 
• Tips for getting the most out of a homework help website

So let’s get started! 

The Basics About Homework Help Websites–Free and Paid

Homework help websites are designed to help you complete your homework assignments, plain and simple. 

What Makes a Homework Help Site Worth Using

Most of the best sites allow users to ask questions and then provide an answer (or multiple possible answers) and explanation in seconds. In some instances, you can even send a photo of a particular assignment or problem instead of typing the whole thing out! 

Homework help sites also offer more than just help answering homework questions. Common services provided are Q&A with experts, educational videos, lectures, practice tests and quizzes, learning modules, math solving tools, and proofreading help. Homework help sites can also provide textbook solutions (i.e. answers to problems in tons of different textbooks your school might be using), one-on-one tutoring, and peer-to-peer platforms that allow you to discuss subjects you’re learning about with your fellow students. 

And best of all, nearly all of them offer their services 24/7, including tutoring! 

What You Should Should Look Out For

When it comes to homework help, there are lots–and we mean lots –of scam sites out there willing to prey on desperate students. Before you sign up for any service, make sure you read reviews to ensure you’re working with a legitimate company. 

A word to the wise: the more a company advertises help that veers into the territory of cheating, the more likely it is to be a scam. The best homework help websites are going to help you learn the concepts you’ll need to successfully complete your homework on your own. (We’ll go over the difference between “homework help” and “cheating” a little later!) 

You don't need a golden piggy bank to use homework help websites. Some provide low or no cost help for students like you!

How Expensive Are the Best Homework Help Websites?

First of all, just because a homework help site costs money doesn’t mean it’s a good service. Likewise, just because a homework help website is free doesn’t mean the help isn’t high quality. To find the best websites, you have to take a close look at the quality and types of information they provide! 

When it comes to paid homework help services, the prices vary pretty widely depending on the amount of services you want to subscribe to. Subscriptions can cost anywhere from $2 to $150 dollars per month, with the most expensive services offering several hours of one-on-one tutoring with a subject expert per month.

The 5 Best Homework Help Websites 

So, what is the best homework help website you can use? The answer is that it depends on what you need help with. 

The best homework help websites are the ones that are reliable and help you learn the material. They don’t just provide answers to homework questions–they actually help you learn the material. 

That’s why we’ve broken down our favorite websites into categories based on who they’re best for . For instance, the best website for people struggling with math might not work for someone who needs a little extra help with science, and vice versa. 

Keep reading to find the best homework help website for you! 

Best Free Homework Help Site: Khan Academy

• Price: Free!
• Best for: Practicing tough material 

Not only is Khan Academy free, but it’s full of information and can be personalized to suit your needs. When you set up your account , you choose which courses you need to study, and Khan Academy sets up a personal dashboard of instructional videos, practice exercises, and quizzes –with both correct and incorrect answer explanations–so you can learn at your own pace. 

As an added bonus, it covers more course topics than many other homework help sites, including several AP classes.

Runner Up: Brainly.com offers a free service that allows you to type in questions and get answers and explanations from experts. The downside is that you’re limited to two answers per question and have to watch ads. 

Best Paid Homework Help Site: Chegg

• Price: $14.95 to $19.95 per month
• Best for: 24/7 homework assistance  

This service has three main parts . The first is Chegg Study, which includes textbook solutions, Q&A with subject experts, flashcards, video explanations, a math solver, and writing help. The resources are thorough, and reviewers state that Chegg answers homework questions quickly and accurately no matter when you submit them.  

Chegg also offers textbook rentals for students who need access to textbooks outside of their classroom. Finally, Chegg offers Internship and Career Advice for students who are preparing to graduate and may need a little extra help with the transition out of high school. 

Another great feature Chegg provides is a selection of free articles geared towards helping with general life skills, like coping with stress and saving money. Chegg’s learning modules are comprehensive, and they feature solutions to the problems in tons of different textbooks in a wide variety of subjects. 

Runner Up: Bartleby offers basically the same services as Chegg for $14.99 per month. The reason it didn’t rank as the best is based on customer reviews that say user questions aren’t answered quite as quickly on this site as on Chegg. Otherwise, this is also a solid choice!

Best Site for Math Homework Help: Photomath

• Price: Free (or $59.99 per year for premium services) 
• Best for: Explaining solutions to math problems

This site allows you to t ake a picture of a math problem, and instantly pulls up a step-by-step solution, as well as a detailed explanation of the concept. Photomath also includes animated videos that break down mathematical concepts to help you better understand and remember them. 

The basic service is free, but for an additional fee you can get extra study tools and learn additional strategies for solving common math problems.

Runner Up: KhanAcademy offers in-depth tutorials that cover complex math topics for free, but you won’t get the same tailored help (and answers!) that Photomath offers. 

Best Site for English Homework Help: Princeton Review Academic Tutoring

• Price: $40 to $153 per month, depending on how many hours of tutoring you want 
• Best for: Comprehensive and personalized reading and writing help 

While sites like Grammarly and Sparknotes help you by either proofreading what you write via an algorithm or providing book summaries, Princeton Review’s tutors provide in-depth help with vocabulary, literature, essay writing and development, proofreading, and reading comprehension. And unlike other services, you’ll have the chance to work with a real person to get help. 

The best part is that you can get on-demand English (and ESL) tutoring from experts 24/7. That means you can get help whenever you need it, even if you’re pulling an all-nighter! 

This is by far the most expensive homework site on this list, so you’ll need to really think about what you need out of a homework help website before you commit. One added benefit is that the subscription covers over 80 other subjects, including AP classes, which can make it a good value if you need lots of help!  

Best Site for STEM Homework Help: Studypool

• Best for: Science homework help
• Price: Varies; you’ll pay for each question you submit

When it comes to science homework help, there aren’t a ton of great resources out there. The best of the bunch is Studypool, and while it has great reviews, there are some downsides as well. 

Let’s start with the good stuff. Studypool offers an interesting twist on the homework help formula. After you create a free account, you can submit your homework help questions, and tutors will submit bids to answer your questions. You’ll be able to select the tutor–and price point–that works for you, then you’ll pay to have your homework question answered. You can also pay a small fee to access notes, lectures, and other documents that top tutors have uploaded. 

The downside to Studypool is that the pricing is not transparent . There’s no way to plan for how much your homework help will cost, especially if you have lots of questions! Additionally, it’s not clear how tutors are selected, so you’ll need to be cautious when you choose who you’d like to answer your homework questions.  

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Homework Help Sites?

Homework help websites can be a great resource if you’re struggling in a subject, or even if you just want to make sure that you’re really learning and understanding topics and ideas that you’re interested in. But, there are some possible drawbacks if you don’t use these sites responsibly. 

We’ll go over the good–and the not-so-good–aspects of getting online homework help below. 

3 Pros of Using Homework Help Websites 

First, let’s take a look at the benefits. 

#1: Better Grades Beyond Homework

This is a big one! Getting outside help with your studies can improve your understanding of concepts that you’re learning, which translates into better grades when you take tests or write essays. 

Remember: homework is designed to help reinforce the concepts you learned in class. If you just get easy answers without learning the material behind the problems, you may not have the tools you need to be successful on your class exams…or even standardized tests you’ll need to take for college. 

#2: Convenience

One of the main reasons that online homework help is appealing is because it’s flexible and convenient. You don’t have to go to a specific tutoring center while they’re open or stay after school to speak with your teacher. Instead, you can access helpful resources wherever you can access the internet, whenever you need them.

This is especially true if you tend to study at off hours because of your extracurriculars, work schedule, or family obligations. Sites that offer 24/7 tutoring can give you the extra help you need if you can’t access the free resources that are available at your school. 

#3: Variety

Not everyone learns the same way. Maybe you’re more of a visual learner, but your teacher mostly does lectures. Or maybe you learn best by listening and taking notes, but you’re expected to learn something just from reading the textbook . 

One of the best things about online homework help is that it comes in a variety of forms. The best homework help sites offer resources for all types of learners, including videos, practice activities, and even one-on-one discussions with real-life experts. 

This variety can also be a good thing if you just don’t really resonate with the way a concept is being explained (looking at you, math textbooks!).

Not so fast. There are cons to homework help websites, too. Get to know them below!

3 Cons of Using Homework Help Websites 

Now, let’s take a look at the drawbacks of online homework help. 

#1: Unreliable Info

This can be a real problem. In addition to all the really good homework help sites, there are a whole lot of disreputable or unreliable sites out there. The fact of the matter is that some homework help sites don’t necessarily hire people who are experts in the subjects they’re talking about. In those cases, you may not be getting the accurate, up-to-date, and thorough information you need.

Additionally, even the great sites may not be able to answer all of your homework questions. This is especially true if the site uses an algorithm or chatbot to help students…or if you’re enrolled in an advanced or college-level course. In these cases, working with your teacher or school-provided tutors are probably your best option. 

#2: No Clarification

This depends on the service you use, of course. But the majority of them provide free or low-cost help through pre-recorded videos. Watching videos or reading info online can definitely help you with your homework… but you can’t ask questions or get immediate feedback if you need it .

#3: Potential For Scamming 

Like we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of homework help websites out there, and lots of them are scams. The review comments we read covered everything from outdated or wrong information, to misleading claims about the help provided, to not allowing people to cancel their service after signing up. 

No matter which site you choose to use, make sure you research and read reviews before you sign up–especially if it’s a paid service! 

When Does “Help” Become “Cheating”?

Admittedly, whether using homework help websites constitutes cheating is a bit of a grey area. For instance, is it “help” when a friend reads your essay for history class and corrects your grammar, or is it “cheating”? The truth is, not everyone agrees on when “help” crosses the line into “cheating .” When in doubt, it can be a good idea to check with your teacher to see what they think about a particular type of help you want to get. 

That said, a general rule of thumb to keep in mind is to make sure that the assignment you turn in for credit is authentically yours . It needs to demonstrate your own thoughts and your own current abilities. Remember: the point of every homework assignment is to 1) help you learn something, and 2) show what you’ve learned. 

So if a service answers questions or writes essays for you, there’s a good chance using it constitutes cheating. 

Here’s an example that might help clarify the difference for you. Brainstorming essay ideas with others or looking online for inspiration is “help” as long as you write the essay yourself. Having someone read it and give you feedback about what you need to change is also help, provided you’re the one that makes the changes later. 

But copying all or part of an essay you find online or having someone write (or rewrite) the whole thing for you would be “cheating.” The same is true for other subjects. Ultimately, if you’re not generating your own work or your own answers, it’s probably cheating.

5 Tips for Finding the Best Homework Help Websites for You

Now that you know some of our favorite homework help websites, free and paid, you can start doing some additional research on your own to decide which services might work best for you! Here are some top tips for choosing a homework help website. 

Tip 1: Decide How You Learn Best 

Before you decide which site or sites you’re going to use for homework help, y ou should figure out what kind of learning style works for you the most. Are you a visual learner? Then choose a site that uses lots of videos to help explain concepts. If you know you learn best by actually doing tasks, choose a site that provides lots of practice exercises.

Tip 2: Determine Which Subjects You Need Help With

Just because a homework help site is good overall doesn’t mean that it’s equally good for every subject. If you only need help in math, choose a site that specializes in that area. But if history is where you’re struggling, a site that specializes in math won’t be much help. So make sure to choose a site that you know provides high-quality help in the areas you need it most. 

Tip 3: Decide How Much One-On-One Help You Need 

This is really about cost-effectiveness. If you learn well on your own by reading and watching videos, a free site like Khan Academy is a good choice. But if you need actual tutoring, or to be able to ask questions and get personalized answers from experts, a paid site that provides that kind of service may be a better option.

Tip 4: Set a Budget

If you decide you want to go with a paid homework help website, set a budget first . The prices for sites vary wildly, and the cost to use them can add up quick. 

Tip 5: Read the Reviews

Finally, it’s always a good idea to read actual reviews written by the people using these homework sites. You’ll learn the good, the bad, and the ugly of what the users’ experiences have been. This is especially true if you intend to subscribe to a paid service. You’ll want to make sure that users think it’s worth the price overall!

What’s Next?

If you want to get good grades on your homework, it’s a good idea to learn how to tackle it strategically. Our expert tips will help you get the most out of each assignment…and boost your grades in the process.

Doing well on homework assignments is just one part of getting good grades. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about getting great grades in high school in this article.

Of course, test grades can make or break your GPA, too. Here are 17 expert tips that’ll help you get the most out of your study prep before you take an exam.

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

FSU | Center for the Advancement of Teaching

Site Navigation

Global navigation.

Center for the Advancement of Teaching

Home / News / Weekly Teaching Tips / Solutions to Homework Problems

Solutions to Homework Problems

Getting Students to Practice Expert Thinking

Nobel-winner Carl Wieman will be speaking at FSU next week ; we want to fit in one last message citing his practical advice on teaching, which is applicable across disciplines. We’ve condensed a bit, but the original is available here (and includes both references and strategies for minimizing the burden of grading).

Creating good homework problems

by Carl Wieman Homework is a vital part of learning in university courses, arguably it is where most of the learning takes place. Doing homework is typically where the student will put in the most hours of intense thought about the subject, and such intense thought has been shown to be essential for developing mastery.  However, the sheer amount of effort expended is not sufficient to ensure mastery. Students have completed thousands of practice physics problems and still do poorly on problems involving the use of simple physics concepts.

The essential features for making homework support learning are:

• there is challenging and prolonged practice of the components of expert thinking the student is to learn
• the student is motivated to invest the necessary time and effort
• the student gets feedback on their practice that gives them guidance as to how they can improve

We have shown large learning gains by analyzing the thinking a physicist uses, and then having students practice and get feedback on this type of thinking in class. The same approach can be applied to the design of homework problems in science and engineering. We start by considering the components of expert thinking that one wants the students to develop and the shortcomings of typical “back of the textbook chapter” problems.

Generic components of expertise in all fields of science and engineering. Be able to:

• Identify what concepts are useful for solving the problem and have criteria to use to decide which concepts are relevant and which are not;
• separate surface features from the underlying structural elements that determine what concepts apply;
• identify what information is needed to solve the problem and what is irrelevant;
• look up and, as appropriate, estimate values and/or deduce information that is needed but not given;
• make appropriate simplifying assumptions;
• break down a complex problem into appropriate pieces;
• plan a solution;
• carry out routine frequently-needed solution procedures quickly and correctly, and have criteria for choosing when a specific procedure should be used;
• articulate and suitably apply a set of criteria for evaluating if a solution or intermediate result makes sense.

If one considers a typical back-of-the-chapter homework problem, it is clear that few of these components are practiced….The typical problem will result in the student primarily practicing and getting feedback on carrying out routine procedures that are given in textbook. In addition, most standard problems…will strip away the context, to avoid complicating the routine practice. Such idealized artificial problems provide no motivation for students put in effort or see any value in mastering the subject.

A criteria for any homework problem should be that it can pass the “Why should anyone care about the solution to the problem?” test. (Anyone other than the instructor.) The best problems are ones that the students can see provide solutions that are obviously relevant and useful to their immediate surroundings or intended future careers, but admittedly that can be a high bar. However, it is not so difficult to find some meaningful task a person in some occupation would need to carry out that utilizes the knowledge and skills involved in the problem. If you find yourself unable to find any such context, you should ask yourself why you are bothering to teach this material. I have dropped more than one topic from my courses after confronting such a realization.

As you incorporate the design features a)-j) in your homework problems, make them an explicit part the solution that students are required to produce (or stand-alone problems for specific features). For example, a part calling for a list of the concepts that apply and what features of the problem determine that choice, a part asking for what quantities/information are needed and estimates for values of any quantities not given, what procedures or techniques will be employed (Fourier transformation, use of multiple equations with multiple unknowns, …), approximations to be used, justification for why the answer makes sense and the criteria used to support that justification. This means a solution will involve far more than something like a simple number or fact. It provides them with far more explicit practice and feedback on how to develop and improve expert skills than does producing a single number which they find out is correct or not.

Having students attend to feedback on homework

Students attending to feedback and using it to improve is vital for learning. We have found three simple ways to encourage students to do this.

• For any question on which a student loses points, give them the option of getting some fraction (1/4-1/2) back by turning in an explanation of what was incorrect about their thinking that resulted in the error.
• Have each homework set contain a “reflection” problem such as, “Review your previous homework and the solution set, and then list all the problems you did incorrectly, what you did that was incorrect on each of those problems, and what you need to do differently on future problems of this type. If you did all the problems correctly, identify how you could improve a solution or which problem was most difficult and explain why.”
• Have the exam problems be very similar to homework problems and advertise to the class that this will be the case. It is easier to do this if you have good explicit learning goals for the course where it is clear that both homework and exam problems are testing the achievement of the learning goals.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, february 14, 11:00, college of medicine auditorium.

Lecture by Carl Wieman : “Taking a scientific approach to science education.” Guided by experimental tests of theory and practice, science has advanced rapidly in the past 500 years.  Guided primarily by tradition and dogma, science and engineering education has remained largely medieval.  Research on how people learn combined with classroom experiments is now revealing much more effective ways to teach and evaluate learning at the university level than what is in use in most science and engineering classes.  This research is setting the stage for a new approach to teaching that can provide the relevant and effective science education for all students that is needed for the 21st century.

NEW SERVICE

Student consultants.

If you’d like feedback on how your class is going, and you’d like a student’s perspective, you can now invite our trained student consultants to visit your class and gather data. There are multiple options:

– Informal evaluation : The student consultants can come to one of your classes to interview students about how well they are learning and how they perceive the class. The interview usually takes around 20 minutes. The student consultant then compiles the student responses into a report and meets with you to discuss the results.

– Observer/Note-taker : The student consultant records in writing what happened in your class (e.g., chronology of classroom activities; time spent in questioning, board work, small group discussion; and so on). If you wish, they can use the COPUS . The student consultant describes rather than evaluates, and meets with you to present and discuss the report.

– Primed student : Prior to class, you inform the student consultant what he or she should watch for. Examples: How often do certain students respond? Are the students discussing course material among themselves? What seems difficult for the students? What are the students in the back rows of the class doing? The student consultant writes his or her observations in a report to share with you.

To schedule a visit by a student consultant, contact Fabrizio Fornara at [email protected] .

Request More Info

Fill out the form below and a member of our team will reach out right away!

" * " indicates required fields

Is Homework Necessary? Education Inequity and Its Impact on Students

The Problem with Homework: It Highlights Inequalities

How much homework is too much homework, when does homework actually help, negative effects of homework for students, how teachers can help.

Schools are getting rid of homework from Essex, Mass., to Los Angeles, Calif. Although the no-homework trend may sound alarming, especially to parents dreaming of their child’s acceptance to Harvard, Stanford or Yale, there is mounting evidence that eliminating homework in grade school may actually have great benefits , especially with regard to educational equity.

In fact, while the push to eliminate homework may come as a surprise to many adults, the debate is not new . Parents and educators have been talking about this subject for the last century, so that the educational pendulum continues to swing back and forth between the need for homework and the need to eliminate homework.

One of the most pressing talking points around homework is how it disproportionately affects students from less affluent families. The American Psychological Association (APA) explained:

“Kids from wealthier homes are more likely to have resources such as computers, internet connections, dedicated areas to do schoolwork and parents who tend to be more educated and more available to help them with tricky assignments. Kids from disadvantaged homes are more likely to work at afterschool jobs, or to be home without supervision in the evenings while their parents work multiple jobs.”

[RELATED] How to Advance Your Career: A Guide for Educators >> 

While students growing up in more affluent areas are likely playing sports, participating in other recreational activities after school, or receiving additional tutoring, children in disadvantaged areas are more likely headed to work after school, taking care of siblings while their parents work or dealing with an unstable home life. Adding homework into the mix is one more thing to deal with — and if the student is struggling, the task of completing homework can be too much to consider at the end of an already long school day.

While all students may groan at the mention of homework, it may be more than just a nuisance for poor and disadvantaged children, instead becoming another burden to carry and contend with.

Beyond the logistical issues, homework can negatively impact physical health and stress — and once again this may be a more significant problem among economically disadvantaged youth who typically already have a higher stress level than peers from more financially stable families .

Yet, today, it is not just the disadvantaged who suffer from the stressors that homework inflicts. A 2014 CNN article, “Is Homework Making Your Child Sick?” , covered the issue of extreme pressure placed on children of the affluent. The article looked at the results of a study surveying more than 4,300 students from 10 high-performing public and private high schools in upper-middle-class California communities.

“Their findings were troubling: Research showed that excessive homework is associated with high stress levels, physical health problems and lack of balance in children’s lives; 56% of the students in the study cited homework as a primary stressor in their lives,” according to the CNN story. “That children growing up in poverty are at-risk for a number of ailments is both intuitive and well-supported by research. More difficult to believe is the growing consensus that children on the other end of the spectrum, children raised in affluence, may also be at risk.”

When it comes to health and stress it is clear that excessive homework, for children at both ends of the spectrum, can be damaging. Which begs the question, how much homework is too much?

The National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association recommend that students spend 10 minutes per grade level per night on homework . That means that first graders should spend 10 minutes on homework, second graders 20 minutes and so on. But a study published by The American Journal of Family Therapy found that students are getting much more than that.

While 10 minutes per day doesn’t sound like much, that quickly adds up to an hour per night by sixth grade. The National Center for Education Statistics found that high school students get an average of 6.8 hours of homework per week, a figure that is much too high according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It is also to be noted that this figure does not take into consideration the needs of underprivileged student populations.

In a study conducted by the OECD it was found that “after around four hours of homework per week, the additional time invested in homework has a negligible impact on performance .” That means that by asking our children to put in an hour or more per day of dedicated homework time, we are not only not helping them, but — according to the aforementioned studies — we are hurting them, both physically and emotionally.

What’s more is that homework is, as the name implies, to be completed at home, after a full day of learning that is typically six to seven hours long with breaks and lunch included. However, a study by the APA on how people develop expertise found that elite musicians, scientists and athletes do their most productive work for about only four hours per day. Similarly, companies like Tower Paddle Boards are experimenting with a five-hour workday, under the assumption that people are not able to be truly productive for much longer than that. CEO Stephan Aarstol told CNBC that he believes most Americans only get about two to three hours of work done in an eight-hour day.

In the scope of world history, homework is a fairly new construct in the U.S. Students of all ages have been receiving work to complete at home for centuries, but it was educational reformer Horace Mann who first brought the concept to America from Prussia. 

Since then, homework’s popularity has ebbed and flowed in the court of public opinion. In the 1930s, it was considered child labor (as, ironically, it compromised children’s ability to do chores at home). Then, in the 1950s, implementing mandatory homework was hailed as a way to ensure America’s youth were always one step ahead of Soviet children during the Cold War. Homework was formally mandated as a tool for boosting educational quality in 1986 by the U.S. Department of Education, and has remained in common practice ever since.  

School work assigned and completed outside of school hours is not without its benefits. Numerous studies have shown that regular homework has a hand in improving student performance and connecting students to their learning. When reviewing these studies, take them with a grain of salt; there are strong arguments for both sides, and only you will know which solution is best for your students or school. 

Homework improves student achievement.

• Source: The High School Journal, “ When is Homework Worth the Time?: Evaluating the Association between Homework and Achievement in High School Science and Math ,” 2012. 
• Source: IZA.org, “ Does High School Homework Increase Academic Achievement? ,” 2014. **Note: Study sample comprised only high school boys. 

Homework helps reinforce classroom learning.

• Source: “ Debunk This: People Remember 10 Percent of What They Read ,” 2015.

Homework helps students develop good study habits and life skills.

• Sources: The Repository @ St. Cloud State, “ Types of Homework and Their Effect on Student Achievement ,” 2017; Journal of Advanced Academics, “ Developing Self-Regulation Skills: The Important Role of Homework ,” 2011.
• Source: Journal of Advanced Academics, “ Developing Self-Regulation Skills: The Important Role of Homework ,” 2011.

Homework allows parents to be involved with their children’s learning.

• Parents can see what their children are learning and working on in school every day. 
• Parents can participate in their children’s learning by guiding them through homework assignments and reinforcing positive study and research habits.
• Homework observation and participation can help parents understand their children’s academic strengths and weaknesses, and even identify possible learning difficulties.
• Source: Phys.org, “ Sociologist Upends Notions about Parental Help with Homework ,” 2018.

While some amount of homework may help students connect to their learning and enhance their in-class performance, too much homework can have damaging effects. 

Students with too much homework have elevated stress levels. 

• Source: USA Today, “ Is It Time to Get Rid of Homework? Mental Health Experts Weigh In ,” 2021.
• Source: Stanford University, “ Stanford Research Shows Pitfalls of Homework ,” 2014.

Students with too much homework may be tempted to cheat. 

• Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education, “ High-Tech Cheating Abounds, and Professors Bear Some Blame ,” 2010.
• Source: The American Journal of Family Therapy, “ Homework and Family Stress: With Consideration of Parents’ Self Confidence, Educational Level, and Cultural Background ,” 2015.

Homework highlights digital inequity. 

• Sources: NEAToday.org, “ The Homework Gap: The ‘Cruelest Part of the Digital Divide’ ,” 2016; CNET.com, “ The Digital Divide Has Left Millions of School Kids Behind ,” 2021.
• Source: Investopedia, “ Digital Divide ,” 2022; International Journal of Education and Social Science, “ Getting the Homework Done: Social Class and Parents’ Relationship to Homework ,” 2015.
• Source: World Economic Forum, “ COVID-19 exposed the digital divide. Here’s how we can close it ,” 2021.

Homework does not help younger students.

• Source: Review of Educational Research, “ Does Homework Improve Academic Achievement? A Synthesis of Researcher, 1987-2003 ,” 2006.

To help students find the right balance and succeed, teachers and educators must start the homework conversation, both internally at their school and with parents. But in order to successfully advocate on behalf of students, teachers must be well educated on the subject, fully understanding the research and the outcomes that can be achieved by eliminating or reducing the homework burden. There is a plethora of research and writing on the subject for those interested in self-study.

For teachers looking for a more in-depth approach or for educators with a keen interest in educational equity, formal education may be the best route. If this latter option sounds appealing, there are now many reputable schools offering online master of education degree programs to help educators balance the demands of work and family life while furthering their education in the quest to help others.

YOU’RE INVITED! Watch Free Webinar on USD’s Online MEd Program >>

Be Sure To Share This Article

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn

Top 11 Reasons to get Your Master of Education Degree

Free 22-page Book

• Master of Education

Related Posts

Upload a screenshot and solve any math, physics, or accounting problem instantly with MathGPT!

Drag & drop an image file here, or click to select an image.

How We Can Solve the Homework Problem

• Share article

This week I worked with another teenager who is failing in school because he doesn’t do his homework. He sat across the desk from me in my office and told me he spends seven hours a day in school and feels he’s “put in his time.” Homework is an unfair burden to impose on top of his long day in school, he says. Or maybe he told me he has the best of intentions each day when he gets home from school but he just can’t bring himself to open his books. Or, since this is a composite picture and it’s not just boys I work with, perhaps it was a girl who told me that she’s too busy doing things with friends and doesn’t see the importance of homework. Or maybe she has a job after school, which gives her both satisfaction and spending money but leaves her little time to spend on schoolwork. Or perhaps the youngster lives in a family where education is not valued, or where it’s denigrated, or where the student is needed to help out with child care or housekeeping and, again, has no time for homework.

Failure to do homework leads students to fail classes, flunk grades, and ultimately to drop out of school. I would like to propose a simple solution to the homework problem.

Here’s how it would work. We know most high schools in the United States track students: They offer vocational tracks, college-preparatory tracks, general education tracks, and honors tracks. Some schools even track within tracks (by offering high and low college-prep classes, for example). I propose we add one more track: a no-homework track.

In this track, students would not be assigned homework. In order to pass their classes, they simply would need to attend them regularly and carry out the in-class assignments. If they needed help with those assignments, the teacher--or other students--would be there to assist them.

Presumably, classes without homework would not be able to cover the same amount of material in the same amount of time. That problem could be solved by adding more time to the no-homework track, either by adding a fifth year to high school or by having no-homework-track students attend summer school for every summer they’re in high school.

What are the advantages of this solution? Here are some:

• It would end the homework wars. Parents would no longer have to fight with their children about doing their homework. In fact, parents could request that their kids be placed in the no-homework track as a way to avoid those battles right from the start.
• Teachers would no longer have to hound students about homework. If homework problems became chronic, teachers could just suggest to students that they were placed in the wrong track and invite them to make an appointment with the guidance counselor to request a transfer. A no-homework track would also free students from the burden of dreaming up novel excuses for what happened to their homework and why they failed to hand it in.
• Teachers could more closely supervise the students’ acquisition of skills. They could also provide alternative learning or performance strategies. They could build study skills into classes before exams and teach kids different ways to study. For students who have trouble sitting down and reading a book, they could have them listen to the books on tapes or have them read parts of books and then watch movies. For students who need help with writing papers, the assistance would be there.
• A no-homework track would acknowledge up front the reality of family lifestyles today. Parents have less time to supervise homework, and students have more options for how they spend their time after school than ever before. Students who want to hold jobs, participate in sports, or get involved in a variety of extracurricular activities would no longer have to juggle these demands with homework. And those students for whom seven hours in school is thoroughly draining would not be confronted with more hours of tedium in the afternoon or evening.

What are the possible disadvantages of adding a no-homework track? These come to mind:

• Cost. But, at least in many urban schools, statistics have shown that upwards of 40 percent of 9th graders flunk their freshman year in high school--there’s the extra year right there. It’s quite possible that, given a choice, fewer than 40 percent of the student population would choose the no-homework track, so this solution might save schools money rather than cost them. And if it kept more students in school until graduation, it would certainly save communities money in the long run, as it would keep more young people away from welfare or other forms of public assistance.

• Space. Adding the extra time needed for a no-homework track could lead to overcrowding. This could be alleviated by offering the additional time during the summer. The added advantage to summer school is that it would build in two months a year when the school is actually “smaller.” This could make it easier for teachers and other caring adults to “connect” with students. A personal connection with adults in schools is a proven way to lower dropout rates. And if the no-homework track begins the summer before the students starts high school, this might ensure their getting off to a good start and would enable them to graduate in June of their senior year along with the rest of their classmates.
• Some might suggest that a no-homework track would cause scheduling nightmares. But as long as the numbers of students enrolled in the no-homework track were equivalent to those placed in other tracks, this shouldn’t be a significant problem.
• Students might resist spending the extra time in school needed to cover the curriculum without assigning homework. For those students, perhaps choosing one of the other tracks would appear more attractive, once they are given a reasonable choice.

Of course, I write this proposal with tongue planted firmly in cheek. I’m not really encouraging schools to create no-homework tracks. What I do suggest--and this would be far more difficult to achieve than a no-homework track--is that schools alter their conception of high school graduation. High school graduation should no longer be thought of as a specific date at the end of four years consisting of a ceremony in which students receive a certificate that shows they “put in their time.”

A high school diploma should be replaced by a series of certificates earned by students, each one articulating a set of skills that society values and the student has mastered. When students have acquired the certificates representing the full set of skills the community believes high school students should possess--whether mastered in two years or six--then we grant them a diploma.

The analogy that comes to mind is the “belts” used in martial arts programs such as karate or tai kwan do. Each different-colored belt represents a set of skills the martial arts student has learned, practiced, and mastered. Students proceed through the martial arts course at the pace that works for them, fast or slow, passing on the first exam or failing and trying again. The belt is a powerful symbol of achievement, because its meaning is universally under- stood by all who practice that martial art.

Is it coincidental that the student who sat in my office this week because he fails to see the value of homework is now a third-degree black belt in tai kwan do? He has been working for a year and a half to earn the next belt, and he thinks it may take him six months to a year longer to earn it. This same student has trouble completing tomorrow’s homework assignments.

Surely there’s a better way.

A version of this article appeared in the March 18, 1998 edition of Education Week as How We Can Solve the Homework Problem

Sign Up for EdWeek Update

Edweek top school jobs.

Sign Up & Sign In

Homework – Top 3 Pros and Cons

Pro/Con Arguments | Discussion Questions | Take Action | Sources | More Debates

From dioramas to book reports, from algebraic word problems to research projects, whether students should be given homework, as well as the type and amount of homework, has been debated for over a century. [ 1 ]

While we are unsure who invented homework, we do know that the word “homework” dates back to ancient Rome. Pliny the Younger asked his followers to practice their speeches at home. Memorization exercises as homework continued through the Middle Ages and Enlightenment by monks and other scholars. [ 45 ]

In the 19th century, German students of the Volksschulen or “People’s Schools” were given assignments to complete outside of the school day. This concept of homework quickly spread across Europe and was brought to the United States by Horace Mann , who encountered the idea in Prussia. [ 45 ]

In the early 1900s, progressive education theorists, championed by the magazine Ladies’ Home Journal , decried homework’s negative impact on children’s physical and mental health, leading California to ban homework for students under 15 from 1901 until 1917. In the 1930s, homework was portrayed as child labor, which was newly illegal, but the prevailing argument was that kids needed time to do household chores. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]

Public opinion swayed again in favor of homework in the 1950s due to concerns about keeping up with the Soviet Union’s technological advances during the Cold War . And, in 1986, the US government included homework as an educational quality boosting tool. [ 3 ] [ 45 ]

A 2014 study found kindergarteners to fifth graders averaged 2.9 hours of homework per week, sixth to eighth graders 3.2 hours per teacher, and ninth to twelfth graders 3.5 hours per teacher. A 2014-2019 study found that teens spent about an hour a day on homework. [ 4 ] [ 44 ]

Beginning in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic complicated the very idea of homework as students were schooling remotely and many were doing all school work from home. Washington Post journalist Valerie Strauss asked, “Does homework work when kids are learning all day at home?” While students were mostly back in school buildings in fall 2021, the question remains of how effective homework is as an educational tool. [ 47 ]

Is Homework Beneficial?

Pro 1 Homework improves student achievement. Studies have shown that homework improved student achievement in terms of improved grades, test results, and the likelihood to attend college. Research published in the High School Journal indicated that students who spent between 31 and 90 minutes each day on homework “scored about 40 points higher on the SAT-Mathematics subtest than their peers, who reported spending no time on homework each day, on average.” [ 6 ] Students in classes that were assigned homework outperformed 69% of students who didn’t have homework on both standardized tests and grades. A majority of studies on homework’s impact – 64% in one meta-study and 72% in another – showed that take-home assignments were effective at improving academic achievement. [ 7 ] [ 8 ] Research by the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) concluded that increased homework led to better GPAs and higher probability of college attendance for high school boys. In fact, boys who attended college did more than three hours of additional homework per week in high school. [ 10 ] Read More

Pro 2 Homework helps to reinforce classroom learning, while developing good study habits and life skills. Students typically retain only 50% of the information teachers provide in class, and they need to apply that information in order to truly learn it. Abby Freireich and Brian Platzer, co-founders of Teachers Who Tutor NYC, explained, “at-home assignments help students learn the material taught in class. Students require independent practice to internalize new concepts… [And] these assignments can provide valuable data for teachers about how well students understand the curriculum.” [ 11 ] [ 49 ] Elementary school students who were taught “strategies to organize and complete homework,” such as prioritizing homework activities, collecting study materials, note-taking, and following directions, showed increased grades and more positive comments on report cards. [ 17 ] Research by the City University of New York noted that “students who engage in self-regulatory processes while completing homework,” such as goal-setting, time management, and remaining focused, “are generally more motivated and are higher achievers than those who do not use these processes.” [ 18 ] Homework also helps students develop key skills that they’ll use throughout their lives: accountability, autonomy, discipline, time management, self-direction, critical thinking, and independent problem-solving. Freireich and Platzer noted that “homework helps students acquire the skills needed to plan, organize, and complete their work.” [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 49 ] Read More

Pro 3 Homework allows parents to be involved with children’s learning. Thanks to take-home assignments, parents are able to track what their children are learning at school as well as their academic strengths and weaknesses. [ 12 ] Data from a nationwide sample of elementary school students show that parental involvement in homework can improve class performance, especially among economically disadvantaged African-American and Hispanic students. [ 20 ] Research from Johns Hopkins University found that an interactive homework process known as TIPS (Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork) improves student achievement: “Students in the TIPS group earned significantly higher report card grades after 18 weeks (1 TIPS assignment per week) than did non-TIPS students.” [ 21 ] Homework can also help clue parents in to the existence of any learning disabilities their children may have, allowing them to get help and adjust learning strategies as needed. Duke University Professor Harris Cooper noted, “Two parents once told me they refused to believe their child had a learning disability until homework revealed it to them.” [ 12 ] Read More

Con 1 Too much homework can be harmful. A poll of California high school students found that 59% thought they had too much homework. 82% of respondents said that they were “often or always stressed by schoolwork.” High-achieving high school students said too much homework leads to sleep deprivation and other health problems such as headaches, exhaustion, weight loss, and stomach problems. [ 24 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] Alfie Kohn, an education and parenting expert, said, “Kids should have a chance to just be kids… it’s absurd to insist that children must be engaged in constructive activities right up until their heads hit the pillow.” [ 27 ] Emmy Kang, a mental health counselor, explained, “More than half of students say that homework is their primary source of stress, and we know what stress can do on our bodies.” [ 48 ] Excessive homework can also lead to cheating: 90% of middle school students and 67% of high school students admit to copying someone else’s homework, and 43% of college students engaged in “unauthorized collaboration” on out-of-class assignments. Even parents take shortcuts on homework: 43% of those surveyed admitted to having completed a child’s assignment for them. [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] Read More

Con 2 Homework exacerbates the digital divide or homework gap. Kiara Taylor, financial expert, defined the digital divide as “the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology and those that don’t. Though the term now encompasses the technical and financial ability to utilize available technology—along with access (or a lack of access) to the Internet—the gap it refers to is constantly shifting with the development of technology.” For students, this is often called the homework gap. [ 50 ] [ 51 ] 30% (about 15 to 16 million) public school students either did not have an adequate internet connection or an appropriate device, or both, for distance learning. Completing homework for these students is more complicated (having to find a safe place with an internet connection, or borrowing a laptop, for example) or impossible. [ 51 ] A Hispanic Heritage Foundation study found that 96.5% of students across the country needed to use the internet for homework, and nearly half reported they were sometimes unable to complete their homework due to lack of access to the internet or a computer, which often resulted in lower grades. [ 37 ] [ 38 ] One study concluded that homework increases social inequality because it “potentially serves as a mechanism to further advantage those students who already experience some privilege in the school system while further disadvantaging those who may already be in a marginalized position.” [ 39 ] Read More

Con 3 Homework does not help younger students, and may not help high school students. We’ve known for a while that homework does not help elementary students. A 2006 study found that “homework had no association with achievement gains” when measured by standardized tests results or grades. [ 7 ] Fourth grade students who did no homework got roughly the same score on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) math exam as those who did 30 minutes of homework a night. Students who did 45 minutes or more of homework a night actually did worse. [ 41 ] Temple University professor Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek said that homework is not the most effective tool for young learners to apply new information: “They’re learning way more important skills when they’re not doing their homework.” [ 42 ] In fact, homework may not be helpful at the high school level either. Alfie Kohn, author of The Homework Myth, stated, “I interviewed high school teachers who completely stopped giving homework and there was no downside, it was all upside.” He explains, “just because the same kids who get more homework do a little better on tests, doesn’t mean the homework made that happen.” [ 52 ] Read More

Discussion Questions

1. Is homework beneficial? Consider the study data, your personal experience, and other types of information. Explain your answer(s).

2. If homework were banned, what other educational strategies would help students learn classroom material? Explain your answer(s).

3. How has homework been helpful to you personally? How has homework been unhelpful to you personally? Make carefully considered lists for both sides.

Take Action

1. Examine an argument in favor of quality homework assignments from Janine Bempechat.

2. Explore Oxford Learning’s infographic on the effects of homework on students.

3. Consider Joseph Lathan’s argument that homework promotes inequality .

4. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? If so, how? List two to three ways. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the “other side of the issue” now helps you better argue your position.

5. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives .

More School Debate Topics

Should K-12 Students Dissect Animals in Science Classrooms? – Proponents say dissecting real animals is a better learning experience. Opponents say the practice is bad for the environment.

Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms? – Proponents say uniforms may increase student safety. Opponents say uniforms restrict expression.

Should Corporal Punishment Be Used in K-12 Schools? – Proponents say corporal punishment is an appropriate discipline. Opponents say it inflicts long-lasting physical and mental harm on students.

ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA

Natalie Leppard Managing Editor [email protected]

© 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved

• Social Media
• Death Penalty
• School Uniforms
• Video Games
• Animal Testing
• Gun Control
• Banned Books
• Teachers’ Corner

Cite This Page

ProCon.org is the institutional or organization author for all ProCon.org pages. Proper citation depends on your preferred or required style manual. Below are the proper citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order): the Modern Language Association Style Manual (MLA), the Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), and Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian). Here are the proper bibliographic citations for this page according to four style manuals (in alphabetical order):

[Editor's Note: The APA citation style requires double spacing within entries.]

[Editor’s Note: The MLA citation style requires double spacing within entries.]

Take a picture of any homework problem, and get the answer right away.

ME 270: Basic Mechanics I

Homework 29.a - sum 24.

Problem statement Solution video1 Solution video2

DISCUSSION THREAD

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Purdue University

AI Math Solver Homework Helper 17+

Ai photomath problem solver, harav technologies llp, designed for ipad.

• 5.0 • 1 Rating
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

AI Solver: Now just Scan and Solve any Math Problem instantly. AI Solver is your all-in-one AI-powered homework assistant which is designed to make learning easy and fun. Whether you’re tackling complex math problems, understanding intricate chemistry concepts or mastering subjects across the board, AI Solver has got you all covered. With the combined power of AI and real-time expert assistance, homework has never been this effortless and effective. Key Features ► SNAP & SOLVE IN SECONDS Instantly solve any homework problem by snapping a photo. Our advanced AI swiftly analyzes the question and provides accurate, step-by-step solutions within seconds. Experience unparalleled accuracy and speed, ensuring you get the right answers and understand the underlying concepts. ► MULTI-SUBJECT EXPERTISE AI Solver excels in solving problems across all subjects and grade levels. From basic arithmetic to advanced calculus, chemistry, physics, biology, and more, AI Solver is your reliable study companion. ► EASY & FUN LEARNING Learning is a breeze with AI Solver. Simply snap a photo of your question and our intuitive interface guides you through detailed explanations and animated instructions. Discover how fun and engaging homework can be! ► COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS Math: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Statistics, and more. Science: Chemistry, Physics, Biology. Humanities: Literature, History, and more. ► PREMIUM FEATURES WITH AI SOLVER PLUS Upgrade to AI Solver Plus for an enhanced learning experience: Unlimited answers and explanations. Access to advanced experts. Priority support during peak times. Ad-free experience. Exclusive discounts on educational resources. Why Choose AI Solver? ► USER-FRIENDLY INTERFACE Our app is designed with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. Navigate through solutions effortlessly and enjoy a seamless learning experience. ► REAL-TIME INSIGHTS Get instant, accurate answers and explanations to help you make informed decisions and excel in your studies. ► GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY Break down language barriers with our multi-language support and connect with learners and experts worldwide. ► PERSONALIZED LEARNING Tailor your learning experience with step-by-step guides, interactive animations, and personalized tutor support. Download AI Solver today and transform your homework experience. Say goodbye to stress and hello to effortless learning! Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/ai-solver/home Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/solver-ai/home

Version 1.2

Scan to Solve any problem Added AI Photo Math Solver Added AI Essay Writer Fixed Bugs and Crashes

Ratings and Reviews

Best ai math sover.

Best AI maths solver as it solves math question with high accuracy and speed. This is quiet helpful for me to complete math assignments.

App Privacy

The developer, Harav Technologies LLP , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Identifiers
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• AI Solver Weekly Subscription $2.99
• AI Solver Lifetime Plan $49.99
• AI Solver Weekly Subscription $4.99
• AI Solver Premium Subscription $99.99
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

Chat with Claude AI Assistant

Gem AI: Ask Chatbot Anything

Cash: Budget & Expense Manager

Clean Up Phone Storage Space

You Might Also Like

InstaSolver Homework AI Helper

StudyForest - Scan & Solve

Flutter Tips

English To Azerbaijani Trans

WiseMind AI - Ask AI Anything!

Camp Ramaquois