The SOMATH Journal
Honest, practical writing from the SOMATH teaching team. Twenty years in the room with kids learning math, distilled into pieces you can actually use this week.
Every one of the 27 Digital SAT Practice Test 8 Math Module 2 questions solved step-by-step — multiple choice and student-produced response — with the official College Board answer key, hidden reveal solutions, skill tags across Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving & Data Analysis, and Geometry & Trigonometry, plus a theory refresher and FAQ. This is the harder adaptive module. Written by the SOMATH team on the Upper West Side.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 8 · Reading & WritingEvery one of the 33 Digital SAT Practice Test 8 R&W Module 1 questions with the prompt, choices, official answer, and a plain-English explanation. Covers all four Digital SAT R&W domains: Craft & Structure, Information & Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas. Written by the SOMATH team on the Upper West Side.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 8 · Reading & WritingEvery one of the 33 Digital SAT Practice Test 8 R&W Module 2 questions — the harder adaptive form — with the prompt, choices, official College Board answer, and a plain-English explanation. Full coverage of Craft & Structure, Information & Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas. Written by the SOMATH team on the Upper West Side.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 8 · MathEvery one of the 27 Digital SAT Practice Test 8 Math Module 1 questions solved step-by-step — multiple choice and student-produced response — with the official College Board answer key, hidden reveal solutions, skill tags across Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving & Data Analysis, and Geometry & Trigonometry, plus a theory refresher and FAQ. Written by the SOMATH team on the Upper West Side.
K–2 Guide · Math Enrichment · NYC ParentsA K–2 math enrichment guide for NYC parents. What Kindergarten through 2nd-grade enrichment actually looks like, why K–2 is the highest-leverage window in a child’s math life, and how SOMATH’s Little Newtons compares to Kumon, RSM, Mathnasium, and Launch Math for the youngest learners. Full pricing table, readiness checklists for each grade, and how the written diagnostic decides placement.
Young Fermats · Class 7 · Decimals · Grades 5–6Class 7 of the SOMATH Young Fermats Pre-Algebra arc: the four operations on decimals, with a special focus on dividing BY a decimal. Line up the decimal points to add and subtract, count total decimal places to multiply, and shift the decimal point in BOTH numbers to turn the divisor into a whole number. Full theory, worked examples for every operation, 25 practice questions with click-to-reveal step-by-step answers, plus real-life word problems (pencils, ribbon, cycling speed) with built-in sanity checks.
Age-by-Age Guide · Math Enrichment · NYC ParentsAn age-by-age answer for NYC parents on when to start math enrichment. Pre-K through grade 12 — the one-sentence recommendation per age band, signs your child is ready, signs to wait, and the honest best starting age. Kindergarten is the earliest useful start; grades 1–2 is the sweet spot; grades 6–8 is the last high-leverage window before the SHSAT clock.
Choosing a Math Program · NYC Parent Guide · 2026Three of the most-searched math programs in NYC compared honestly for parents in 2026: Kumon, Russian School of Math (RSM), and Mathnasium. What each program actually is, who each works for, what each costs in NYC, and why none is a substitute for a dedicated SHSAT, SAT, or AP program. Includes a side-by-side pricing table, a “which is right for your goal” matrix, and honest notes on Upper West Side coverage.
Kid Einsteins · Class 7 · Long Division · Grades 3–4Class 7 of the SOMATH Kid Einsteins arc: long division for grades 3–4 with dividends up to three digits and one-digit divisors. Full theory (DMSB — Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring down), three fully solved examples (no remainder, with remainder, and a zero-in-the-quotient case), 25 practice questions with click-to-reveal step-by-step answers, and 5 challenge word problems with sharing vs. grouping remainders. Every answer is checked with dividend = divisor × quotient + remainder.
AP Calculus · AP Pre-Calculus · Algebra II · NYC High SchoolThe SOMATH class on synthetic division: what it is, when you can (and can’t) use it, the four-step algorithm, why the last number equals p(c) (the Remainder Theorem and Factor Theorem), the trick for dividing by (ax + b), and where synthetic division shows up in AP Calculus (0/0 limits, Rational Root Theorem factoring, rational-function asymptotes, partial fractions). Then 5 practice questions with click-to-reveal step-by-step solutions.
College Admissions · U.S. News 2026 Rankings · NYC FamiliesThe 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best National Universities ranking, distilled to a plain-English brief on every school ranked #1 through #20 — 23 schools in total once ties are counted. Princeton, MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Chicago, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Penn, Caltech, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, UC Berkeley, Rice, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Carnegie Mellon, Michigan, Notre Dame, and WashU: what each is known for, admissions selectivity, tuition, and who each is best for. Written for NYC high school families.
Young Fermats · Pre-Algebra · 6th Grade · NYC Math ClassA complete 6th-grade pre-algebra class on multiples and divisors (factors): the seven divisibility rules every middle-schooler should own, prime vs. composite numbers, prime factorization with a factor tree, and an honest introduction to GCF and LCM (with the prime-factorization method, not just listing). Then 25 practice questions plus 5 challenge word problems — each with a click-to-reveal step-by-step answer. Written for the SOMATH Young Fermats Pre-Algebra program on the Upper West Side.
Regents Geometry · Barron's 6th Ed. · Grades 9–10All 11 opening practice problems from Barron's Regents Exams and Answers: Geometry (Sixth Edition) — points, lines, planes, angles, parallel lines cut by a transversal, midpoints, polygons, and the vertical angles proof. Click-to-reveal answers, full worked solutions, and a short theory box explaining the concept behind each problem. Written for NYC Regents Geometry students.
Program Comparison · Gifted Math · NYC ParentsAoPS Academy, Math-M-Addicts, New York Math Circle (NYMC), Russian School of Mathematics (RSM), and SOMATH — the five programs Manhattan parents actually compare in 2026 for gifted math. Honest strengths and weaknesses of each, side-by-side pricing table, who each is best for, and how to pick the right fit from a small independent school on the Upper West Side.
Trend Report · Math Enrichment · NYC 202646% of middle schoolers now use ChatGPT for homework — up from 30% seven months earlier. Combined with the widest 8th-grade NAEP score gap since 2003 and the NYC Solves curriculum mandate reaching Upper West Side classrooms this fall, small-group human-led math enrichment is having its biggest moment since the pandemic.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 7 · Reading & WritingAll 33 questions from the official College Board Digital SAT Practice Test 7 Reading & Writing Module 1, transcribed verbatim, with the answer key, hidden reveal explanations, skill tags, and a theory refresher on every skill tested.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 7 · Reading & WritingAll 33 questions from Reading & Writing Module 2 of Digital SAT Practice Test 7 — verbatim prompts, official answer key, hidden reveal explanations, skill tags, theory refresher, and FAQ. Written by the SOMATH team on the Upper West Side.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 7 · MathEvery one of the 22 Digital SAT Practice Test 7 Math Module 1 questions solved step-by-step — multiple choice and grid-in — with the College Board answer key, hidden solutions, skill tags, and a theory refresher on linear equations, functions, geometry, and probability.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 7 · MathAll 27 questions from Digital SAT Practice Test 7 Math Module 2 — the harder second module — with full worked solutions, hidden reveal answers, the official College Board answer key, skill tags, and theory refresher cards for every topic tested.
Practice Set · Pre-Algebra · Young Fermats · Class 6A free 25-question pre-algebra practice set from Class 6 of the SOMATH Young Fermats course — the four operations on fractions and mixed numbers: adding and subtracting with a common denominator, multiplying straight across, dividing with keep-change-flip, and converting between mixed numbers and improper fractions. Every question has a hidden step-by-step explanation students can reveal one at a time.
Regents Geometry · TrianglesThe complete NY Regents Geometry topic on perpendicular bisectors — the two-property definition (perpendicular and through the midpoint), the Perpendicular Bisector Theorem (any point on the bisector is equidistant from the endpoints), the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, and the Triangle Angle Sum — with a worked Regents Part I Q8 (line CE is the perpendicular bisector of AEB) and click-to-reveal solution.
Regents Geometry · Coordinate GeometryThe complete NY Regents Geometry topic on slope and line relationships — slope from two points, slope-intercept form y = mx + b, the five types of slope, the parallel-lines test m₁ = m₂, and the perpendicular-lines test m₁ · m₂ = −1 — with a worked Regents Part I Q6 question and click-to-reveal solution.
Regents Geometry · Math EnrichmentThe complete NY Regents Geometry topic on rectangular prisms — volume V = lwh, surface area SA = 2(lw + lh + wh), lateral area, face and space diagonals, nets, and the k / k2 / k3 scale-factor rule — with a worked fish-tank Regents question (June 2026 Part I Q4) and click-to-reveal solution.
Pillar Guide · Definitions · NYC ParentsMath tutoring is reactive — it fixes a specific school problem. Math enrichment is proactive — it builds long-term problem-solving ability, one to three years above grade level. Tutoring closes gaps, enrichment raises ceilings. A plain-English decision tree for NYC parents, a full side-by-side comparison table, what to expect from each, when a child should do both, and how SOMATH combines them from one classroom on the Upper West Side.
Kid Einsteins · Mixed Review · Four Operations · Grades 3–4A grade 3–4 mixed-review pack covering all four operations. Full theory on the standard addition algorithm with carrying, the standard subtraction algorithm with borrowing (including borrow-across-zeros), 3-digit × 1-digit and 3-digit × 2-digit multiplication, and division as the inverse of multiplication. 20 practice questions (5 addition, 5 subtraction, 5 multiplication, 5 division) with click-to-reveal step-by-step answers.
Little Newtons · Class 6 · Addition Word Problems · Grade 1Class 6 of the SOMATH Little Newtons arc — grade 1 addition word problems solved by drawing a picture first. Theory on the 4-step routine (read, draw, count, write), the four picture types (circles, cubes, tally marks, part-part-whole bar), signal words that mean “add,” and the six mistakes grade 1 students make most. 25 practice questions with click-to-reveal answers and the picture your child should have drawn.
Young Fermats · Algebra 1 Ignite · Class 5 · Grades 6–9Class 5 of the SOMATH Algebra 1 Ignite arc — writing the equation of a line. Theory on slope-intercept form (y = mx + b), point-slope form, standard form, from two points, horizontal and vertical lines, parallel and perpendicular slopes, and real-world modeling. 25 practice questions with click-to-reveal step-by-step answers.
Kid Einsteins · Class 6 · Division Facts · Grades 3–4Class 6 of the SOMATH Kid Einsteins arc — division facts taught as the inverse of multiplication. Includes theory on fact families, sharing vs. grouping models, division by 2–10, an intro to remainders, division by 1 / itself / zero, and 25 practice questions with click-to-reveal step-by-step answers. Built for the Upper West Side small-group classroom.
AP Calculus Prep · Linear Equations & InequalitiesAll 33 problems from Chapter 1 of The Humongous Book of Calculus Problems — the pre-calculus warm-up chapter on slopes, forms of a line, interval notation, absolute value, and systems — with click-to-reveal answers, full worked solutions, and the original PDF for download. Written by SOMATH on the Upper West Side.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 6 · Reading & WritingAll 33 questions from the official College Board Digital SAT Practice Test 6 Reading & Writing Module 1, transcribed verbatim, with the answer key, hidden reveal explanations, skill tags, and a theory refresher on every skill tested.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 6 · Reading & WritingAll 33 questions from Reading & Writing Module 2 of Digital SAT Practice Test 6 — verbatim prompts, official answer key, hidden reveal explanations, skill tags, theory refresher, and FAQ. Written by the SOMATH team on the Upper West Side.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 6 · MathEvery one of the 27 Digital SAT Practice Test 6 Math Module 1 questions solved step-by-step — multiple choice and grid-in — with the College Board answer key, hidden solutions, skill tags, and a theory refresher on linear equations, functions, geometry, and probability.
Digital SAT · Practice Test 6 · MathAll 27 questions from Digital SAT Practice Test 6 Math Module 2 — the harder second module — with full worked solutions, hidden reveal answers, the official College Board answer key, skill tags, and theory refresher cards for every topic tested.
Course Guide · AP Calculus PrepAlgebra fluency, trigonometry, functions and logarithms, limits and the derivative, and the differentiation rules plus a light programming primer — the five prerequisite topics every student needs before AP Calculus AB, BC, or Calculus 1. One deep question per topic with the main points explained.
Regents Geometry · Algebra 2/Trig · PrecalculusThe complete SOMATH trigonometry cheat sheet — right-triangle definitions (SOH–CAH–TOA), the Pythagorean and reciprocal identities, exact values for 30°–45°–60°, the unit-circle view, and the sign of each function by quadrant.
Regents Geometry · Math EnrichmentThe Basic Proportionality Theorem (Thales’ Theorem), its converse, and the Midsegment Theorem — three of the most tested proportionality theorems on the NY Regents Geometry exam — explained with diagrams, worked examples, and the SOMATH K–12 math-enrichment arc.
Regents Geometry · Math EnrichmentDilations, stretches, and compressions — the non-rigid transformations that change size (and sometimes shape) on the NY Regents Geometry exam. Coordinate rules, why area scales as k², worked example, and how SOMATH prepares students to master similarity and dilations.
Regents Geometry · Math EnrichmentTranslation, reflection, rotation — the three isometries at the heart of every Regents Geometry congruence proof, explained with coordinate rules, a worked example, and how SOMATH's math enrichment prepares students to master them.
Upper West Side · Elementary K-5A grade-by-grade guide to elementary math enrichment on the Upper West Side — what K-5 kids should be learning, what programs actually teach, and how to spot the difference between enrichment, remediation, and drill.
Upper West Side · After School ProgramsA neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to after school math programs on the Upper West Side — SOMATH, Launch Math, Rocket Club, Mathnasium, and RSM compared honestly on class size, pricing, teachers, and what to look for before you enroll.
Practice Set · Pre-Algebra · Young Fermats · Class 5A free 25-question pre-algebra practice set from Class 5 of the SOMATH Young Fermats course — building equivalent fractions, simplifying to lowest terms, comparing with common denominators or cross-multiplication, and converting fractions to terminating or repeating decimals. Every question has a hidden step-by-step explanation students can reveal one at a time.
Regents Prep · Geometry · January 2026 ExamThe 6-credit Part IV coordinate-geometry question on the January 2026 NYS Geometry Regents, worked in full. Three sub-parts: prove quadrilateral ABCD is a trapezoid using slopes, prove segment EF is parallel to sides AD and BC, and use the distance formula to verify the trapezoid midsegment theorem EF = ½(AD + BC). Every substitution shown with rubric notes.
Regents Prep · Geometry · January 2026 ExamEvery Part III medium-length question from the January 2026 NYS Geometry Regents, worked step-by-step with the theorem behind each one. Isosceles-triangle altitude with SOH-CAH-TOA to find perimeter, a “parallelogram from one pair” congruent-triangles proof, and a composite prism-plus-pyramid volume with density. Click any question to reveal the full 4-credit rubric solution.
Regents Prep · Geometry · January 2026 ExamEvery Part II short-answer question from the January 2026 NYS Geometry Regents, worked step-by-step with the theorem behind each one. Rigid-motion composition (reflect + translate), cylinder volume & density, right-triangle trig, area with sin(C), annulus (ring) area, equilateral-triangle construction, and Thales/inscribed-angle theorem. Click any question to reveal the answer and rubric.
Regents Prep · Geometry · January 2026 ExamEvery Part I question from the January 2026 NYS Geometry Regents exam, with click-to-reveal answers, worked solutions, and the theorem behind each one. Original NYSED PDF attached so you can see every figure exactly as it appeared on test day. First of a four-post series covering all 35 questions across Parts I–IV.
1st Grade Math · Word Problems · Little NewtonsA first grade lesson that gives your child a real method for choosing between plus and minus — the parts-and-whole model, action keyword clues, three keyword traps, and 20 practice questions (8 easy, 8 medium, 4 hard) with hidden step-by-step solutions. Aligned to Common Core 1.OA.A.1.
Investor Story · SOMATH Business PlanA published schedule, a prime storefront steps from the 1 train, and the #1 organic Google position for “math school” reached in two months. The full 10-slide business plan, the $1.2M classroom run rate, the ~$298K Zoom engine, and the case for a $90K 90-day growth bridge — the entire investor story in one post.
Regents Prep · Geometry · TransformationsA worked NYS Regents Geometry multiple-choice question on rigid motions vs. dilations. Every option tested step by step, with the theory Upper West Side high-school students need before test day and a full video walkthrough.
Elementary Math · 4th Grade · GeometryA complete 4th grade geometry class in one post: theory and clean, hand-drawn SVG diagrams for points, lines, rays, angles, parallel & perpendicular lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, and lines of symmetry, followed by 30 practice questions with hidden answers and plain-English explanations. Aligned to CCSS 4.G.
Digital SAT · Reading & Writing · Practice Test 5Every question on Digital SAT Practice Test #5, Reading & Writing Module 2 — the adaptive module — transcribed verbatim, with the official College Board answer key, worked explanations, and a plain-English breakdown of every choice. Covers Craft & Structure, Information & Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas. Free PDF download.
Digital SAT · Reading & Writing · Practice Test 5Every question on Digital SAT Practice Test #5, Reading & Writing Module 1, transcribed verbatim, with the official College Board answer key, worked explanations, and a plain-English breakdown of every choice. Theory refreshers on Craft & Structure, Information & Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas. Free PDF download.
Digital SAT · Math · Practice Test 5Every question on Digital SAT Practice Test #5, Math Module 2 — the adaptive, harder module — transcribed verbatim, with the official College Board answer key, step-by-step worked solutions, and plain-English explanations for every choice. Includes theory refreshers on quadratics, exponential growth, tangent lines, similar-figure area scaling, and the full 27-question answer key at a glance. Free PDF download.
Digital SAT · Math · Practice Test 5Every question on Digital SAT Practice Test #5, Math Module 1, transcribed verbatim, with the official College Board answer key, step-by-step worked solutions, and plain-English explanations for every choice. Includes theory refreshers on Algebra, Advanced Math, PSDA, and Geometry & Trigonometry, plus a free download of the full College Board PDF.
Pre-Algebra · Young Fermats · Class 12Class 12 of the SOMATH Young Fermats course — the class where arithmetic becomes algebra. Rules cheat-sheet plus 30 practice questions that grow harder as you go, from single-variable substitution to multi-step distribution and simplification. Every question has a hidden step-by-step Answer button. Free for home, class, or an enrollment warm-up.
Regents Prep · Geometry · June 2026 ExamThe final post in our four-part series. Complete worked solution for the 6-credit Part IV coordinate-geometry question: find the fourth parallelogram vertex, prove ABCD is a parallelogram with slopes, find the midpoint of BC, and prove ▵ABE is isosceles with the distance formula. Every sub-part graded separately — do them in any order.
Regents Prep · Geometry · June 2026 ExamEvery Part III medium-length question from the June 2026 NYS Geometry Regents, worked step-by-step with the theorem behind each one. Angle of elevation and depression to find a building's height, pyramid volume with density and unit conversion, and a two-column isosceles-triangle similar-triangles proof. Click any question to reveal the answer and rubric.
Regents Prep · Geometry · June 2026 ExamEvery Part II short-answer question from the June 2026 NYS Geometry Regents, worked step-by-step with the theorem behind each one. Rigid motions, parallelogram angles, cylinder volume & density, side-splitter, SAS area, angle-bisector construction, and the rectangle test. Click any question to reveal the answer and rubric.
Regents Prep · Geometry · June 2026 ExamEvery Part I question from the June 2026 NYS Geometry Regents exam, with click-to-reveal answers, worked solutions, and the theorem behind each one. Original NYSED PDF attached so you can see every figure exactly as it appeared on test day. First of a four-post series covering all 35 questions across Parts I–IV.
Parent Guide · Math Enrichment · Grades K–8The definition of math enrichment, in plain English, for NYC parents. What it actually is, what it is not (not homework help, not an app, not Kumon, not tutoring), the differences between enrichment and 1:1 tutoring and Kumon and math apps on one page, six signs your child would benefit, when to start and why earlier compounds better, the six markers of a strong program, and the four questions to ask before writing a tuition check. Includes a 10-question FAQ. 12-minute read.
Kid Einsteins · Multi-Digit Multiplication · Grades 3–5Class 5 of the Kid Einsteins arc. Four escalating levels of multi-digit multiplication — 2-digit × 1-digit no-carry, 2-digit × 1-digit with carrying, 2-digit × 2-digit no-carry, and the full standard algorithm with carrying — taught with the box method and standard algorithm side by side. Then 30 practice questions (16 easy, 6 medium, 4 hard, 4 word problems) with click-to-reveal step-by-step solutions. Every answer verified. The class where students go from “I can multiply” to “I can multiply anything.”
Young Fermats · Algebra 1 · Placement Diagnostic · Grades 7–9Class 0 of the Algebra Ignite arc — the diagnostic every SOMATH student takes before touching Algebra 1. Full theory on the real-number system, PEMDAS, and simplifying expressions with variables (distributing, combining like terms, evaluating). Then 30 practice questions with escalating difficulty: 10 easy, 12 medium, 8 hard (including four word problems on cost, coins, perimeter, and break-even). Every answer hidden with click-to-reveal step-by-step solutions and a placement rubric at the end.
Kid Einsteins · Distributive Property · Grades 3–5Class 4 of the Kid Einsteins arc. Full theory on the distributive property, partial products, the box (area) method, and six friendly splits (×11, ×12, ×15, ×19, ×25, ×99), followed by 25 practice questions (10 easy / 10 medium / 5 hard) with click-to-reveal worked solutions. Perfect for building the mental math and place-value fluency Grades 3–5 students need before long multiplication.
Digital SAT · Math Module 1 · Practice Test 4 · Exam PrepEvery question in the fixed first Math module of Digital SAT Practice Test 4, transcribed verbatim with click-to-reveal answers, worked step-by-step solutions, and per-choice explanations. Covers linear equations, functions, ratios and percents, exponential and quadratic models, two-way tables, area and volume, circles, and right triangles. Includes theory refreshers on all four math domains and the free official PDF.
Digital SAT · Math Module 2 · Practice Test 4 · Exam PrepEvery question in the adaptive second Math module of Digital SAT Practice Test 4, transcribed verbatim with click-to-reveal step-by-step solutions. Covers systems of equations, quadratics in vertex form, exponential decay, right-triangle trig, geometric probability, function transformations, data comparisons, and more. Includes a full theory refresher and the official PDF.
Digital SAT · Reading & Writing Module 1 · Practice Test 4 · Exam PrepEvery question in the fixed first Reading & Writing module of Digital SAT Practice Test 4, transcribed verbatim with click-to-reveal answers and per-choice explanations. Covers words in context, text structure, cross-text connections, command of evidence (textual and graph-based), inferences, Standard English conventions (punctuation, agreement, tense), transitions, and rhetorical synthesis. Includes theory refreshers and the free official PDF.
Digital SAT · Reading & Writing Module 2 · Practice Test 4 · Exam PrepEvery question in the adaptive second Reading & Writing module of Digital SAT Practice Test 4, transcribed verbatim with click-to-reveal answers and per-choice explanations. Covers Craft & Structure, Information & Ideas, Standard English Conventions, and Expression of Ideas. Includes theory refreshers on all R&W skill categories and the free official PDF.
Kid Einsteins · Multiplication Facts · Grades 3–4Class 3 of the SOMATH Kid Einsteins multiplication arc — the three hardest times tables (×7, ×8, ×9) taught with area models. Includes theory boxes on rectangles and the distributive property, doubling and 10-minus-1 shortcuts, skip-count strips, full fact tables, and 25 practice questions with click-to-reveal step-by-step answers. Built for the Upper West Side small-group classroom.
Practice Set · Pre-Algebra · Young FermatsClass 2 of the SOMATH Young Fermats Pre-Algebra course — sign rules for products and quotients, multi-digit computation, order of operations with signed integers, and real-life word problems on temperature, elevation, debt, and rates. 25 practice questions with hidden step-by-step answers and a free printable PDF.
Digital SAT · Math Module 1 · Practice Test 10 · Exam PrepEvery question in the fixed first Math module of Digital SAT Practice Test 10, transcribed verbatim with click-to-reveal answers, worked step-by-step solutions, and per-choice explanations. Covers linear equations and systems, quadratic and exponential functions, ratios and percents, two-way tables, Pythagorean theorem, similarity and congruence, and circles. Includes theory refreshers on all four math domains and a free PDF.
Algebra I · Algebra Ignite · Inequalities · GraphingA step-by-step Algebra I lesson on solving and graphing linear inequalities. Covers the flip-the-sign rule, interval and set-builder notation, number-line graphs, compound and absolute-value inequalities, and two-variable inequalities in the coordinate plane, followed by 30 practice questions (10 easy, 10 medium, 5 medium-hard, 5 hard) with hidden step-by-step solutions.
Digital SAT · Reading & Writing Module 1 · Practice Test 10 · Exam PrepEvery question in the fixed first Reading & Writing module of Digital SAT Practice Test 10, transcribed verbatim with click-to-reveal answers and per-choice explanations. Covers words in context, text structure, cross-text connections, command of evidence (textual and graph-based), logical completion, Standard English conventions (punctuation, agreement, tense, pronoun form), transitions, and rhetorical synthesis. Includes theory refreshers and a free PDF.
Digital SAT · Math Module 2 · Practice Test 11 · Exam PrepEvery question in the adaptive second math module of Digital SAT Practice Test 11, transcribed verbatim with click-to-reveal step-by-step solutions. Covers similar triangles, altitude-to-hypotenuse, quadratics in vertex form, inequality regions, exponential decay, percent change, area unit conversion, and more. Includes a full theory refresher and the official PDF.
Algebra I · NY Regents · Exam Prep · August 2025Every question on the August 19, 2025 New York State Regents Algebra I exam, transcribed verbatim with hidden step-by-step solutions. Includes theory refreshers on sequences, quadratics, systems, statistics, and transformations — plus a free download of the original PDF.
Young Fermats · Fractions & Decimals · Grades 3–6A parent- and student-friendly walkthrough of the 8 core ideas that link fractions and decimals: one number two costumes, place value, the fraction bar as division, scaling to /10 & /100 & /1000, the number line, comparing, decimal→fraction, and terminating vs repeating decimals. Includes 20 practice questions with click-to-reveal step-by-step answers.
Kid Einsteins & Young Fermats · Mental Math · Grades 2–4The 8 core mental math strategies every grade 2–4 student should know: making 10, compensation, near-doubles, place-value split, count on/back, equal-add subtraction, round-and-adjust, and add-up subtraction. Includes 25 practice questions with click-to-reveal step-by-step answers and a cheat sheet for picking the right strategy in 2 seconds.
Young Fermats · Multiplication Facts · Grades 3–5A complete class-ready lesson on the times tables for 3, 4, and 6: theory, skip counting, doubling shortcuts, the distributive property, and 25 practice questions with click-to-reveal step-by-step answers. Built for the SOMATH Young Fermats program on the Upper West Side.
Digital SAT · SAT Math · Exam Prep · NYCEvery question on Digital SAT Practice Test #11, Math Module 1, transcribed verbatim with hidden step-by-step solutions. Includes theory refreshers on linear functions, systems, quadratics, exponents, triangles, circles, and rate problems — plus an embedded video walkthrough and a free PDF of SAT Test 11.
AP Precalculus · NYC Test Prep · Upper West SideThe honest 2026 guide to the best AP Precalculus tutoring in New York City. Marcelo Ramos and SOMATH's small-group program on the Upper West Side compared with Ivy Tutors Network, Themba Tutors, Alexander Tutoring, Smith Center, Varsity Tutors, and Wyzant. Full breakdown of the 2026 exam format, pricing, teacher credentials, and who each option is right for.
Algebra I · NY Regents · Exam Prep · January 2026Every question on the January 21, 2026 New York State Regents Algebra I exam, transcribed verbatim with hidden step-by-step answers and explanations. Includes theory refreshers, graphs for parabola/inequalities/systems, an embedded video walkthrough, and a free PDF download of the original exam.
Algebra I · NY Regents · Exam Prep · June 2026Every question on the June 17, 2026 New York State Regents Algebra I exam, transcribed verbatim with hidden step-by-step solutions. Includes theory refreshers on sequences, quadratics, systems, linear regression, and transformations — plus a free download of the original PDF.
Pre-Algebra · Algebra I · Word Problems · Linear EquationsA step-by-step lesson on translating word problems into linear equations, plus 30 practice questions (10 easy, 10 medium, 5 medium-hard, 5 hard) with hidden solutions. Covers coins, mixtures, distance-rate-time, age problems, work rates, and systems of two equations.
1st Grade Homework · Carry · Borrow · Multiplication as SumA ready-to-print 20-question homework set from SOMATH. 10 easy warm-ups, 5 medium, and 5 hard challenges on 2- and 3-digit addition with carrying, subtraction with borrowing, multiplication as repeated addition, and word problems. Full answer key and step-by-step explanations.
Practice Set · Pre-Algebra · Young FermatsThe 7 lesson slides from Class 1 of the SOMATH Young Fermats Pre-Algebra course, followed by 25 medium-level practice questions with hidden step-by-step answer explanations. Free to use at home.
Parent Guide · Program Comparison · NYCThree very different ways to do math outside school in NYC. An honest side-by-side on teaching model, pricing, results — and when each is the right fit for your child. Written by SOMATH, biases disclosed up front.
Parent Guide · Competition Math · AMC 8What the AMC 8 actually tests, the 5 content areas that matter, honest timing (start 12 months out), score targets, and a week-by-week 6-month study plan for NYC middle schoolers.
Parent Guide · NYC Admissions · SHSAT vs HunterNYC's two big middle-school-to-high-school exams look similar and are not. Honest breakdown of what each tests, who each is right for, and whether your child should prep for one, the other, or both.
SOMATH Math Enrichment · Regrouping · Medium LevelMedium-level practice on the algorithms that stump most students — 3-digit addition that always carries, 3-digit subtraction that always borrows, and 2-digit × 2-digit multiplication. Every question has a column-by-column explanation you can reveal one at a time, or all at once.
SOMATH Math Enrichment · Arithmetic · Practice Set30 multiple-choice arithmetic questions — easy and medium level — covering place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, rounding, order of operations, and word problems. Each question has a hidden explanation you can reveal one at a time, or all at once.
3rd Grade Math · Geometry & Measurement · Practice Set20 medium-level questions on 2D shape properties, area, perimeter, symmetry, right angles, quadrilateral classification, and units of measurement. Click one button at the bottom to reveal every answer with a parent-friendly explanation.
NYC Education News · Regents Phase-Out · June 2026Today's headline: NY's class of 2027 is the last that must pass Regents exams to graduate. The state is moving to a competency-based diploma — with implementation details still unannounced. A calm, NYC-specific breakdown of what changes, what doesn't (SHSAT, SAT, AP), and what UWS parents should do this summer.
1st Grade Practice · Mixed Topics · Easy to HardA 20-question 1st grade practice set graded from easy to hard. 10 easy warm-ups for confidence, 5 medium-level questions to stretch, and 5 hard challenge questions. Four answer choices, a kid-friendly explanation, and the math theory behind every question.
Heschel School · Rising 8th Grade Summer Packet · Part 2Part 2 of the Heschel rising-8th-grade packet — comparing and ordering signed fractions, decimals, repeating decimals, exponents, and absolute values. Problems 11, 12, and 13 solved step by step with a SOMATH video walkthrough.
Read the Part 2 solutions → Heschel School · Rising 8th Grade Summer Packet · Part 1A complete walkthrough of The Heschel School's Rising Grade 8 Summer Review Packet — 10 integer, order-of-operations, and fraction problems solved step by step. Includes a SOMATH video walkthrough. Written by UWS tutors three blocks from Heschel.
Read the solutions → 1st Grade Math · Shapes & Measurement · Practice Set8 easy, 8 medium, 4 hard. Naming 2D and 3D shapes, halves and quarters, comparing lengths, measuring with non-standard units, and telling time. Click-to-reveal answers with a parent-friendly explanation for every question.
Read the practice set → 1st Grade Practice · Addition & Subtraction Within 20 · Challenge LevelA challenge-level practice set for 1st graders ready to push past the basics — two-step word problems, missing addends in any position, comparison traps, true/false reasoning, and fact-family questions. Four options each, with a full explanation for every answer.
SOMATH Walkthrough · Founder Tour · UWS 2026A 13-minute walkthrough — co-founder Vivianne opens schoolofmath.us and explains, page by page, how SOMATH actually works in 2026: the new monthly Membership, the weekly class schedule at 226 W 79th St, and the 24-class syllabus behind every leveled program.
NYC Trends · Industry Report · UWS 2026The seven biggest shifts changing math tutoring and enrichment in New York City right now — NYC Solves expansion, AI in classrooms, the new computer-adaptive SHSAT, accelerated tracks, post-pandemic gaps, and the UWS demand boom — explained for parents.
AI in Education · UWS Parents · 2026ChatGPT, Khanmigo, Khan Academy AI, Skye, StepWise — the 2026 honest take on which AI tools actually help your child learn math, where AI fails, and how UWS parents should combine AI with small-group human teaching.
Format Comparison · Decision Guide · UWS 2026Small-group, 1-on-1 private, AI-only online, or large-group class — which format actually fits your child? A 2026 comparison across cost, learning outcomes, motivation, scheduling, and fit by child type.
Behind the Scenes · K–1 Math · Session 2 RecapA teacher’s recap of today’s small-group class with two K-to-1st-grade students. Where they were a week ago, where they are now, and the specific home practice each child takes home this week.
SHSAT · 2026 Format Change · NYC ParentsNYCPS confirmed on June 4 that the SHSAT moves to a computer-adaptive test (CAT) starting fall 2026. What changes, what stays the same, and how UWS families should prep.
K–1 Math Practice · Place Value · Addition10 easy + 10 medium practice questions for Kindergarten and 1st grade students. Tap to reveal each answer with a full explanation for parents. Built from our K–1 Session 1 class.
Behind the Scenes · K–1 Math · Little NewtonsWatch a real Kindergarten-to-1st-grade math class at SOMATH on the UWS. Numbers, digits, decimal system, place value to thousands, addition with carrying, and a four-digit number puzzle. For PS 87 parents.
NYC Curriculum · District 3 · 2026Mayor Mamdani’s $17.3M NYC Solves math expansion now includes Manhattan District 3 (UWS) middle schools. What it means for your child’s math, and what to do.
AI & Homework · NYC Parent Guide · 202655% of teens use AI weekly for math homework. A NYC tutor’s honest guide for parents: what AI does well, what it teaches kids wrong, and a smart family policy.
Curriculum Guide · Illustrative Mathematics · 2026If your child’s NYC public school uses Illustrative Mathematics, here’s what to expect, what’s different from “how you learned it,” and how to help at home.
AP Exams · Score Release · 2026The College Board releases 2026 AP scores July 6 at 8 AM ET. A NYC tutor’s playbook for what to do whether your child scored a 5, a 3, or a 1 — including retake and college-credit decisions.
Private School Admissions · ISEE Math · 2026What math stanine the top NYC private schools (Horace Mann, Trinity, Collegiate, Dalton, Brearley, Spence, Riverdale, Columbia Grammar, Fieldston) actually want — and the realistic 12-week prep path to get there.
Summer Programs · UWS Parent Guide · 2026An honest UWS-parent comparison of summer math programs: Mathnasium, Russian School of Math, Kumon, MoMath, SOMATH, and online options — with real pricing, real pros and cons, and a grade-by-grade plan.
Local Guide · UWS Math Tutoring · 2026The five categories of UWS math tutoring, what each tier actually costs in 2026, and how to choose the right fit for PS 87, PS 199, Anderson, Hunter, and Stuyvesant prep.
Test Prep · SHSAT · Upper West Side2026-2027 test calendar, all 8 specialized high schools with current cutoffs, the CAT format change, and an honest UWS-specific prep plan.
Test Prep · SAT · Upper West SideThe Digital SAT format, math section breakdown, score targets for Columbia/NYU/Cornell/Cooper/CUNY Honors, and when UWS students should start.
Cost Guide · Math Enrichment · NYCFrom $0 to $3,000+ per month — the four tiers of NYC math enrichment, what each delivers, and how UWS chains, boutiques, and independents actually price in 2026.
Strategy · College Aid · Math EnrichmentWhy 6 years of consistent math investment from middle school can return $40K–$200K in merit aid — with real data, two worked UWS examples, and the middle-school window that matters most.
Announcement · June 2026 Classes · Upper West SideThree Wednesdays in June (June 10, 17, 24) from 3:00–4:30 PM — number sense, addition & subtraction, and word problems with co-founder Marcelo Ramos. $270 per student.
Parent Guide · Math Enrichment · Upper West SideA grade-by-grade UWS guide on when to start enrichment, what each window unlocks, and how to avoid the “too early” trap.
Parent Guide · Enrichment vs Tutoring · Upper West SideAn honest, side-by-side comparison of tutoring and enrichment for UWS families — with pricing, fit, and a 5-question parent checklist.
Test Prep · Hunter College HS · Upper West SideWhat’s tested in 2026, the 90th-percentile eligibility rule, when UWS 5th graders should start, and how Hunter prep differs from SHSAT.
Parent Guide · Gifted & Talented · Upper West SideAnderson School, NEST+m, AoPS, RSM, and SOMATH compared honestly — with notes on competition math (MOEMS, AMC 8) and avoiding burnout.
Test Prep · SHSAT · Upper West SideMonth-by-month plan for UWS 7th graders — foundations, geometry, timing drills, and the burnout-free path to Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech.
Parent Guide · Math Tutoring · Upper West SideAn honest comparison of every real math tutoring option on the Upper West Side — Mathnasium UWS at 2226 Broadway, RSM, Kumon, private tutors via Care.com and Tutor.com, online platforms like Outschool, and small-group programs like SOMATH at 226 W 79th St. Current 2026 NYC pricing, group sizes, formats, and the right fit by school and goal (PS 87, PS 199, PS 9, PS 166, Anderson, NEST+m).
Parent Guide · Middle School Math · Upper West SideAn honest guide for NYC families weighing early Algebra 1 in 7th or 8th grade. The 5 benefits, the 4 risks parents underestimate, the 4 readiness signals to look for, the NYC acceleration pathways (NYC Solves, NEST+m, Anderson, Hunter, independents), and the year-by-year impact on AP Calculus AB and BC. Includes a 4-question decision framework.
Parent Guide · K–12 Enrichment · Upper West SideA clear, NYC-specific comparison of the major math enrichment programs for 2026 — Russian School of Math, Mathnasium, Kumon, Art of Problem Solving, the NYC competition pipeline (NYMC, AMC, MATHCOUNTS), and small-group neighborhood programs like SOMATH on the Upper West Side. What enrichment actually is, the 8-point checklist for picking a program, and how to choose by goal (enrichment, SHSAT, AP, competition, or remediation).
Parent FAQ · K–12 · Upper West SideMade specifically for NYC families. The honest signs that a K–12 student is falling behind in math, mapped to NYS Next Generation Standards, the NYS Grade 3–8 4-level test, NYC Solves (Illustrative Mathematics), the SHSAT track, and the Regents pathway. Grade-by-grade benchmarks (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12), what is and is NOT “behind,” and the exact next steps Upper West Side parents should take.
SHSAT · Test Prep · Upper West SideEverything NYC families need to know about the 2026 SHSAT — now fully computer-adaptive. Structure, scoring math, a 12-month study plan (and a 6-month compressed version), the 7 most common mistakes, full timeline from registration to admissions offers, FAQs, and the practice strategies that move scores from a 480 to a 600+.
Summer Programs · Upper West SideJune–August 2026 at 226 W 79th Street. Small-group summer math for students at every Upper West Side public school — elementary through AP Calc, SHSAT, and SAT prep. Stronger skills, new topics, expert teachers, real confidence by September.
AP Calculus · Stewart Ch.1Three domain problems, three rules. (a) Rational: exclude the zeros of the denominator — (−∞, −2) ∪ (−2, 1) ∪ (1, ∞). (b) Cube root over polynomial: all real numbers, no restrictions. (c) Sum of two square roots: intersect the two radicand conditions — (−∞, −1] ∪ [1, 4]. The reflexes every pre-calc and AP Calc student needs before limits.
AP Calculus · Stewart Ch.1Expand (2 + h)³ with the binomial expansion, subtract f(2) = 8, cancel the 8s, and divide each term by h. The simplified answer is h² + 6h + 12 — and as h → 0 it becomes f′(2) = 12. The algebraic foundation of every limit definition of the derivative.
AP Calculus · Stewart Ch.1Stewart's Calculus opens with a five-part graph-reading problem that every later chapter assumes you can do without thinking: state f(−1), estimate f(2), solve f(x) = 2, estimate the zeros, and write down the domain and range. Final answers f(−1) = −2, f(2) ≈ 2.8, x = −3 and 1, zeros at x ≈ −2.3 and 0.3, domain [−3, 3], range [−2, 3]. Worked the SOMATH way on the Upper West Side — the function-notation trap, the horizontal-line trick for f(x) = k, and the bracket-versus-parenthesis convention for domain and range.
AP Calculus · Stewart 9e DiagnosticStewart's Calculus 9th Edition diagnostic Question 4 gives you two points — A(−7, 4) and B(5, −12) — and chains together every coordinate-geometry skill before AP Calc: slope, line equation and intercepts, midpoint, distance, perpendicular bisector, and the circle with AB as diameter. Slope −4/3. Midpoint (−1, −4). AB = 20. Perpendicular bisector y = (3/4)x − 13/4. Final circle (x + 1)² + (y + 4)² = 100. Worked the SOMATH way on the Upper West Side — six sub-problems, one labeled pair of points.
AP Calculus · Stewart 9e DiagnosticStewart's Calculus 9th Edition diagnostic Question 2 gives you a center — (−1, 4) — and one point on the circle — (3, −2) — and asks for the equation. Two ideas glued together: standard form (x − h)² + (y − k)² = r², and the squared distance formula. Final answer (x + 1)² + (y − 4)² = 52, radius 2√13 ≈ 7.21. Worked the SOMATH way on the Upper West Side — the sign trick, the squared-distance shortcut, and why you should never take a square root and then square it again.
AP Calculus · Stewart 9e DiagnosticStewart's Calculus 9th Edition diagnostic hands you the general form of a circle — x² + y² − 6x + 10y + 9 = 0 — and asks for the center and radius. The whole problem hinges on completing the square. We walk through it the way we teach it at SOMATH on the Upper West Side, with the sign traps, the half-square trick, and the radius vs. r² mistake that costs students the most points.
AP Calculus · Stewart 9e DiagnosticStewart Calculus 9th Edition opens with a single-page diagnostic, and Question 1 is the gatekeeper. Find the equation of a line through (2, −5) with slope −3, parallel to the x-axis, parallel to the y-axis, and parallel to 2x − 4y = 3. All four parts worked the way we teach them at SOMATH on the Upper West Side — point-slope form, common traps, and the plain-English check that ends x=k versus y=k confusion forever.
SHSAT · Upper West SideWhat the test actually is, what Upper West Side families actually need, and how our small-group program at 226 W 79th St teaches it. Honest answers from inside a NYC SHSAT classroom — no funnel, no upsell.
Pre-CalculusSix algebraic identities, true or false. The conceptual diagnostic that catches the six most-tested misconceptions in pre-calc algebra: (p+q)², the radical product rule, √(a²+b²), splitting sums over a denominator, splitting fractions across subtraction, and complex fractions. Counter-examples for the false ones, the underlying property for the true ones.
Pre-CalculusFive inequalities, five different techniques, every answer in clean interval notation. Linear with a sign flip, quadratic by factoring and sign chart, higher-degree product, absolute value as distance, and a rational inequality with a critical-point and domain check. The companion to Problem 8 — and the diagnostic that predicts whether a student is ready for the inequality reasoning AP Calculus runs on.
Pre-CalculusSeven equations, seven different solving techniques worked side by side. Linear, rational with a domain check, factorable quadratic, quadratic formula, quartic via substitution, absolute value split, and a negative fractional exponent. The single most important diagnostic in any pre-calc course — because the rest of pre-calc and AP Calc all assume you can pattern-match a new equation to the right move in under 30 seconds.
Pre-CalculusTwo complete-the-square problems from Stewart's Pre-Calculus Diagnostic — rewrite x² + x + 1 into vertex form when the linear coefficient is odd (so half of it is a fraction), and 2x² − 12x + 11 when the leading coefficient isn't 1 (so it has to be factored out first). The technique behind vertex form, the quadratic formula, conic sections, and one important Calc II integral.
Pre-CalculusTwo rationalization problems from Stewart's Pre-Calculus Diagnostic Test — multiply by the conjugate to clear a radical denominator on √10/(√5 − 2), then rationalize the NUMERATOR on (√(4 + h) − 2)/h, the classic AP Calculus derivative-from-the-definition setup. The conjugate move every pre-calc and AP Calc student must own.
Pre-CalculusFour rational-expression simplifications from Stewart's Pre-Calculus Diagnostic worked the way we teach them at SOMATH — factor-and-cancel on (x²+3x+2)/(x²−x−2), multiply with difference-of-squares cancellation on (2x²−x−1)/(x²−9) · (x+3)/(2x+1), subtract over a common denominator on x²/(x²−4) − (x+1)/(x+2), and reduce a complex fraction in two variables (y/x − x/y)/(1/y − 1/x).
Pre-CalculusSix factoring techniques from Stewart's Pre-Calculus Diagnostic worked the way we teach them at SOMATH — difference of squares 4x² − 25, trinomial reverse-FOIL on 2x² + 5x − 12, factoring by grouping x³ − 3x² − 4x + 12, sum of cubes after a common factor x⁴ + 27x, the negative-fractional-exponent trick 3x^(3/2) − 9x^(1/2) + 6x^(−1/2), and two-variable factoring x³y − 4xy.
Pre-CalculusFive expansions from Stewart's Pre-Calculus Diagnostic worked the way we teach them at SOMATH — distributive on 3(x+6)+4(2x−5), FOIL on (x+3)(4x−5), the conjugate radical (√a+√b)(√a−√b), the perfect-square binomial (2x+3)², and the cube (x+2)³.
Pre-CalculusThree expressions from Stewart's Pre-Calculus Diagnostic Test worked the way we teach them at SOMATH — simplifying √200 − √32, distributing exponents through (3a³b³)(4ab²)², and clearing negative exponents on a stacked fraction raised to the −2.
Pre-CalculusSix expressions from Stewart's Pre-Calculus Diagnostic Test, worked the way we teach them at SOMATH. The (−3)⁴ vs −3⁴ trap, the quotient rule, negative exponents, and fractional exponents like 16^(−3/4) — all without a calculator.
AP StatisticsAn official AP Statistics free-response question worked step by step — treatments, experimental units, response variable, random assignment, and what 'statistically significant at α = 0.05' actually means. The way we teach it at SOMATH.
Worked ProblemA Quadrant II trig identity problem (Algebra II / Regents / SAT) worked step-by-step — with the sign chart, the identity, and the common-error breakdown we use in our small-group classes on the Upper West Side.
LocalRSM (Russian School of Math) vs SOMATH (School of Math): an honest, side-by-side comparison from an Upper West Side educator — class size, teaching method, pacing, pricing, and which child each is right for.
Parent GuidesWhat your 8th grader actually learns in New York math — slope, systems, functions, the Pythagorean theorem, and why 8th grade is when the SHSAT, Algebra 1 Regents, and high-school placement all converge.
Parent GuidesWhat your 7th grader actually learns in New York math — proportional reasoning, rational numbers, multi-step equations, geometry with pi, and why 7th grade is the year SHSAT prep begins.
Parent GuidesWhat your 6th grader actually learns in New York math — ratios, rates, and percent; dividing fractions; negative numbers and integers; algebraic expressions and one-step equations; statistics with mean, median, and MAD; surface area via nets; the NY State Math Test in May; and the SHSAT groundwork that starts this year.
Parent GuidesWhat your 5th grader actually learns in New York math — fraction operations with unlike denominators, decimal multiplication to thousandths, volume, the coordinate plane, expressions with brackets, the NY State Math Test, milestones, vocabulary, and how to help at home. Free 8-page printable guide.
Parent GuidesWhat your child actually learns in 4th grade math under NY standards — multi-digit multiplication, long division with remainders, fraction operations, decimals to hundredths, angle measurement with a protractor, milestones, vocabulary, and how to help at home. Free 7-page printable guide.
Parent GuidesWhat your child actually learns in 3rd grade math under NY standards — multiplication and division within 100, fractions as numbers on a number line, area and perimeter, two-step word problems with all four operations, milestones, vocabulary, and how to help at home. Free 7-page printable guide.
Parent GuidesWhat your child actually learns in 2nd grade math under NY standards — place value to 1,000, regrouping, the foundations of multiplication, two-step word problems, season-by-season milestones, and how to help at home. Free 7-page printable guide.
Parent GuidesWhat your child actually learns in 1st grade math under NY standards — core topics, strategies, season-by-season milestones, vocabulary, and how to help at home. Free 7-page printable guide.
SHSAT PrepA complete answer key with one-line methods for the 2025 SHSAT math section — questions 63 through 114, every problem verified. From the SHSAT math tutoring team at SOMATH on the Upper West Side.
SAT TutoringThe complete 2026 Digital SAT guide for NYC families — adaptive test structure, every official test date, registration fee, average scores for the most selective colleges, and the SAT tutoring approach at SOMATH on the Upper West Side.
Regents Math TutoringOfficial 2026 NYS Regents math exam dates, the structure of Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and the SOMATH approach that moves students from a 65 pass to an 85+ Mastery in Math designation. From math tutoring on the Upper West Side.
Elementary Math TutoringAlgebra 1 and Geometry do not get hard in middle school — they expose elementary gaps. The five K–5 math skills that decide whether your child cruises through 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math or spends three years catching up. From SOMATH math tutoring on the Upper West Side.
Choosing a Math ProgramNYC math tutoring compared side-by-side — SOMATH, Russian School of Math, Kumon, and Mathnasium across teaching style, group size, instructor background, diagnostics, program length, homework load, and SHSAT / SAT / AP readiness.
College AdmissionsOxford holds #1 for the tenth straight year. MIT is #2. Princeton and Cambridge tie at #3. Here is how to read the Times Higher Education 2026 list as a parent — and what these schools quietly expect from a math applicant.
Regents MathA Regents-style measurement question marks a container 2 L to 12 L. The water sits at 8 L. Here is how to teach the scale-reading skill that earns easy points on every NY state math exam.
SAT MathA list of 30 positive non-integer decimals gets rounded by a peculiar rule — even tenths go up, odd tenths go down. Which of −16, 6, and 10 are actually possible for E − S? The fast path is bounding, not trial and error.
SHSAT PrepA two-step problem disguised as a one-step problem — and a pattern that repeats across the SHSAT. Walkthrough + the trap most students fall into.
AP Pre-CalculusA classic AP Pre-Calc problem worked end-to-end: factor, sign chart, answer. With a 90-second video walkthrough from a SOMATH instructor.
Local GuideIf you live on the Upper West Side and want serious math enrichment for your child, here is what to look for, how to compare programs, and the questions most parents forget to ask before they enroll.
AP Pre-CalculusMaster logarithms and advanced functions with the innovative AP Precalculus program at School of Math New York in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Our specialized AP Precalculus preparation helps students build a deep understanding of logarithmic functions, exponential growth and decay, transformations, inverses, and real-world mathematical modeling — all essential topics for success on the AP Precalculus exam.
Math TipsWhen you watch your child stare at a math worksheet, frustration mounting as they struggle to bridge the gap between a problem and its solution, you are witnessing more than just a momentary academic hurdle. You are seeing the limitations of a standard curriculum that often prioritizes rapid breadth over the deep, conceptual mastery that actually defines mathematical thinking.
SHSAT PrepThe table below shows the number of cups of red paint and blue paint used to make a purple paint mixture. Based on the relationship between red and blue paint, what is the value of y?
AP StatisticsWhen it comes to mastering AP Statistics, the journey can feel overwhelming. The concepts are intricate, the pace is fast, and the stakes are high.
Algebra ReadinessGrade level is the worst possible signal for Algebra readiness. Here are the four things I test for at the kitchen table — and what to do if your child isn't quite there yet.
AP Pre-CalculusIf your student is preparing for AP Precalculus, mastering logarithms is not optional — it’s essential. At School of Math New York, located on the Upper West Side, we treat logarithms not as isolated rules to memorize, but as a powerful language for modeling growth, decay, and real-world relationships.
AP Pre-CalculusUnderstanding function transformations is one of the most important skills in AP Precalculus and advanced algebra. In this problem, we analyze how a function’s domain changes when it is transformed.
AP Pre-CalculusIf you’re preparing for Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, or any advanced math course, mastering trigonometry is essential. One of the most important foundations is understanding which trigonometric functions are positive in each quadrant—and that’s exactly what this visual from School of Math highlights.
Math TipsFinding the right math enrichment program can be a challenge for parents and students who want to build strong math skills beyond the classroom. In New York, the School of Math (SOMATH) stands out as a top choice for students eager to deepen their understanding and excel in mathematics.
SHSATA month-by-month timeline starting in 6th grade, the mistakes I watch families make every August, and what "ready for Stuyvesant" actually looks like from the inside.
AP Pre-CalculusThe value of a new car is modeled by the function C. The value of the car is expected to decrease by 19% each year.
AP Pre-CalculusIf your child is taking AP Pre-Calculus and hitting a wall — whether it's limits, exponential functions, trigonometry, or end behavior — you are not alone.
AP Pre-CalculusIf you’re preparing for an AP Precalculus or high school math exam, understanding the average rate of change is essential. This concept appears frequently on tests and is a foundational idea for later topics like derivatives in calculus.
AP StatisticsWhen it comes to mastering AP Statistics, many students find themselves overwhelmed by the complexity of concepts and the pressure of performing well on exams. I understand how challenging it can be to grasp topics like probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis without personalized guidance.
AP Pre-Calculus1. Let f be a decreasing function where the rate of change of f is increasing.
SHSAT PrepSHSAT question 114 - An ice cream shop sells 16 cups of ice cream for $48 and 4 cups for $12. There is a proportional relationship between the number of cups of ice cream and the cost.
SHSAT PrepUnderstanding SHSAT Question 58 from the College Board. SHSAT Question 58 by SOMATH: A Detailed Analysis.
SAT PrepThe SAT is a logic test wearing math clothes. Speed, traps, geometry from memory — classroom A's don't translate, and the fix isn't more topics.
AP Pre-CalculusWork with Desmos. Desmos is a great resource to AP Pre Calculus.
Math TipsMany parents remember the specific moment they began to view mathematics as an obstacle rather than a tool. Perhaps it was the introduction of abstract variables in middle school, or the first time a geometry proof felt like a foreign language.
SHSAT PrepNavigating the landscape of New York City secondary education feels less like a simple school selection process and more like a high-stakes academic marathon. For thousands of families, the dream of attending one of the prestigious Specialized High Schools represents a ticket to world-class resources, competitive peers, and accelerated learning environments.
Math TipsDoes your child view math homework as a mountain to climb, or a puzzle to be solved? For many parents of children between the ages of 7 and 13, witnessing the shift from simple arithmetic to abstract algebraic concepts can be daunting.
Choosing a TutorKumon, Russian Math, Mathnasium, private 1:1, small group — what each is genuinely good at, where each falls short, and how to actually pick.
Math TipsIn the rapidly evolving landscape of data-driven decision-making, the ability to grasp advanced quantitative concepts has transitioned from a specialized niche skill to a core professional requirement. Whether you are navigating the complexities of algorithmic trading, optimizing global supply chains, or performing rigorous longitudinal research, quantitative mastery serves as the bridge between raw information and strategic foresight.
AP CalculusBC isn't AB plus a little more. It's the same content at a faster pace, plus sequences, series, parametrics, and polar. Here's how to choose honestly.
SHSAT PrepFor thousands of students and parents across the five boroughs, the New York City Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) represents the most significant academic hurdle of middle school. It is not merely a test of current knowledge, but a high-stakes gatekeeper to some of the most prestigious educational institutions in the nation, including Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech.
Math TipsIn the high-stakes world of modern finance, engineering, and data science, intuition is no longer a sufficient currency for success. Decision-making processes have shifted toward rigorous, evidence-based frameworks where the smallest variables can dictate the success or failure of a multi-million dollar strategy.
Math TipsImagine your child walking into a math classroom, not with a sense of dread or anxiety, but with the curiosity of a detective solving a complex mystery. For many parents of children between the ages of 7 and 13, this vision feels like a distant dream.
Math TipsThe sigh that follows a math test score returning home is familiar to nearly every parent. That sinking feeling when your bright, capable child stares blankly at long division or algebraic equations signifies more than just a low grade-it points to a gap in foundational understanding.
Math TipsThe landscape of mathematics education in a metropolis like New York City is uniquely demanding. Students often face a curriculum that prioritizes breadth over depth, leaving many feeling unprepared for higher-level STEM fields or competitive admissions exams.
Math TipsThe dread of advanced mathematics often stems not from an inherent inability to grasp numbers, but from a shaky foundation. For too many students, math success is narrowly defined by a letter grade on a quarterly report card.
Math TipsThe sight of advanced algebra or geometry problems can send a familiar chill down the spine of many capable students across the five boroughs. For parents accustomed to navigating complex Manhattan real estate or intricate professional reports, the rapid escalation of high school math concepts can feel isolating and overwhelming.
Reading is good. A 30-minute one-on-one diagnostic with a SOMATH teacher is better. You leave with a written summary of strengths, gaps, and the right track — even if you don't enroll.