Sindbad~EG File Manager

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<h3>Can MathXpert teach me to do the problems myself?</h3>
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 <td>  MathXpert is based on the following view of mathematics:  there are <i>operations</i> that we use to transform
 mathematical expressions.  For example, the operation  "collect like terms"  can change  3<i>x</i> + 2<i>x</i> to 5<i>x</i>.
 We solve a problem by applying one operation at a time until our initial problem is transformed to a desired form that we consider 
 the answer.   
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 <td>  That means there are two parts to learning mathematics:  You must learn what the individual operations are and how they work, 
 and you must learn how to decide what operation to apply next.   Usually in courses and textbooks,  the focus is on the individual operations,  but knowing what to do when is often a source
 of difficulty for students.
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 <td> MathXpert helps you with both parts.  First of all, it helps you to understand the individual operations thoroughly.
 It does this by displaying them explicitly on menus,  so that you can see exactly what operations are available.  Then, by applying
 them in examples, you will get a thorough understanding of how they work.  Since MathXpert does the actual work of applying 
 them, you won't be troubled by the minor mistakes that so often cause trouble for students.  For example, if you apply "collect like terms"
 to 3<i>x</i> - 2<i>x</i>,  you will always get  <i>x</i>,  never  5<i>x</i> or some other mistaken answer.  
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 <td>But perhaps even more important, by using MathXpert to study a particular type of problem  (a "topic"),  you will 
 learn how to organize several related operations (some of which may be new, and others you are supposed to know already) into
 a method of solving that type of problem.  For instance,  you will learn that to solve an equation for <i>x</i>, you need to first get 
 all the occurrences of <i>x</i> on one side of the equation,  then combine them to a single <i>x</i> somehow, then manipulate the
 equation so that one side is exactly <i>x</i>.   Just as in the classroom,  you learn that by "picking it up" after seeing
 some examples and then working some examples yourself.  What is different about using MathXpert to work the examples is that
 you have an "expert at your elbow"--your own Algebra Assistant  (or Precalculus Assistant or Calculus Assistant) to advise you 
 upon request.   Even if you don't request help with the problem-solving strategy,  MathXpert still makes sure that you apply 
 each operation correctly:  you can never take a mathematically incorrect step.
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