ALEKS strategy: fill up one pie slice at a time, or not?

[dcan]

It is better to work one pie slice to 100% and then move on? Or fill it to 70% and then move to the next slice and fill it to 70%? Or best to do a few in one slice, then pick another and raise it up a few points, etc?

I noticed that some people seem to use online math solvers to answer the problems. I actually want to learn the math, so I don't want the answers solved for me -- at least not for my "real" answers, but to explain concepts and see the steps that's OK with me.

Given that, what is the best study strategy?

EDIT Wow 3 minutes after I made this post I ran into a pie slice I can't fill completely without going into other topics. So I guess I just got my own answer.

[rebel100]

For me it's best to just work around the pie and do whatever seems interesting at the time. As she gets near the end my daughter finds it fun and challenging to complete some portions all the way....but just for the personal sense of satisfaction.

[dcan]

For me it's best to just work around the pie and do whatever seems interesting at the time. As she gets near the end my daughter finds it fun and challenging to complete some portions all the way....but just for the personal sense of satisfaction.

Yeah, I find myself hitting "Practice" over and over even though I'm "Done" with that particular type of question, just to drill. Really, with math the only way to get better is to just do it, do it, and do it again, until you start to see the patterns automatically.

[Merlin]

It is better to work one pie slice to 100% and then move on? Or fill it to 70% and then move to the next slice and fill it to 70%? Or best to do a few in one slice, then pick another and raise it up a few points, etc?

I generally pick a slice and stay with it until it doesn't give me any more questions, then move clockwise to the next one... rinse and repeat. Eventually the old slices will become available again, and I start the process over again. If you want to get to 100% (and learn the material) that is a great way to go, if you just want to hit 70% to quickly get credit, then doing 70% in each slice may be the best option, since you can get through all the easier topics faster.

I noticed that some people seem to use online math solvers to answer the problems. I actually want to learn the math, so I don't want the answers solved for me -- at least not for my "real" answers, but to explain concepts and see the steps that's OK with me.

Well many of the questions cannot be answered by those applications, particularly the word problems and most of the graphing problems. Either way, you're not supposed to use them on the assessments anyway, only on the learning and study aspect. I will occasionally use them to check my work, or if I'm confused on how to solve something. If you want to learn the material, just keep working at it until you hit 100%... that is what I do anyway. Not to mention getting to 100% gives you a real edge when you move to the next higher math.