The hell they won't. They won't do horribly complicated problems the old fashioned way, but they absolutely will do simple problems by hand. The fact that they appear to (based on the blurb) phase out all arithmetical calculations in pre-algebra in favor of a TI calculator is enough that I would recommend strongly against it for all but the profoundly dyscalculic. Using the calculator when it's not *necessary* results in the students I see in my college math classes who whip out the calculator for calculations like 1 + 0.15 or 2(1/2) or 3 times 1. I am absolutely serious. These students are unable to follow when I work problems with them or when the text works problems because they cannot see how "wait, here you wrote 2(1/2) and here you just wrote 1, where did the 1 come from?" Students should be encouraged to use the calculator for things such as 234235923/312 where no sane mathematician would ever use long division instead of a pocket calculator, but they should be able to do things like 12/6 without one.

I think part of it is going to depend on how comfortable you as the mom are with pre-algebra and algebra. Personally I would have absolutely no issue moving on and dealing with issues as they arise -- I would probably get the Lial pre-algebra as well as the modular organization makes it easier to find practice problems than Saxon. Since you have pinpointed his trouble spots I would actually recommend just assigning a problem of each type every day -- just one problem -- if it's not already covered by his algebra assignment -- and having him do those as extra.

I preferred using candy to model subtraction. After all, what should be done with subtracted candy? :D

There isn't a cure, but if you *can* lose the weight it can help with many of the symptoms. I have this myself, and it was vicious during my early twenties. When I got out of the obese range I started cycling again without the pills, and now that I'm around 21% fat I am experiencing no symptoms (without medication) other than the stupid hirsuitism. Many people I know used Metformin or similar to get their blood sugars under control, or birth control pills, or a low-carb diet, but found that once they managed to hit normal weight range less medication was needed.

One of the things that they tell me in martial arts was "more of what's already not working won't make it work better". I think it applies to many more areas of life.

Oh also, re: leftovers -- I try and cook just enough starch for one meal. If people are still hungry, it is relatively simple to cook up more rice/pasta/whatever. It helps curb mindless overeating (problem in my family) when you have to go and make another batch of starch, and it's nicer to have the leftovers with fresh-cooked starch. Of course with something like mac and cheese this doesn't work, but for things like spaghetti and meatballs or curry it works great.

Put the leftovers at the front of the fridge so they're the first thing you see. Plan lunch as "leftovers" from the previous night's dinner. It seems boring at first but you get used to it pretty quickly. If your evenings are varied your lunches will still be pretty varied on a weekly basis. Don't make something new for lunch unless you really are out of leftovers. If I try and save them for "two days from now" I forget about them and end up with something scarily close to evolving sentience in the back of the fridge.

Yes yes yes. We don't HAVE pickup games of baseball or football or whatever in most places that are open to even kids who are horrible at it. We have organized leagues instead and the older you get the less open they are to unfit or uncoordinated kids. This is terrible. We are basically telling kids "Oh if you aren't good at/interested in/fit enough to play sports, your options are a treadmill or couch potato". We should encourage more recreational sports and even more importantly, we should try to get kids out for less structured electronics-free time *outside*.

Like Creekland, I pay no attention to the use-by date and go off smell/touch/taste in that order. However, one idea (if you're using it for sandwiches) is to make the entire thing into sandwiches on the day you get them, put them in sandwich bags, and freeze them. On the day you want them for lunch, take them out at breakfast and they'll be thawed by lunch. ETA: And if you forget to take them out, a frozen ham and cheese sandwich slapped in the oven for a few minutes on high temperature gets thawed, toasted, melty, and delicious.

re: weight training I did do lifts for a while, but I got really inconsistent with heading to the gym. I just hate having to go get dressed in "workout clothes" and proper shoes and all that. I switched to the http://www.startbodyweight.com/program and saw great results there, and then eventually to the reddit.com/r/bodyweightfitness program, which is very similar. I have been seeing awesome physical results from it, muscles popping out all over the place. I recommend them both highly.

What the heck is with this school? All of this together is incredibly unprofessional.

Oh my goodness yes. This annoys me especially when I have told people "DON'T TEXT ME" and I don't have a texting plan, so each stupid reply costs me another couple of dimes.

Snaps are fine if there's a flap to fold over.

Only if they cause you issues (like making you hungry again soon after you eat them). Different people have different tolerances.

One knee (both are damaged) only has swelling and inflammation and we're going with conservative treatment there. One knee has a loose body and bone bruise which is going to be surgically repaired. I guess ... at least ... I don't need both done? :P

Yes, and also people just plain buy more clothes when it's labeled a smaller size. I'm really not sure why, either, because it's not like you walk around with the tag hanging out. But it's a definite truth.

Medium, but what's more important to me than purse size is whether it closes or not. If it doesn't seal closed I drop it upside down at some point and all the stuff falls out and then I get grouchy.

What really ticks me off about the vanity sizing is when you carefully look up the size chart, measure yourself to know what size is supposed to fit, get that size, put it on and you're swimming in it.

Is DE a possibility? Nursing frequently requires both college algebra and a statistics course. Assuming she passes the placement test, she could DE college algebra in the fall, statistics in the spring, and have her college math all sorted out before she even applies.

Golly, and I saw the title and I thought ... I don't wear a shirt for THAT ...

Double-check with another keyboard if available. You should be able to plug in a USB keyboard or similar.

Possibly a setting but investigate low-tech first. Make sure that one of your keys isn't stuck down, like control/alt/start.

It does.

I am actually not criticizing anyone who continues listening to Cosby's stuff. It was funny. I just can't. I can't get it out of my head.

Livestock are sold while alive by the pound -- there's a set price per pound -- so more mass = more money. It doesn't really matter whether it's muscle or fat.