How to choose a task-book?

In this article, we do not discuss the standard schoolbooks. These books are selected by a teacher and are mandatory for a student. Many people, however, have to buy additional task-books and tutorials. Let us consider new opportunities opened by the computer programs. As any training program contains some set of math problems or theorems, the functions of tutorial or task-book are inherent in any program.
The challenge of finding a "good" task-book relates to the fact that there is no "dozen" universal math problems which, being solved, would guarantee mastering an educational material. Each student needs to solve his/her own set of problems, depending on his/her level of knowledge, skills and personal features. For some people one example suffices to learn a piece of material, while others may need to solve twenty examples. This however says nothing about his/her ability or inability. A number of my students needed many exercises to master a material, and nevertheless they obtained scientific degrees later on. The conclusion is that the "good" book should contain such number of educational tasks, which is sufficient for a particular student to build up necessary knowledge, abilities and skills. The amount of the necessary educational material is individual for each student.
Being asked about criteria for choosing a task-book, I always recommend one criterion - the number of problems included. The more examples the task-book comprises, the better.
Of course, you can buy a number of paper books. But:
Books are very expensive

• Quite often, the topics in books overlap. It happens that you buy a book because of just ten pages you need
• One has "to get used" to each book, that is to spend time and energy on it
• It is very inconvenient to use many textbooks and task-books. One has to remember what paragraph and where can be found. Sure, you are familiar with such an "advanced" search system and therefore I will save my time on explanation.
• Parts of educational material simply do not exist in paper, for instance, selections of solved and substantiated tasks. By the way, this is one of the reasons why training programs are so successful on the market of educational services
• Sorting is essentially impossible
• The best way to get the proper task-book would be to compile "your own" book from some inexhaustible source of educational tasks. This becomes possible with the help of computer technologies. First, it is possible to create a very large database of educational tasks, not only in the Internet but also on a local computer. Such database is a core of the training complex EM Teachline. With this database in hands, it is technically easy to organize various systems of selection.

There are, however, difficulties. For a non-specialist, it is difficult to make a choice. If you are not a math teacher, then such phrase as "Solution of equations of such type by such methods" tells you little. You need help. To make your choice more conscious, we have developed a number of electronic "books" on basis of variety of educational tasks comprised by the database of our complex. These books are not static; we will add the new ones and change the existing ones. Currently we offer you the following groups of math courses:

• Specialized thematic courses
• Through courses
• Courses with same task types

Specialized thematic courses present a set of tasks on a particular topic. The program "Trig equations", for instance, includes only trig equations. A feature of specialized courses is that they offer a large number (up to 30) of similar tasks. These courses are meant mainly for teachers, as they allow you to develop large sets of similar variants with problems graded in difficulty. The number of similar problems is indicated for each program. Each program exists in two versions. The short versions include less similar problems (typically 2-3) and therefore they are suitable for students, considering that one has to solve a couple of similar problems on each topic to develop durable problem-solving skills.

The through courses present a set of tasks covering a number of topics. For instance, the program "Trigonometry" combines all developed topics in trigonometry. Thus, through courses pool together a number of specialized thematic courses. The number of similar tasks in through courses is, however, small (1-3 variants). Each through course has its short version; the short version offers no similar tasks.

Courses with same task types presents a set of tasks banded together by one type of task, such as to solve the equation, to evaluate the expression etc. These programs can be specialized as well as pooled. For instance, the program "Equations" includes algebraic, trigonometric and hyperbolic equations, while the program "Trigonometry_Equations" includes only trig equations. As a new topic will be developed (e.g., the irrational equations), the new specialized program will appear and the existing pooled program "Equations" will enlarge. As before, each program exists in two versions.

Now we ask again how to choose a program? Well, the programs' structure is described above. The programs' contents you have before your eyes. Relate what you need to the price and make your choice.