University of Washington

Math 120 Study Guides

Comprehensive PDF study guides, formula breakdowns, and step-by-step problem sets curated to help you succeed in UW Precalculus.

Midterm Review

Exam 1 Guide

Coordinate geometry, circular motion, linear modeling, multipart functions, and quadratic optimization.

Open Guide

Midterm Review

Exam 2 Guide

Function composition, inverses, exponential growth and decay, logarithmic equations, and graph shifts.

Open Guide

Cumulative Review

Final Exam Guide

Complete semester-long review covering sinusoidal modeling, trigonometry, inverse trig, and high-yield problems.

Open Guide

The Math Man

5.0

Based on 190 reviews

review us on

Chloe J.

4 months ago

Mr. Hovatter is fantastic! He is the only reason I got through multiple math classes; I would recommend him to anyone. The sessions are absolutely worth it!

Navveer S.

6 months ago

Thank you very much, I found the past year MCQs and FRQs along with the videos very helpful.

Henrik E.

6 months ago

Mr. Hovatter has helped me immensely with my Calculus 1 class, explaining things in a way that makes a lot of sense, often more than the way my teacher did. If I could give more stars, I would. It was a great experience working with him overall

Sydney S.

8 months ago

This has helped me get through multiple of the csu precalc courses and it makes learning a breeze. He walks you through each problem step by step and makes it very easy to understand. Would defiantly recommend!

Anna Katherine S.

11 months ago

Super helpful. I tried other tutors and none went as in depth as him. I actually developed an understanding of the calculus I was doing, and it helped build confidence throughout the duration of my calculus course. I would 100% recommend him to any of my friends struggling with math.

Lunden D.

11 months ago

I have never been good at math throughout my entire life. I have dreaded it, hated it, no matter what tutors I got I just could not do it. The math man completly changed the game! I have passed three semesters of math with A's from the videos alone! Thank you so much!

Connor S.

12 months ago

By far the best math tutor I’ve ever had! I thought college algebra was a lost cause, but after I contacted Mr. Blue, everything finally clicked. His streamlined note-taking methods and recorded tutoring sessions made a huge difference, and I earned A’s in MATH 117, 118, and 124. I highly recommend his services — they’re absolutely worth it.

Griffin P.

12 months ago

Highly recommend! The tutoring was really helpful and having the full session recorded, along with the notes for each problem, was great for studying!

Mr H.

1 year ago

I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for this invaluable resource for AP Calculus AB. This is my first time exploring the site, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have free access to such high-quality materials—especially the multiple-choice questions (MCQ) section, which I have been searching for quite some time. Thank you so much for providing these resources. Your generosity is deeply appreciated, and I wish you all the best. May God bless you! With gratitude, Mahmoud Harb Lotus School for Excellence Denver, CO

Ava B.

1 year ago

Blue is the best! I was taking an online calc course that was very fast paced because it was an 8-week course. Even after countless hours of studying and using chat to explain the material it wasn't until I started sessions with Blue that I was really able to understand the concepts. He is able to record the session so that you can review them again later. The help I received from Blue was worth every penny and I would definitely recommend reaching out if you are struggling.

Kayla N.

2 years ago

The Math Man was a saving grace when it came to navigating the trenches of the CSU math courses. As someone who hadn't done a math class in 3 years and learns better in person (and struggled in person anyways also), I was genuinely scared to have to face Math 117, 118, and 124. Luckily with the extremely detailed, straightforward, and easy to understand video tutorials offered by the math man, I was able to pass math with ease and completed all three courses. I highly recommend this for anyone, he makes it so easy to understand math!

Alex L.

2 years ago

Words can't fully explain how amazing Blue is. Math has never been my strongest subject, especially online, but Blue helped me not only pass two math classes but also earn an A in both, with four weeks left to spare. I tried getting help at the math center, but their explanations were nowhere near as clear or helpful as Blue's. I would say it's worth every penny, and if I could, I'd take all my math classes with Blue!

Missy J.

2 years ago

Mr Hovatter truly is an incredible tutor! My daughter had some serious health issues this semester but wanted to continue with a full course load. Tutoring with Blue allowed her to do that. She said he is absolutely the best math teacher she has had. He explains things clearly and provides the right amount of support as students practice the problem/skill. Very thankful we had him for help in college calculus.

Avery B.

2 years ago

Blue helped me get through MATH120, even with the annoying textbook! I would recommend him to anyone taking a math class at CSU! Very great and understandable teaching style!

Kerem9_8

2 years ago

I would highly recommend Blue for any high school or college student struggling in their math class, and I wish I had known about him earlier. He is able to explain problems in ways that are easy to digest, especially for those who aren't naturally gifted at math. I also enjoyed working with him because he offers 1-on-1 tutoring, which is very helpful for the times I felt confused in my 300 something person lecture hall, as the professor obviously doesn't have the resources to give that much attention every single student in their class. Some important things to keep in mind before booking with him: he works with you over Google Meet, he charges $75 per session (each session is one hour long), and he only tutors up to Calc 1.

2 years ago

Blue helped me increase my grade from fail to pass. He took material he was unfamiliar with, learned it and explained it in such a way that I was able to comprehend. Truly Blue is a master of his craft and I cannot recommend him enough.

Santiago M.

2 years ago

Finished the course I was struggling on in 3 weeks and got an A. Super helpful and you learn everything way faster because of Blue’s teaching method. 10/10 experience.

Liza D.

2 years ago

I just saw him for the first time, didn't even get through the whole hour (my fault entirely, location problems), and the entire 117 unit 3 that I've been tearing my hair out for weeks over is naught but a pebble beneath my feet. Patience, Prudence, and Perspicacious. 10/10 would recommend and I *will* be using his services again.

Keane P.

2 years ago

Blue has helped me tremendously. If not for him, I am absolutely certain i would not pass math 118 or math 124. If you're doing the CSU online math courses, you should definitely consider getting this course.

Blake L.

3 years ago

He broke down both the math courses that I was taking (Math 124 + Math 125) so that I could understand the courses much better. I really appreciate all that he did for me this semester. Thanks Blue!

ShadowHeck

3 years ago

Best math tutor ever. I would be completely lost without the guidance of these videos and tutoring sessions. I would like to mention that this tutoring was mainly the reason I completed the course with an A. Thank you so much Blue, you are the best.

Jan H.

3 years ago

He's the Math Man for a reason.

Duh O.

3 years ago

Blue has probably been one of the best math tutors ever, I was completely stuck on math 126 and was afraid I would have to drop the class completely. That was until blue cam around and helped me, his teaching style is amazing and explains so many skills and abilities that can be applied to the math that the original course doesn't teach at all. If you are struggling with absolutely anything within the realm of what he tutors, I would 100% recommend him.

Virginia P.

3 years ago

Blue is all everyone says he is. My daughter was avoiding Math 117 and 118 and has significant math anxiety. He met with her privately for 117 and she purchased the videos for 118. She made it through both of them successfully. He really knows the CSU math program and all the ins and outs. You can't go wrong following his advice. He is patient and a great teacher. Thank you Blue!

Haley M.

3 years ago

I cannot thank Blue enough for helping me through Math 117, 118, and 125. I have always struggled with math and never scored higher than a C in math. Thanks to Blue I got an A in all of my math courses at CSU. Not only was he a major help during tutoring sessions, but he was also readily available to answer questions over email. If you are struggling with any math course, I highly recommend booking an appointment with the coolest math man!!

Nate L

4 years ago

First off, if anyone is coming across Blue and thinking about using his tutoring services, I can say you would not be disappointed. I was recommended by a friend who knows Blue to seek his services because I was not very good with math, and I needed CSU’s precalculus requirements. I put it off through MAT 117, 118 and believe I only passed those classes because I was lucky enough to be one of the few who could take those in person. MAT 125 was a different story. I had to take that solely through CSU’s abhorrent excuse of math instruction. This time, I got access to Blue’s videos for MAT 125. They are easy to understand, cover every single question you are going to see on both the review exams and unit exams. What’s more, each question is broken down into what you need to know for the problem and the easiest method. If you compare them to the “videos” the CSU math department provides, Blue’s blows them out of the water. He will teach you only what you need to know to solve the problem and how to utilize the calculator to do the heavy lifting. I am super appreciative of his help and believe anyone who uses his services will succeed.

Tatum S.

4 years ago

Blue has been the best math tutor ever! He enables you to really understand the material by explaining all of the details. It was very helpful and, with his help I received an a in Math 160 at colorado State!

Marlisa K.

4 years ago

I just finished my last math semester at Colorado State University. I can not thank Blue enough. His videos got me through 3 math semesters. I really dislike math, and I have always struggled, but his videos made every step and every unit understandable. Blue is knowledgeable about CSU’s academic expectations and taught exactly what I needed to know to get through. Blue, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I highly recommend you and your videos.

Taylor J.

4 years ago

The best tutor I’ve ever had! He knows how to teach better than any teacher! He got me through math 141 with extremely little effort because I understood 100% of the weeks information within a one hour session. I ended the class with a grade of over 106%!! I got 100% on every test and every quiz. Plus extra credit on every test. The class got extremely hard week two and that’s when I decided to hire him. From then on the class was a breeze for me.

Kyle R.

4 years ago

I pushed off calculus until my senior year of college. Math was a different language to me. With the help of the one and only Math Man, Blue helped me understand math in a way that no other teacher, professor, or tutor could. For once I found myself doing really well in math class. With Blues help not only did I do well in calculus but I was able to spend more time on my other classes. His methods are exactly what you want. I could not recommend a college math tutor more. The Math Man is your answer if you are struggling in college level math courses. Thank you again Blue, you somehow made math fun.

Lily W.

4 years ago

Blue made the PACE math classes a breeze! He teaches you how to use the calculator to your advantage and explains everything in very simple terms. I cannot say enough good things about Blue! He helped me earn 2 A’s in the PACE classes and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him!

Celine W

4 years ago

I couldn't recommend Blue enough. He has all the qualities you would want in a tutor: patient, thoughtful, and approachable. I highly recommend The Math Man!

Rubie S.

4 years ago

I did tutoring with Blue while taking a summer course of business calculus at Texas A&M. The online meetings were very helpful, and he was able to write on the same screen as the material while explaining easier ways to do complicated math. Overall his tutoring made a difficult and fast-paced class much easier!

Roy C.

4 years ago

I am not a person who sugarcoats things and Blue was an awesome teacher! His assistance with Algebra 2 was the only reason I passed the class. He was patient and always had at least three different ways to show you how to work something out if you didn't get it the first time. In addition, his methods of teaching were far superior to the curriculum I was using, but he was able to take that curriculum and work with what he was given to make it work for me. If you are on the fence about working with Blue, I encourage you to give him a try.

Caden B.

4 years ago

He explained everything very clearly and I was able to pass tow math classes in one semester because of him!!

Hayden A.

5 years ago

I wanted to keep this short and simple. I was heavily struggling in my 3 math classes I was taking. I quickly fell behind and didn't know what i was going to do. Thats when I found Blue. Without a single doubt in my mind he saved me more times than I would like to admit. So if you need help go to Blue and he will get you back on track in no time at all.

sloan L.

5 years ago

Blue is an amazing tutor and very friendly and helpful! I was struggling with pre calc trig and he helped me get through it without any struggle. The information and knowledge finally made sense once he walked me through it! Great guy, great tutor, and very professional! I highly recommend him!

Sydney D.

5 years ago

Blue is an AMAZING tutor! I always struggle in math, especially with Calc, and he explained everything in a way that made it super to easy to understand. I was failing the class until I started working with Blue, and even a few sessions before my exam helped me so much. He is a great guy and a great tutor, I highly recommend!!

Robbie H.

5 years ago

Blue is a G. Without Blue I wouldn't have passed Math 117-124 AT ALL. Honestly, Blue made math less stressful and easy to understand !

nicole H.

5 years ago

Without Blue I can say with confidence I would not have passed Matb 155. I have not taken calculus before and he made me understand it much better than my own professor. With his help I was able to get a B in this class which is a huge accomplishment. Thank you Blue!

Wesley S.

5 years ago

Blue Breaks down calculus problems fully and in great detail! If you are struggling or maybe not the strongest at math Blue can help you. Easy guy to talk to and ask questions if your confused. I got 100% on all the online webworks. We went through the written practice as well. The way CSUs Math 155 Course is structured can be frustrating, I highly recommend booking an appointment with blue when you can, he makes the course less stressful! Thanks again Blue!

David P.

5 years ago

I cant speak more highly of Blue. He helped me pass Calc 116, allowing me to raise my grade from failing to doing considerably well. He is straight forward and fantastic at what he does. I cannot recommend him enough.

Quinn L.

5 years ago

Blue is the best! I've tried multiple different tutors and Blue is the only one who is easily understandable and gets sessions done in only one hour! I wouldn't have passed my math requisites for my major without him and for that I cannot thank him enough!

King F.

5 years ago

Blue's tutoring for my senior in high school was beyond wonderful. He knew that Nick was motivated to graduate and willing to work hard to accomplish passing his math courses. Without Blue's guidance, I do not believe our family would be celebrating sending him to college this fall. I absolutely recommend him.

Andrew H.

5 years ago

I don't ordinarily write reviews... so infrequently, in fact, I had to look up how to do it. As a non-traditional online college student who last took a math course thirty or so years ago, I find Blue's tutoring videos to be an indispensible learning tool. While a textbook and online course explain the theory behind a concept, he cuts right to the chase showing how to solve each question in plain no-nonsense language. More so, he demonstrates how to use the monstrously powerful TI-84 calculator to handle all the heavy lifting -- something I surely would not be able to figure out in a reasonable timeframe on my own. He's friendly, responsive, and customer-oriented - obvious to the observer that he loves his job and is great at it. Just a few minutes ago, I submitted my first calculus exam and got an A. Two weeks ago, I knew little about the material and feared it. Today (to my surprise) I actually enjoyed solving the exam problems. Blue, thank you so much.

Catherine P.

5 years ago

Blue helped my son with Math 117, Math 118 and Math 141 at CSU and it was an amazing experience. My son felt lost and totally discouraged before he met Blue. Thanks to Blue he now has a better understanding of math and a higher self esteem. Blue is professional, kind, organized, communicative, extremely knowledgeable and able to teach math in a way that makes sense. He will follow up with you and makes you feel like someone is on your side. We highly recommend him!!

Colton L.

5 years ago

I was struggling with my math 141 class before I met Blue. I originally had an F in the class after my first exam and thought I was going to fail this class. Then my friend introduced me to Blue. Throughout the semester and countless sessions I had with Blue, he helped me turn that F into an A. Blue is one of the best tutors for any college course and is definitely worth the money. He's a professional when it comes to any kind of math and helps explain any and all means and methods for any problem. He is an empathetic and relatable guy that anyone can get along with both in and out of his tutoring sessions. There is just so many amazing things I can say about Blue and highly recommend him for any college math course.

John W.

5 years ago

Blue is a great tutor. He helped me so much with my calc class and is honestly the reason I am passing! Super professional and super nice! Would recommend to anyone who is struggling in their math courses. Great guy!

La0_oCoco !

6 years ago

As a student with disabilities my learning style requires a clear, step-by-step instruction especially when it comes to math since it has always been my most challenging subject. Blue’s tutorials are easy to understand and provide a simpler way of doing math. He breaks problems down in a way that cuts time on solving—I took his pre-Calc Math 124 (entire course) tutorial and I am happy that I used his methods rather than the ones on the Pace course, they seem to make some of the problems more complicated than they have to be. *One important note: Pace does not provide instruction on how to use parts of the calculator for problems, this can lead to incorrect answers and just overall frustration, Blue is amazing for including these steps—it makes such a difference in your performance* Go with Blue!

Joshua

6 years ago

Blue helped me immensely in getting into and through my pre-calculus classes. Highly recommend him for any of your CSU math needs!

Trevor W.

6 years ago

Amazing Math tutor that really knows his stuff! Super flexible with scheduling and knows how to communicate with young adults in a great way. He is the only reason why I got through my six week calculus class without failing, seriously.

Andrew K.

6 years ago

I am a non traditional college student and it has been quite some time since my last math class. Never my strongest subject, I dreaded completing the required math courses for my major. Blue was recommended to me by a friend and I am very thankful for his recommendation! Without question, Blue is the best and most helpful math tutor I have ever had. He approaches the problems by breaking them down step by step and giving you the techniques necessary to solve them with ease. I enjoyed learning from him this past semester and gaining a different perspective on math concepts in general. I Highly recommend this man!

Grace C.

6 years ago

I cannot stress enough how much this tutoring helped me through online calculus. Blue is very good at clearly explaining concepts that at first glance in lecture feel like a foreign language. If I was forced to take another math class I would use his services again.

Tyler F.

6 years ago

Has a great work ethic, very kind and doesn't mind repeating or explain things in different ways to help you understand, extremely detailed notes that he sends to you for reference and practice. The price is 100% worth it. He honestly cares about tutoring and wants to help people, this man helped me get my degree, and every penny was worth it. Thank you!!!

Alice R.

6 years ago

Blue was the best math tutor! He explained calculus so well and in a way that I was able to understand. I would not have made it through calculus without him. I cannot recommend Blue enough! So happy to have found him and worked with him through the semester.

Griffin O.

6 years ago

Incredible tutor, ensures you understand what's happening, as well as ensures you get the grade you are hoping for. I've used his videos for two PACE classes and both I passed seamlessly! Highly recommend to anyone who needs a little oomph or the entire class gone over!

Molly S.

6 years ago

Even with the transition of moving online in the spring semester due to COVID-19, Blue was still able to meet with me for tutor sessions virtually and was just as seamless as it was seeing him in person. By far the best tutor and took so much stress off of me. Boosted my GPA dramatically

gavin A.

6 years ago

Makes it easy and covers everything for you to be successful with completing PACE.

reefrelax

6 years ago

Blue was able to cover all the questions I had in one session each and every week with perfect accuracy! He would give you a complete and detailed breakdown for each problem and even explained previous material it you needed a push to fully understand it. He was very professional every session. Great attitude as well! I would recommend him first before anyone else.

Adventurize M.

6 years ago

Blue is by far the best tutor I have EVER had the pleasure of working with. He absolutely knows what he's doing and has a fantastic ability to teach math. Not only is he a great teacher, he provides amazing tools that are extremely helpful. If you need an A in your class, Blue is the man to see. I cannot thank him enough for the AMAZING job he did helping me this past semester. Highly Highly Highly recommend. He is hands down the best and worth every single penny.

Jimmy G

6 years ago

Blue is hands down the best tutor for math at CSU! One session was all I needed! This guy knows his stuff!

Juliana S.

6 years ago

Blue helped me pass MATH141 with an A. He makes concepts so clear and understandable. He is well worth the money. I had no problems with this course. Tutoring with him was worth it. I would recommend him to anyone who is worried about their math class they are taking or confused with math concepts.

Macy B.

6 years ago

Blue is an amazing math tutor! If it wasn't for him, I would not have been able to pass my Numerical Trigonometry class. He showed me great short cuts and explained how to solve the problems effortlessly. After every session with Blue I was no longer confused! He is a great asset to have to get you through your math class.

More reviews