user: Problem: Article: Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) can be found in some commercial toothpastes and mouthwashes. SLS is often used as a cheap filler to help toothpaste thicken and foam up. But this additive has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing canker sores in your mouth. Read the labels on toothpastes and mouthwashes to make sure they are free of SLS before you use them or search online for brands that specifically do not contain SLS. You can also follow good oral hygiene by choosing a soft bristle toothbrush to clean your teeth. Try to brush your teeth twice a day and after every meal. This will reduce the presence of bacteria and food particles that may cause canker sores to develop. Using a soft bristle brush will also prevent irritation in your mouth. Irritating your mouth with hard brushes can lead to the development of canker sores. Floss once each day to prevent food particles from staying in your mouth. These food particles can lead to oral health issues, including canker sores.  Get in the habit of flossing before bed as well so your mouth is clean and free of bacteria or food particles. Flossing more than once daily can be harmful to your gums. If you have braces or a retainer, make sure it is not rubbing or scratching the inside of your mouth. Poorly fitting dental equipment can lead to the development of canker sores. Talk to your dentist if you feel your dental equipment is irritating your mouth. If you have braces that are rubbing against your mouth and causing sores, try using dental wax to cover sharp edges.
Summary: Use toothpaste that does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate. Brush with a soft bristle brush. Floss once daily. Make sure your dental equipment fits properly.

Problem: Article: You should approach this conversation almost like you are preparing to give an important speech. You want to write out how you want the conversation to go. Visualize it going well. Practice saying all your reasons out loud to yourself in the mirror or to a friend. You want to get your parent's full attention as you convince them to help you in switching schools.  Say something like, “Hey, Mom and Dad! Can we all sit down at the table together? I have something I’d like to talk about with you, and I’d really love to hear what you think.” You want to let your parents know that this is important to you and that you appreciate them listening to your thoughts. Even if your parents don’t respond at first, you don’t want to come across as whiney because this will make it less likely that your parents will support you in switching schools. At the same time, be honest.  You want them to know how much staying in your current situation will hurt you. Make your statements sincere and to-the-point.   If you’re being bullied, don’t be too embarrassed to show them how much it’s affecting your performance at school and how much it hurts you. Say something like, “There is a group of kids in my class that writes mean notes to me every day and steal things out of my desk. They call me names, and it makes me sad. I’ve asked them to stop, and I’ve talked to the teacher, but they still do it behind her back. I have a hard time enjoying school or focusing because I can’t stop thinking about it.” If you think you need a school with more academic attention say something like, “I’ve been having a hard time finishing my work in school because I don’t understand it. There are so many kids in my class that the teacher usually doesn’t have time to help me.” Or, if you want more of a challenge, say, “I get all A’s at school because the work is too easy. I finish all my work first, and I end up just sitting there in class. My teacher doesn’t have time to make special assignments for me.” These are the reasons that changing would improve your overall life. Some examples of positive reasons to practice might be:  “I’m really interested in learning to play music. Jackson Middle School has the best band program in the state, and it’s only ten minutes away. I’d really get to work on my skills there.” “St. John’s School only has 10 students in each class. If I went there, I’d be able to get more help with my work, and my grades would get better.” “Central Middle School has a lot of science and math classes I could take. They even have a Physics class. I want to be an engineer one day, and it’s never too early to start learning.” You don’t want your parents to have to decide right then whether you can change. That pressure will make them more likely to say “no” out of convenience. End the conversation with a statement like: “Thanks for listening to me. Take some time to think about what I said, and let me know what you think. I really hope you’ll think about letting me change schools”
Summary: Write it out and practice. Come up with an introduction. Keep your words calm and mature. Write out your positives. Make your conclusion open-ended.

Problem: Article: Squaring a number, or multiplying it by itself, creates a perfect square. For example, 25 is a perfect square because 5 x 5, or 52, equals 25. Memorizing at least the first ten perfect squares can help you recognize and quickly simplify perfect square roots. Here are the first ten perfect squares:  12 = 1 22 = 4 32 = 9 42 = 16 52 = 25 62 = 36 72 = 49 82 = 64 92 = 81 102 = 100 If you recognize a perfect square under a square root symbol, you can immediately turn it into its square root and get rid of the radical sign (√). For example, if you see the number 25 under the square root sign, you know that the answer is 5 because 25 is a perfect square. Here's the same list as above, going from the square root to the answer:  √1 = 1 √4 = 2 √9 = 3 √16 = 4 √25 = 5 √36 = 6 √49 = 7 √64 = 8 √81 = 9 √100 = 10 Use the perfect squares to your advantage when following the factor method of simplifying square roots. If you notice a way to factor out a perfect square, it can save you time and effort. Here are some tips:  √50 = √(25 x 2) = 5√2. If the last two digits of a number end in 25, 50, or 75, you can always factor out 25. √1700 = √(100 x 17) = 10√17. If the last two digits end in 00, you can always factor out 100. √72 = √(9 x 8) = 3√8. Recognizing multiples of nine is often helpful. There's a trick to it: if all digits in a number add up to nine, then nine is always a factor. √12 = √(4 x 3) = 2√3. There's no special trick here, but it's usually easy to check whether a small number is divisible by 4. Keep this in mind when looking for factors. If the number's factors contain more than one perfect square, move them all outside the radical symbol. If you found multiple perfect squares during your simplification process, move all of their square roots to the outside of the √ symbol and multiply them together. For example, let's simplify √72:  √72 = √(9 x 8) √72 = √(9 x 4 x 2) √72 = √(9) x √(4) x √(2) √72 = 3 x 2 x √2 √72 = 6√2
Summary:

assistant: Memorize a few perfect squares. Find the square root of a perfect square. Factor numbers into perfect squares. Factor a number with more than one perfect square.