Can I get (or provide) help with a homework assignment?

If you are a student you can get excellent assistance here, but don't expect too much if you just want someone to do your homework for you. If you post something like ``I need answers to these problems...NOW'' or the like, you will rarely get what you ask for. Several regular contributors are either professional educators, or at the very least concerned others who enjoy helping others while keeping the muscle between the ears limber. Most would rather help you understand a process, as opposed to just cranking out an answer to your problem.

Don't get the wrong impression from the above paragraph. If you are having trouble with a problem on an assignment, or any other algebra problem for that matter, don't hesitate to ask for help. This is what the group is for. However, you are more likely to receive useful responses if you explain specifically what you do not understand about the problem, include your attempt at solving it, and ask for specific guidance with the process for arriving at the answer. This indicates to potential responders that you have a sincere interest in knowing how to do the problem, as opposed to giving the possible impression that all you want is the answer. Additionally, letting others know specifically where you are having trouble will probably lead to a more useful response that is tailored to your needs.

If you follow these guidelines, who knows, you might just get the answer as well. Ultimately, it is a decision made by the people responding to your inquiry as to how much detail they provide. Some prefer providing just enough detail to steer you in the right direction, for very good reason. Others may offer more detail, which may or may not include the answer to the problem. Even if someone does give you the answer, it is the process you are expected to focus on. Giving an answer without also giving some explanation of the process certainly does not ``help,'' and is rarely seen here. When it does occur it is usually frowned upon, so please think twice before giving an answer without any explanation how it was arrived at.