Our vision at Understand The Math is to offer free and engaging mathematics instruction for students and lifelong learners. Through our range of YouTube videos, course and guided notes, insights, and merchandise, we aim to empower individuals to excel in mathematics, fostering a vibrant learning community. Our mission is to simplify the process of learning mathematics and cultivate a passion for lifelong learning.
Mission and Values
Meet Cheryl Hile
As the creator of Understand The Math, I bring over 25 years of experience as an educator teaching mathematics at the university level and being involved in academic administration and advising.
I received my BS Degree in Mathematics from Penn State and my PhD in Engineering Science and Applied Mathematics from Northwestern University. At Penn State and Northwestern, I had the opportunity to study mathematics from an applied perspective, learning how it can be used to model phenomena in business, science, and engineering. This education provided me with the knowledge to effectively teach mathematics to students in business, science, and engineering disciplines.
Throughout my career as a mathematics professor, academic administrator, and academic adviser, at NJIT and Penn State, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges that students face they lack the background knowledge needed to succeed in a course, need resources to review a concept, are not receiving adequate instruction, or are not able to attend class and have to learn the material on their own.
In response to these challenges, I have founded Understand The Math with the aim of providing free resources for students to obtain clear explanations, step-by-step problem solving strategies, and worked out example problems in subjects such as algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations.
Student Testimonials
“Dr. Hile is a fantastic teacher who makes all the concepts easy to grasp and learn! The guided notes are very organized and help with understanding the content in a structured way.” - Amber Chen
“Dr. Hile’s instructional method was centered on meticulously crafted guided notes, which provided a structured approach to mastering complex mathematical concepts. Thanks to Dr. Hile's dedication and expertise, what initially seemed daunting became manageable and even enjoyable.” - RJ Shontz
“Dr. Hile’s notes took such a complex topic and broke it down in an easy-to-follow manner. She provided just the right amount of examples, starting simple and progressing with each one. I’m happy that now she has the opportunity to share her knowledge and love of teaching with a wider group of students.” - Maggie McQuillen
"Dr. Hile is one of the most thorough professors I've ever had, walking us through each step of the learning process with a meticulous and kind guiding hand that makes even the strangest concepts feel crystal clear. Her guided notes are a golden standard in my mind, a perfect reference for the future and full of great opportunities to learn right then and there." - Elliott Rose
“Dr. Hile was an incredible teacher and with her guided notes I flourished in her class more than I would have without them.” - Madeleine Niewoehner