Louis La Minh Hoang

Today’s math tutoring session was all about advanced factorization, and honestly, it was one of the most satisfying topics I’ve done so far. We went way past the basics — no simple “take out common terms” or “split the middle” kind of methods. This time, I learned techniques that felt like real problem-solving tools, not just formulas to memorize.

My tutor and I worked through expressions that required clever manipulation — rearranging terms, spotting patterns that aren’t obvious at first glance, and using algebraic identities in creative ways. I practiced factoring polynomials that looked completely impossible to factorize at first or tricky cases where the coefficients didn’t seem to fit any pattern. For example: I have to factorize “x^7 + x^2 + 1”.

What made this lesson even more interesting was realizing how useful advanced factorization actually is in real math problems. It’s not just about simplifying expressions—it shows up everywhere. For example, it helps solve tough quadratic and cubic equations faster, simplify fractions with messy numerators and denominators, and even prove algebraic identities that look impossible at first. I also noticed that many competition-style problems or tricky test questions secretly rely on recognizing a factorization pattern. Once you spot it, the entire problem suddenly collapses into something simple and elegant. It’s like unlocking a hidden shortcut that makes complex math look effortless.

By the end, I realized that factorization isn’t just a “topic” — it’s a whole skill set for breaking down complicated problems into simpler parts. This session made me appreciate how powerful algebra can be when you truly understand it.

Recently, I’ve been studying computer science in an extra class, and to put my learning into action, I was tasked with building a Battleship game in pseudocode. It’s been a fun and challenging project that really pushed me to think logically and creatively.

At first, I had no idea how to organize such a big idea into code. But through trial and error, with some help from the teacher, I managed to make solid progress. One of the most valuable things I learned was how to use functions in pseudocode. They made everything much more efficient, as I no longer have to repeat codes. I also learned better ways to plan algorithms, manage variables, and structure the overall program better.

So far, I’ve finished the part that lets players place their ships, and the AI randomly strikes positions on the grid. It’s not a full game yet, but it already feels like a real system taking shape.

This project has helped me sharpen my problem-solving skills, understand logical flow, and get more confident in writing and improving code.

In conclusion, my Battleship project has been more than just a coding exercise—it has been a significant step forward in learning how to think like a programmer.

Hello! I’m Minh Hoang, an 8th-grade student in secondary school. I’m excited to share all of my posts with friends both in Vietnam and around the world.