Problem Solver

Chapter One

"The problem is simple. All you need to do is square the two numbers, leaving the variable as 'a square' and then subtract 'b square' from the total, find the square root of the answer, and then you recieve the answer for 'a square' giving you a total of 16 inches. It's not that complicated, Beth. You just need to pay attention." Patricia stares down at her paper, scribbling down her work as Beth gazes out the window absentmindedly until she realizes that she dozed off.

Sheepishly, Beth looks over at Patricia who is deep into her work, and begins to bite off her nails. "So the answer is. . .?"

Patricia rolls her eyes and turns to face her best friend. It's a wonder as to how the two managed to befriend each other without putting up a fight. Well, not exactly a wonder since they've lived next door to each other since first grade, and their mothers have been best friends in high school, leaving the two girls smashed together, forming a bond that should have never been tampered with. However, Patricia doesn't want to go into detail and clears her throat dramatically to make sure Beth won't daze off. "Figure it out," she says simply, staring back at her notebook.

"C'mon, Tricia! You know how I suck at math. I mean, I dunno how I got into the eighth grade-"

"Ditto," Patricia snaps.

"But you helped me get through seventh. And sixth. And fifth. And-"

"I get it, Beth." Patricia looks over at her pleading friend, seeing her dark hazel eyes growing with anticipation for her help. There is no question to it. She will eventually end up tutoring her butt off to help her poor, uneducated friend until she at least knows what the Pythagorean Theorem is. Sadly, Beth barely knows how to square root a number or how to even simplify an expression.

But then again, Patricia doesn't want to go into detail.

"Come over my house and we'll study until you understand. Okay?" Patricia eyes her, watching Beth nod vaguely with caution.

Beth then clucks her tongue and says, "Can we at least do it at the park? I hate being stuck inside. Especially after eight hours of this jail hole." She pushes back her thick, square-rimmed glasses onto the bridge of her nose and pouts.

Patricia doesn't say anything, only nods to give a silent agreement. Her eyes fix over to the notebook once more, swiftly answering the problems in her head.