I need advice... I've been going to college full time (12 hrs) and working full time (33 hrs/wk) for about six semesters now. In every class I've taken, I've been able to get by without much time invested in studying or actually referring to the textbook, with B's. (A's in English, Govt, and Hist) The only core class that I need out the way is Algebra but man...it's like a whole different language to me. This is my second time taking it and it's just not clicking. Out of the 4 classes that I'm taking...it's the only one that ever gives me a hassle! I know if I were to take it as a mini-class instead, I could concentrate on the subject ALOT more and have an easier time with it. I guess it's just hard to admit I have to take that class differently from everyone else in order to make a ''B'' or higher... By the way, I'm barely turning 21 and I'm a Political Science major. somebody tell me I'm not stupid!
Tell me about it. I am taking 19 credits this semester and expecting to get an A in all of them except for this damn math class. I havn't taken math since high school and I don't have a clue what is going on. We have no textbook, just class notes. No tests, just quizzes with our TA. Oh, and did I mention my TA is from Japan and does not speak any English? It's kicking my ass so far. I hope I can pull out a B, but that is not likely right now.
I plan to teach algebra, so if you have specific questions, ask. I am sure there are others here who can help as well.
sounds like Rhino17 needs more help than I do! lol but I think I'm cool with just taking it as a mini-course. But thanks for the heads up. All you math teachers and math majors are too smart for me
It takes some getting used to...it just takes understanding the concept and practicing problems over and over again til you are confident. Sometimes, you just have to work with the problem, and try and figure it out yourself...kind of like a crossword puzzle...once you get one part done, it'll lead you to the next part. Its not just a class that will come easy to everybody. I made a D the 1st time I took it, but then I retook it in the summer and made a B. Also, tutoring never hurts or ask questions in class if you can.
I haven't taken a math course in like 3 years, and I'm in probability and statistics, and I'm sooooo confused. Class pisses me off.
ugh I love math and even I hated those classes (probably had a lot to do with the statistics teacher... she wasn't the brightest bulb in the package)
Math is hard and there is likely a wall you hit at some point, and this is coming from someone other people mistakenly of thinking is good at math. I was rolling along not having to crack a book open while still making 100's on test till calculus, at some point this stuff just seemed different to you, and because I never knew how to "learn" math, I had trouble with all upper level math courses (did an Electrical Engineering degree which is basically applied mathematics) so I know what you're going through (went from making A's while sleeping through class to not being to understand the text books). All I can say is keep plugging at it, at some point a light bulb goes off and you just get it. Don't get discourage by others getting it while you don't, it literally is like hit a brick wall till you get through.
I thought it was SAT 2 that got you out of math basics or whatever it was called. I hated those classes too, but in the real world, building statistical models or using stats to predict human/consumer behavior is something I think is just awesome. Too bad the PHD statisticians at work does most of the heavy lifting, and all I can do is tweak models to suit my needs.
no no no, if you really want to get a quality ass kicking my friend, try Calculus 3 or Diff-EQ .. but aside from that, let me offer you this piece of advice: start with the most basic concepts, even if you think you already know them. 1st degree equations, representation of lines, slopes, intercepts, etc.. then go up to 2nd degree equations and the rest shouldn't start clicking as you go. You can't really "study" math, you just have to understand the concepts and apply them.. and to use an old cliched analogy, it's like English, you can't start writing sentences before learning the alphabet. good luck
College Algebra just takes some getting used to, keep practicing various problems because once it clicks you'll find it easy.
Personally I thought diff-eq was easier than calc. It was all plug and chug algebra with greek letters as i recall. matrices wasn't bad either. Laplace transforms, that's a whole other story
I hear ya OP, my honors engineering math course is a tad difficult. Math in general can be tough, but it all builds on itself, you just have to take it a concept at a time...after awhile you start to see how so many things are related to each other...then its starts getting 'kind of' cool.
I don't recall college algebra being any different than high school algebra. Maybe you have a bad teacher? DD
