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  • LAVA Moderator: Shinji Ikari

College Algebra is kicking my ass.

Ironically when I was an undergraduate I used to think it was unfair how many GE writing/humanities classes I had to take even though I was a mathematics/computer science major...while most of the humanities majors at my university could get by without taking a single mathematics course. I think we should all just not be forced to take any classes in the other field :).
 
I found that most people never get taught the basics of algebra properly in highschool. the foundation of knowledge is generally so inadequate that the advanced concepts seem impossible to grasp because the basic knowledge is not good enough.
 
Roger&Me said:
Not true!

Every person who is of at least average intelligence can complete mathematics courses successfully through the entirety of calculus.

You simply haven't figured out how to teach yourself mathematics efficiently yet. If you really dove in and gave it your full effort, you could master an astounding volume of conceptual material-- you would surprise yourself. :)

Math just can't be half-assed, though. It's an all-or-nothing kind of thing, you have to devote at least a few hours to it every single day or you'll never progress at an acceptable rate.



No offense, but not knowing statistics and geometry is like not knowing how to use a computer.

I wonder why so many people consider mathematics to be such an ancillary and specialized segment of academia-- it forms the basis for the entirety of logical thought-- I think it should comprise a sizable portion of education relative to any field of study.
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Completely agree. A background in mathematics makes one more sound in all other areas of study, even in the humanities.
 
Completely agree. A background in mathematics makes one more sound in all other areas of study, even in the humanities.
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I think so too. My girlfriend is a math whiz. She doesen't seem to excel in humanities though. I know my algebra but humanities (sociology in particular) is my specialty.
 
wierd ^^^ I had mixed results with math and weed where sometimes the weed would actually help me accomplish my homework, but the results were very mixed.

on a related note. I find if im doing math frequently my abilities in writing music jump up. kinda nice
 
I know people that smoke pot and ease through math. On the other hand in college I didn't smoke pot ( maybe twice) and math was very difficult
 
I took college algebra last year. It was so easy, went baked to class all the time, went once a week and got a B. My teacher was awesome haha.
 
i never did my homework, got b's on all my tests... got A's when i did the homework while drinking a grey goose and starbucks cocktail and went to class the next day almost hung over...

Smirnoffs orange and starbucks bottled lattes are a pretty good cocktail... also great with math homework...
 
Heuristic said:
Is there a part specifically that you're finding challenging, or is it the entire subject?

Are you comfortable with the basics?

There are actual mathematicians on this board, but from my perspective math consists of three intertwined activities:

1) Understanding intuitively why a concept works;
2) Becoming familiar enough with the concept to recognize when it may be helpful in solving a problem, or creating a proof;
3) Proving rigorously that a concept works.

I think the issue bright students run into with math, particularly if they're skilled verbally, is that they assume that they can read about a concept, understand intuitively why it might work, and then close the book.

It doesn't work that way. Read about the concept, understand why it works, and then practice it.

The analogy to English would be having a basic understanding of what the terms of grammar mean (subject, object, etc.) but having no practice actually writing sentences, or paragraphs, or essays.

Or to games: imagine reading a rulebook, but then never playing the game. If the exam asks you to actually play a game, you'll do quite poorly.

Just remember that understanding the concept is only the first part of your work. The second part is practice. As to practice, don't worry if it feels awkward initially at first. Use it as a time during which you give yourself permission to escape from anything else you might be worrying about.
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i would practice this actually, should really,, hah.
its true though, i would put the "# concepts & equations" into a individual phrase. while studying anatomy terminology, the same premise applied;

we know (prefix)leuko=white blood cell
(root/base)cyt=cell
(suffix)osis=abnormal state/elevation
so we know automatically that the Leukocytosis = irregular WBC's, and we also know how to apply this understanding to other similar terms or equations.

instead of viewing, breaking apart and analyzing, then reforming to understand completely.
its there almost intuitively; as intuitively as one can fit a circle in a circle, and a square in a square.


good building blocks.
;)

@kaywholed: does that fit with other parts of life also?
 
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