Precalc Woes...

[mjia]

I would think that all universities will require first year differential and integral calculus for a BS. Probably more for a comp. related degree. My university (UBC) also requires a second year calculus course, linear algebra, statistics, plus 2 additional 300-level math or stat courses.

Problems in the courses I've taken are less word type questions, but the actual math is substantially more complicated than the question you posted.

 

[BrownTown]

Yeah, where i come from in order to get an EE degree you need calculues + multivariable calculus + differential equations + linear algebra + engineering statistics, and then you get a butt load more math in you EE classes doing all kinds of Laplace transforms, Z transforms and Fourier transforms. It all pretty much builds on itself though. Personally I can remember having as much difficulty getting down the concept of long division in first grade as I did understanding the concepts a Laplace transform my freshman year in college, so basically its not like it get any "harder", you just have to be able to do everything else without thinking and then onyl worry about the new piece of math you are learning in each course.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: TC10284
DrPizza,
No disrespect but that did frighten me a little. I have never been good with word problems and I have a 3.8+ GPA at my community college (yes, I realize this is just a community college) that concerns me if I do poorly in the class.

I am trying, it's just math has never been my subject (probably one reason I dislike programming and favor hardware/networking). Luckily, I do have some help, my GF is very skilled at word problems and other math (probably why she likes programming lol). It's just she's not here all the time.

I can pull out most of the information now, it is just that I cannot easily start a formula. My GF says that I'm trying to make things too complicated or that I'm trying to do to much work at once. But, I was not able to do any of the problems without her help unfortunately =/
Friday was the last day spent on that section, but, I'd still like to be able to do them. :disgust:

I would never say "just a community college" - community colleges vary quite widely in their rigor. Example: 2-year RN graduates from my local community college have a 100% pass rate on the nursing boards... superior to the rate from many 4-year RN prgrams at more prestigious universities. It took the local CC quite a long time to shake their "mickey mouse, hold your hand" school image, in fact, they're still working to shake that image, but they certainly don't lack the rigor found in a typical university.

My post wasn't meant to frighten you - I really meant that at this point, you may want to get some contacts who can readily provide help for you. There are quite a few people here who are quite willing to provide support, although at times, time can be a factor. I am surprised, however, if the only time your teacher addresses word problems is during one unit. I found long ago that my calculus students were very poor at working on word problems. They typically all excel at doing "the calculus part" - they labored away on all the algebraic steps after the "calculus" step, usually successfully. However, they struggled to set up the initial problems when presented as a word problem (related rates problems, relative min/max, absolute min/max problems, real-world applications, differential equation applications, etc.)

Good luck. It sounds like you're really trying - that's the most important part.