Problems with Algebra..?

[Noobtastic]

Sophomore in HS and I've always had difficulties with math. I've failed algebra thrice, but excel in all other subjects. I am concerned about college acceptance and SAT questions.

3.6 GPA/honors....

A lot of my idiot friends are in pre-calculus, and I can't insult their intelligence without feeling like a hypocrite.

I can't get a hold of my tutor cause of the fires and my teacher isn't available when needed.

I'm depressed over MATH.

 

[Ika]

DYOH

 

[IronWing]

9x +7y^2 = 14x^(.5)

That's a math joke, but you won't get it.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

I hated algebra. But Geometry and Trig I excelled in. We're just graphically inclined as opposed to solving problems with invisible numbers.

 

[hypn0tik]

See sig. I am willing to help provided you show me an attempt at the problems you are given.

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: hypn0tik
See sig. I am willing to help provided you show me an attempt at the problems you are given.

I did the math over the internet for awhile and it was terrible. I honestly need someone with me to help, not that I'm try to make excuses.

To be honest, I'm not even sure what I'm confused with. Some stuff I sort of understand, but other problems I can't even begin to explain the issues I am having.

Ok, for equations like this:

5(3x - 5y) * 5(3j -4y)

Or when there is a problem like x+k - m = 83

I can sort of do ratios and proportions, but when it comes to fraction equations..

like 1/2x divided by 56y squared + 4/9j


I AM GOING TO KILL MYSELF.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic

I AM GOING TO KILL MYSELF.

When you do, can I have your math book?

/me doesn't get algebra either. My last algebra class was in 1968 and it kicked my ass badly then...and I certainly haven't gotten any math-smarter in the years that followed...

 

[dsity]

i failed algebra my 9th grade year.

i think my average that year was a 66 altogether

next year i retook it with a different teacher

95 overall average.

it helped being in it once. it helped way more that this teacher took time to thouroughly explain her lessons.

 

[Noobtastic]

I need to know math. My entire family is good at math.

Well, except for my mom.

 

[us3rnotfound]

what do you not get about algebra?

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
what do you not get about algebra?

read thread...

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic
I need to know math. My entire family is good at math.

Well, except for my mom.

Ask your family?
Ask ATOT (my last resort)

For algebra, just try spreading out the information and then bringing it back together.


Just wait until you get to 3D planes/vectors in calculus...
The joys...

 

[Noobtastic]

Ask your family?

Yup.

Ask ATOT (my last resort)

Yeah.

For algebra, just try spreading out the information and then bringing it back together.

I've gone through it three times, you think I haven't done this?

Just wait until you get to 3D planes/vectors in calculus...
The joys...

I'm not taking calculus. I won't be majoring in anything science so I intend on taking the bare minimum for math, probably tamed statistics or something.

But I can't do any of that until I learn algebra. I have a 98% but I know for a fact I don't deserve that. I should be getting a C-.

GAH!

 

[potato28]

maybe you should ask the teacher for help?

 

[StevenYoo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1D7thFoicM

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: potato28
maybe you should ask the teacher for help?

read thread. im not inherently bad at math. i did fairly well between grades 1 - 4, but i missed tons of school in grades 5 - 8, almost 50 school days in 6th grade alone.


my entire family is ivy league and here i am, unable to solve the simplest algebraic equation.

 

[WombRaider]

I have a 98% but I know for a fact I don't deserve that. I should be getting a C-.

lol, what are you complaining about? look, if you're not going to any science majors in college, then all you really need to know is basic arithmetic (add, subtract, multiply, divide).

a 3.6 GPA/honors with a decent SAT/ACT score will get you into most colleges. however, since your folks went to ivy league schools, you might be a little disappointed, unless you score very high in the SAT/ACT.

edit:

one more thing, you won't need anything past Calculus I for most non-science majors.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Noobtastic

Originally posted by: potato28
maybe you should ask the teacher for help?

read thread. im not inherently bad at math. i did fairly well between grades 1 - 4, but i missed tons of school in grades 5 - 8, almost 50 school days in 6th grade alone.


my entire family is ivy league and here i am, unable to solve the simplest algebraic equation.

Seriously though. Go in before or after school and talk to your teacher. They are willing to help you. Sometimes once you struggle through concepts 1 and 2, concepts 3-100 suddenly start making sense.

Mathematical concepts are not separate entities. If you do not understand concept 1, you'll be lost for concept 2 and so on. You can't just give up on a concept and expect to understand the rest.

 

[SmoochyTX]

I actually loved algebra! Why can't your parents help you if they're Ivy League?

 

[rezinn]

Maybe you can major in english.

 

[LongCoolMother]

don't worry, you'll get it soon enough. its just a matter of getting your mind into the "mode." When I first started physics in HS, I was completely lost and clueless, as was 75% of the class. I ended up acing Physics AP, getting 5s on all physics AP B, physics AP C mechanical & E&M tests. Halfway through the semester my mind suddenly just clicked and the way I thought about problems and concepts completely changed. From then on it was smooth sailing and became one of my favorite subjects.

Of course, there were people in the class who never had that happen and continued to struggle for the entire year. But I've spoken to several friends who described experiencing the exact same phenomenon that I had. Keep hammering at it. At worst, get HS math out of the way and be done with it for the rest of your life.

Im doing linear algebra right now in college. It's annoying as fvck.

 

[Caecus Veritas]

are you doing all your hw?

1. Read book - understand concept.
2. keep solving problems until concepts are mastered.

no other way around it...

 

[Noobtastic]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
don't worry, you'll get it soon enough. its just a matter of getting your mind into the "mode." When I first started physics in HS, I was completely lost and clueless, as was 75% of the class. I ended up acing Physics AP, getting 5s on all physics AP B, physics AP C mechanical & E&M tests. Halfway through the semester my mind suddenly just clicked and the way I thought about problems and concepts completely changed. From then on it was smooth sailing and became one of my favorite subjects.

Of course, there were people in the class who never had that happen and continued to struggle for the entire year. But I've spoken to several friends who described experiencing the exact same phenomenon that I had. Keep hammering at it. At worst, get HS math out of the way and be done with it for the rest of your life.

Im doing linear algebra right now in college. It's annoying as fvck.

My mom's been telling me that since day one, but I feel I won't be one of those persons.


I read the book from morning till night and I still don't understand half the problems I am doing.

I actually loved algebra! Why can't your parents help you if they're Ivy League?

Parents are separated. Father doesn't have the patience to help me and my mom has difficulties teaching math.

THIS IS SO DEPRESSING. If I was in 7th or 8th grade I wouldn't feel as bad but I'm a sophomore in friggin high school. I should be taking calculus by now. I am going insane over the idea that I'll bomb my SATs over something so "easy" as algebra. Even if I do manage to understand that, I'm still in f**king algebra. It's not much of an accomplishment, since half my friends learned this in middle school.

"Hey guys, guess what?" "I understand algebra." Friend: "I learned that 4 years ago."

 

[WombRaider]

i don't find reading a math book helpful; it's like reading numbers for me. the best way for me to learn math was to have my professor go through all the intermediate steps in solving the problem and then doing it myself. this was how i managed to pass calculus I in college.

also, most kids don't take calculus I until 12th grade or freshman college.

it usually goes like this:

9th: pre-algebra
10th: geometry
11th: trig/algebra II
12th: pre-calc.

 

[SmoochyTX]

OP, your putting so much pressure on yourself isn't helping you at all. Go back to the baby steps of algebra and you'll have that 'click' moment when it all makes sense.