Support NeoGAF

[Squall5042]

Ok so I took 3 years off to work after High School, and this fall I am returning to the life of education. In H.S. I had taken Algebra I & II, Geometry, and Discrete Mathematics. But...some of those things seemed to have slipped my mind as I was looking over an example of a placement test. So basically, I'm wondering if there is any place on the web where I could 'brush-up' on my math skills?

Any advice would be awesome!

 

[brandonh83]

Nothing can prepare you.

...

Sorry, I know you're not looking for that kind of response, but I just took a math test and I feel like comitting suicide with a shovel. =\

 

[Lazy]

very simple... do as many problems as you can, as many times as you can.

 

[Overseer]

Get ready to study hardcore. It also may be useful to buy a calculator that can store a lot of formulas. The last course I took in high school was Pre-Calculus and there were a ton of formulas I had to remember in my head that I could have just have easily stored in my calculators memory. However, most teachers don't allow that, but what they don't know can't hurt them.

 

[brandonh83]

In my experience in college so far, my instructors have been increasingly lenient concerning calculator use. You may get lucky.

 

[NotMSRP]

I didn't really need a calculator in college like in high school. You guys are way too dependent on calculators.

 

[Overseer]

I didn't really need a calculator in college like in high school. You guys are way too dependent on calculators.

tan-1(67^2(66x32)) x 56^-3(9867/45)

Mind doing this without a calculator?

Spoiler

0.11247266

 

[bionic77]

tan-1(67^2(66x32)) x 56^-3(9867/45)

Mind doing this without a calculator?

Spoiler

0.11247266

That kind of math isn't usually going to be asked in a college class because anyone with a calculator can just type in the numbers and get an answer.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

That kind of math isn't usually going to be asked in a college class because anyone with a calculator can just type in the numbers and get an answer.

Well, it depends on the class. In upper level math, calculators are useless for answering questions.

Some teachers are hardcore about blocking calculator cheating. I had a few who would take everybody's calculators before the test and wipe the memory.

 

[sf2fanatic]

Some teachers are hardcore about blocking calculator cheating. I had a few who would take everybody's calculators before the test and wipe the memory

Thats f*ck'd up.....I got lucky to have student-teachers for my math instructors so they really didnt checked....But then again they also sucked in teaching the basics...*sigh*

 

[Mashing]

I had to take two remial math courses as it had been about 5 years since I had been in high school. It really wasn't that bad, especially since my remedial math instructor was all kinds of awesome. Plus it's probably better for you in the long run as you won't have to stress over the college algebra class trying to remember shit. The negative is of course it'll take you one to two more semesters to graduate and it costs you additional money.

 

[soul creator]

in my experience, calculators were mostly used for things like homework problems. Since they're probably out of a book, they would kind of expect you to have one to solve certain things. But exams usually didn't require calculators as the actual numbers involved would be easy, but they want you to figure out the right process/equation/formula.

 

[Forgotten Ancient]

Anywho...any answers to the original post? I haven't taken a Math course in 2 years, and I hadn't taken one in 2 years before that. I have a probability and stats class this fall and even the most basic things I'm probably forgetting.

If there were a site that anyone knows about, that would be awesome for me and the OP. Thanks.

http://www.google.com
There ya go.

 

[OpinionatedCyborg]

Don't sweat it. If you take it seriously (am I contradicting myself? oh well), you should do OK, even if you suck at math. These aren't high level math classes, so unless your prof totally sucks, you won't be expected to perform at an incredibly high level. Just do the following:

1. Don't miss any classes.
2. Write down everything in as much detail as possible.

very simple... do as many problems as you can, as many times as you can.

This is the simple truth. If you suck, you'll need to work hard to get better. Don't be lulled into doing jack shit by your friends who are great at math. 1. They might be doing more work than they're letting on 2. They might just be better at it than you 3. They might have a stronger foundation to work from. This is about you, not them, so forget about how many questions they do and how well they do on tests.
3. Do as many questions as possible (practice, practice, practice).
4. Ask prof/TA for help whenever possible.
5. Ask friends who've taken these classes/are in math-heavy majors for help.
6. Don't beat yourself up if your marks aren't up to your standard. Just keep at it.
7. Hurray! Success.

 

[nitewulf]

Don't sweat it. If you take it seriously (am I contradicting myself? oh well), you should do OK, even if you suck at math. These aren't high level math classes, so unless your prof totally sucks, you won't be expected to perform at an incredibly high level. Just do the following:

1. Don't miss any classes.
2. Write down everything in as much detail as possible.

This is the simple truth. If you suck, you'll need to work hard to get better. Don't be lulled into doing jack shit by your friends who are great at math. 1. They might be doing more work than they're letting on 2. They might just be better at it than you 3. They might have a stronger foundation to work from. This is about you, not them, so forget about how many questions they do and how well they do on tests.
3. Do as many questions as possible (practice, practice, practice).
4. Ask prof/TA for help whenever possible.
5. Ask friends who've taken these classes/are in math-heavy majors for help.
6. Don't beat yourself up if your marks aren't up to your standard. Just keep at it.
7. Hurray! Success.

seconded.