Whose good at math?

nanabanana06

I'm looking over sample questions for the accuplacer test (aka college placement test). I'm having freaking issues with just the arithmetic sections. Ugh! I know that I'm just rusty. It's just so frustrating. I need to get into Math 99 in order to stay on track. Anybody want to help tutor me? Lol

mhooks23

I'm pretty good at math.  What is math 99?  Algebra? General Arithmatic?

Flyingtoast

Ygpm @Nana_Osaki06‌

nanabanana06

Intermediate Algebra. I was really really good at Algebra in HS. I'm just super rusty now.

Rrrrrachel

I taught high school math for ten years. What do you need?

CLLDLL

I was a math major in college.  If there's a specific problem you need help on, just let me know!

welly01

Sounds like you've got lots of help, but if you need anything else you might try purplemath.com.  It offers lessons on several levels of math.

sarenu1

Are you good at self teaching? I'd probably check a local library for some books at a lower level and walk through them. If you were good at it once, I'm sure all you need to do is refresh base lessons.

nanabanana06

Thanks all! My biggest problems are all things like multiplying decimals, subtracting fractions, long division, solving for x, ect. All those things you were taught in HS, but never used since.

Rrrrrachel

This website has some good tutorials, too. https://www.mathisfun.com

SarahA918

Just post your homework here! We'll do it for you!

nanabanana06

Oh sweet. Thank goodness I only have to take 1 math course and it's intermediate algebra. The big one's though will be Bio and Chem. I really don't do well with science. It's just so boring.

BoothBaby

Mapleme said:

I was a math major in college.  If there's a specific problem you need help on, just let me know!

Ditto

x3 

(Can't believe there are so many math people here!  No wonder I like this board.)

TJ1979

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Oh sweet. Thank goodness I only have to take 1 math course and it's intermediate algebra. The big one's though will be Bio and Chem. I really don't do well with science. It's just so boring.

What?!?! Boring?!?! Uh, no. I'll be happy to help once it comes bio time! I suck at math though.

YellowLily2013

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Thanks all! My biggest problems are all things like multiplying decimals, subtracting fractions, long division, solving for x, ect. All those things you were taught in HS, but never used since.

A quick and dirty reference for you:

Multiplying decimals: it's the same as regular multiplication just count the number of decimal places (number of spaces right of the decimals place in the two numbers .... And you need that many in your product)

Subtracting factions: you need a common denominator, once you have that you just subtract the top numbers (numorators) normally. (Quick cheat if you can't think of a common denominator you can multiply the two denominators and you will always get a like one!)

Solving for x: you need to get x isolated on one side. There's not really a quick trick I can think to write out for that though.

Good luck! I'm a nerd and love this stuff. so I'm here to help if you need it.

TJ1979

YellowLily2013 said:

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Thanks all! My biggest problems are all things like multiplying decimals, subtracting fractions, long division, solving for x, ect. All those things you were taught in HS, but never used since.

A quick and dirty reference for you:

Multiplying decimals: it's the same as regular multiplication just count the number of decimal places (number of spaces right of the decimals place in the two numbers .... And you need that many in your product)

Subtracting factions: you need a common denominator, once you have that you just subtract the top numbers (numorators) normally. (Quick cheat if you can't think of a common denominator you can multiply the two denominators and you will always get a like one!)

Solving for x: you need to get x isolated on one side. There's not really a quick trick I can think to write out for that though.

Good luck! I'm a nerd and love this stuff. so I'm here to help if you need it.

@YellowLily2013‌ Where the hell have you been lady?!?! Welcome back!

sarenu1

Mapleme said:

Mapleme said:

I was a math major in college.  If there's a specific problem you need help on, just let me know!

Ditto

x3 

(Can't believe there are so many math people here!  No wonder I like this board.)

I miss doing math, especially logic. I was also a computer science major and at least I get to tinker with computers on a regular basis, but there is little use for combinatorics in every day life. It was such a good brain stretch. I've often thought that if I could get paid to build schedules for a living I would have so much fun.

Cost accountant here.  Numbers are my day to day work.  Along with spreadsheets, reports, power point (blah), and explaining the finer points of accruing expenses and revenue.

YellowLily2013

TJ1979 said:

YellowLily2013 said:

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Thanks all! My biggest problems are all things like multiplying decimals, subtracting fractions, long division, solving for x, ect. All those things you were taught in HS, but never used since.

A quick and dirty reference for you:

Multiplying decimals: it's the same as regular multiplication just count the number of decimal places (number of spaces right of the decimals place in the two numbers .... And you need that many in your product)

Subtracting factions: you need a common denominator, once you have that you just subtract the top numbers (numorators) normally. (Quick cheat if you can't think of a common denominator you can multiply the two denominators and you will always get a like one!)

Solving for x: you need to get x isolated on one side. There's not really a quick trick I can think to write out for that though.

Good luck! I'm a nerd and love this stuff. so I'm here to help if you need it.

@YellowLily2013‌ Where the hell have you been lady?!?! Welcome back!

Hey!! I've been stressed out and kinda just needed a break. And then some IRL friends were finally up to doing some stuff. Which was nice. We're still hellishly busy. But I missed you gals!

And how couldn't I respond to a math question. Really. It's all I needed to jump back in.

nanabanana06

@TJ1979, it's not that science itself is boring. It's the way it's taught thats boring. I never did well in regular science classes. It was all a bunch of vocab and busy work. I always did better in other science classes like Material Science. It was all mostly hands on learning. Sure, we did a day or two of notes, but then we'd do things like melt down metal and make things or plate things in copper using electrolysis and crap. It was more like science applied in art than actual science.

TJ1979

I love how nerdy this board is!

stoneycakes

stringy813 said:

Ff all things, science should be taught in an interactive, exploratory, hands-on way.  Granted at higher levels you need to memorize some stuff...but I think our generation was screwed out of a love of science.

Our kids may also be missing out but word is getting out not to just lecture about it. Math too, if you get really lucky.  Teachers who are involved in their own continuing ed shouldn't be standing at the front of the algebra classroom in high school anymore.  Few and far between though, I think.

Amen!  I was lucky to have a couple of awesome science teachers and I remember their classes well.  I often think I could have gotten into science for a living if all of my teachers had been like that.

Rrrrrachel

It's those kinds of changes in lylas rooms that parents and students push back against, though. I did a lot of project based learning and it's not popular. Students and their parents want you to tell them what to do to get an a.

TJ1979

stringy813 said:

Rrrrrachel said:

It's those kinds of changes in lylas rooms that parents and students push back against, though. I did a lot of project based learning and it's not popular. Students and their parents want you to tell them what to do to get an a.

doesn't surprise me. but I dont think they realize that they might actually remember it in a few years if they really engage.


That's assuming they actually care whether the kids learn, or just get good grades/do well on standardized tests.

CLLDLL

TJ1979 said:

stringy813 said:

Rrrrrachel said:

It's those kinds of changes in lylas rooms that parents and students push back against, though. I did a lot of project based learning and it's not popular. Students and their parents want you to tell them what to do to get an a.

doesn't surprise me. but I dont think they realize that they might actually remember it in a few years if they really engage.

That's assuming they actually care whether the kids learn, or just get good grades/do well on standardized tests.

That, my friend, is key. I've been to way more PTO meetings than I care to admit where the focus was "how do we get our kids to do better on the standardized tests so we get more funding". Ugh.

The sad thing is a lot of parents just jumped on the bandwagon and were like " what if we fundraise to supply flashcards to the kids so they can memorize their fast math facts before and after school"

Rrrrrachel

Yeah. I'm not disagreeing it's more effective, I'm just pointing out the bigger problem with math Ed, IMO, isn't bad teachers, it's a disconnect between what works and what families expect and want. Common core hoopla makes a good case in point.

Into+the+Kitty

Hands on science reminds me of the time I baked an apple pie for part of my anatomy/physiology presentation about bones (latticework structure like the lattice on top of the pie). It was one of the best days ever, I presented while everyone mowed down on some delicious baked goods. 

I even got five bonus points for making kick ass pie.