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best way to learn math?

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12/9/07 9:42 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
sepe Edited: 09-Dec-07 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 10481	I've got a trig. class coming up in the next semester and the semester after that I'll have a calc. class. I messed around too much in high school so I never got into any advanced math. Are there any good books(maybe like the for dummies series or something)? I know these classes will kick my ass so I want to get as much of an understanding as I can before heading into the classes.

12/10/07 7:17 AM

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Voolf

Edited: 10-Dec-07
Member Since: 10/04/2005
Posts: 125

I was a TA for a trig class this semester, so I have some tips! First and foremost, you need to do a lot of problems. Do every homework problem that is assigned, even if it's not graded homework, and as many other similar problems as you can. A book with extra problems would be great, too. Schaum's Outlines are usually pretty good, and they usually have explanations and solved problems too, which can help supplement your textbook. I checked Amazon and the "Trig for Dummies" book gets good reviews, so it might be good to have as well. Second, make use of the resources you'll have available. Go to your professor's/TA's office hours and clear up anything you don't understand in the homework. If your school has a math tutoring center, go to it and ask questions. These classes can move pretty fast, so you really need to stay on top of things to keep your head above water, especially if you aren't already familiar with the concepts from high school. Of course, you should go to class! Get a good professor, if you can. It really can make a difference. One professor in my school has averages on exams in the 80%'s, another has them in the 50%-60%'s. I know which professor I'd rather have! Good luck!!

12/12/07 2:04 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
sepe Edited: 12-Dec-07 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 10705	It'll be interesting because I've got to take the class online. I'm sure I'll end up in the tutor center a few times. I'll be making a trip to pick up some books in the next week or so to get a head start. It'll be a good time going from 6 classes and "semester break" that ends up being more studying. You have ignored this user.

12/13/07 1:21 AM

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Voolf

Edited: 13-Dec-07
Member Since: 10/04/2005
Posts: 140

Online class? That's pretty strange; in that case, you probably should seek out as many different study materials as possible, just to get as many explanations of the topics as you can get. Hopefully at least one of them will make sense to you! Definitely don't be shy about going to the tutor center; you might struggle with a problem for an hour on your own, while it might take 5 minutes to get it cleared up with a tutor. You don't have to pay to use this place, do you? I hope not! The easiest thing to do would be to do the problems for a section, not spending too much time on any problem, and then go get help on any problems you weren't able to do quickly on your own. That gives the tutors something concrete to focus on and makes it easier on them. Work through the problems on your own again afterwards, just to make sure you really understand the material, too.

1/2/08 4:55 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
amorphous 9 Edited: 02-Jan-08 Member Since: 10/26/2003 Posts: 8800	ttt I'm in the same boat. You have ignored this user.

1/4/08 8:29 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
asdf 2 Edited: 04-Jan-08 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 14180	Voolf has good tips. It's just like training: there is no substitute for hard work. You have ignored this user.

1/17/08 5:03 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
bleier 14 Edited: 17-Jan-08 Member Since: 05/13/2005 Posts: 764	This book has been highly recommended http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780312185480&z=y You have ignored this user.

1/17/08 6:55 PM

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D3structo 2 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Edited: 17-Jan-08
Member Since: 03/23/2004
Posts: 2844

It took me three times to pass College Algebra. I never did homework and alwasy tried to study the day before. Therefore I never passed it. Trig I passed the first time with a B+. I would suggest doing your homework and studying in the math lab if you have one. I think the key to passing a class like this is having a math center and having a tutor explain the stuff to you. Most the concept in Trig are easy to understand after they're explained to you. Sometimes it can be impossible if you're trying to figure it out on your own.

1/29/08 2:39 AM

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sepe

Edited: 29-Jan-08
Member Since: 01/01/2001
Posts: 13433

2 weeks in and 2 tests in. i've missed 3 points total in the class so far. The site we're using is really cool as it has a step by step break down of a similar problem if you need help on it. I'm spending quite a bit of time on the homework and haven't missed even a partial point in 90 problems for the last 2 weeks. Actually seems like it'll be one of my easier classes at this point. The 2 books that I picked up helped wiht some basic concepts.

2/18/08 10:51 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Gforce 46 Edited: 18-Feb-08 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 4208	Sepe: I'd try Jason Gibson's Math Tutor DVDs. www.mathtutordvd.com (Amazon is actually cheaper). I can't speak for the math, but I used his DVDs for physics (which is essentially math) and they were amzing. The price is right as well. You have ignored this user.

2/19/08 5:38 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
asdf 2 Edited: 19-Feb-08 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 14523	"http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780312185480&z=y" There's also Danica (aka Winnie Cooper) McKellar's "Math Doesn't Suck" You have ignored this user.

9/25/08 4:29 PM

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groundfighter2000 125 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 17915

Gforce - Sepe:I'd try Jason Gibson's Math Tutor DVDs.www.mathtutordvd.com (Amazon is actually cheaper).I can't speak for the math, but I used his DVDs for physics (which is essentially math) and they were amzing.The price is right as well.

Nice! I just ordered these as I'm currently taking College Physics and struggling, good to hear a testimonial around here rather than just reading ones of the site.

9/28/08 1:20 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
MikeD Member Since: 12/6/06 Posts: 4955	Good info here. I'll check the links out later. If I don't find a decent job soon, I'm thinking about getting a add-on certification to teach some type of math. You have ignored this user.

10/12/08 3:58 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Krispy Member Since: 3/15/02 Posts: 8678	You can teach math to my cock. j/k ttt You have ignored this user.

10/16/08 1:08 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
P.V.Jena Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 1574	MIT Opencourseware is nice as well You have ignored this user.

10/16/08 2:46 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
P.V.Jena Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 1589	Or go to avaxhome.ru, pick up any decent looking book, work your way quickly through the theory and start on the problems. You have ignored this user.

10/23/08 12:53 AM

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sepe

Member Since: 1/1/01
Posts: 25294

lol man...calculus is fucking confusing. doing the problems isn't helping a whole lot either. the prof(had him for another class and I know many others that have had him) but it is like he is speaking japanese. Continuity, limits, and asymptotes are the things that are confusing the hell out of me. Graphing or approximating limits/functions from a graph make no sense.

I had picked up some books on trig last spring semester and ended up getting a high C out of the class. Felt pretty good about it because I failed geometry in high school once I stopped playing football.

I'm heading to Barnes & Noble in the morning to look for a book or 2. Doing over 100 problems a chapter hasn't really helped that much. Need ot find something that will help with the limits, derivatives(not too confused there), and multivariable calculus.

I checked with the tutor lab for the math tutors...none for calculus. Books that break it down into words will help a bunch though.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Just seeing an example of say f(x) = x^2+20/5(x-2)^2

n(x) = x^2+20 and d(x) = 5(x-2)^2. since d = 0 only at x = 2, f is discontinuous only at 2. since n(2) = 24 ≠ 0, f has a vertical asymptote at x = 2. tables 5 and 6 show that f(x) ---> infinity as x ---> 2 from either side and we have,

lim x--> 2+     x^2+20/5(x-2)^2 = $\infty$
lim x--> 2-      x^2+20/5(x-2)^2 = $\infty$

table 5
x         | f(x) x^2+20/5(x-2)^2
2.1       488.2
2.01     48,080.02
2.001   4,800,800.2

table 6
x         | f(x) x^2+20/5(x-2)^2
1.9        472.2
1.99      47,920.02
1.999    4,799,200.2

denominator d has no other zeros, so f does not have any other vertical asymptotes. with the left and right hand limits both infinite, we have

lim x--> 2     x^2+20/5(x-2)^2 = $\infty$

does all of that actually mean anything to anyone? it sure as fuck doesn't to me. I don't understand when I'll use it but the frustration is making me want to learn it enough to be able to do more than just a passable job(even if I have to learn it more on my own after barely passing the class).

10/25/08 5:59 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
P.V.Jena Edited: 10/25/08 6:03 PM Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 1629	What's the actual question here? I was a math major, I'm going to try to help! You have ignored this user.

10/28/08 4:14 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Respect Member Since: 9/21/05 Posts: 3074	I know fuck all about math. I can figure out x can't be two, because if it was, then you would have x^2+20/0. So, using common sense, there would be an impenetrable line running on two. That stuff doesn't look hard at all. You should try harder and quit crying. You have ignored this user.

12/7/08 6:17 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
big fatso 8 Member Since: 12/19/07 Posts: 3211	sepe, I wish I would've seen this earlier. How to Ace Calculus is a great book, imo. I'd supplement that with a Schaum's 3000 problems book and do a shitload of exercises. You have ignored this user.

12/7/08 9:58 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
groundfighter2000 125 Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 18180	check out mathtutor dvds, can't speak for the calculus ones, but his physics ones have helped a great deal considering my prof (while brilliant) sucks at teaching, and the textbook is godawful You have ignored this user.

12/8/08 1:44 AM

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AlbertEinstein

Member Since: 6/15/07
Posts: 1542

sepe - lol man...calculus is fucking confusing. doing the problems isn't helping a whole lot either. the prof(had him for another class and I know many others that have had him) but it is like he is speaking japanese. Continuity, limits, and asymptotes are the things that are confusing the hell out of me. Graphing or approximating limits/functions from a graph make no sense.

I had picked up some books on trig last spring semester and ended up getting a high C out of the class. Felt pretty good about it because I failed geometry in high school once I stopped playing football.

I'm heading to Barnes & Noble in the morning to look for a book or 2. Doing over 100 problems a chapter hasn't really helped that much. Need ot find something that will help with the limits, derivatives(not too confused there), and multivariable calculus.

I checked with the tutor lab for the math tutors...none for calculus. Books that break it down into words will help a bunch though.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Just seeing an example of say f(x) = x^2+20/5(x-2)^2

n(x) = x^2+20 and d(x) = 5(x-2)^2. since d = 0 only at x = 2, f is discontinuous only at 2. since n(2) = 24 ? 0, f has a vertical asymptote at x = 2. tables 5 and 6 show that f(x) ---> infinity as x ---> 2 from either side and we have,

lim x--> 2+     x^2+20/5(x-2)^2 =
lim x--> 2-      x^2+20/5(x-2)^2 =

table 5
x         | f(x) x^2+20/5(x-2)^2
2.1       488.2
2.01     48,080.02
2.001   4,800,800.2

table 6
x         | f(x) x^2+20/5(x-2)^2
1.9        472.2
1.99      47,920.02
1.999    4,799,200.2

denominator d has no other zeros, so f does not have any other vertical asymptotes. with the left and right hand limits both infinite, we have

lim x--> 2     x^2+20/5(x-2)^2 =

does all of that actually mean anything to anyone? it sure as fuck doesn't to me. I don't understand when I'll use it but the frustration is making me want to learn it enough to be able to do more than just a passable job(even if I have to learn it more on my own after barely passing the class).

OK what is the problem here?

Continuity: Just look at the function as a graph. If there are jumps at certain points, it is discontinuous. Just about every function you will see will be continuous, unless it's defined piecewise.

Limits: Just means that the function approaches some value. E.G. 1/x approaches 0 as x gets larger and larger. Look at a graph of it. You will see what I mean. All a limit is is what a function behaves like 'near' a certain value.

Asymptotes: Related to limits. 1/x is asymptotic at f(x)=0. Again look at the graph.

lim x--> 2 x^2+20/5(x-2)^2

Easy. This function is not definef At x=2 you are dividing by zero so the function approaches infinity. Think of it this way. When you divide, you will get a bigger number when dividing by a smaller number, so in the limit as you divide by 0, your result keeps getting bigger and bigger (approaches infinity) Man I wish I could explain this better but i'm too drunk. Good luck.

12/8/08 1:18 PM

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big fatso 8 The total sum of your votes up and votes down

Member Since: 12/19/07
Posts: 3217

I used to tutor calculus to a wide variety of people privately and at a local community college (from AP Calculus students all the way to middle aged soccer moms). Based on the information I gathered, I am of the opinion that most people fail first semester Calculus not because of any conceptual difficulties within the course (though they are certainly compounded), but they do so because of rotten foundations in Elementary Algebra and Trigonometry.

Without knowing any Calculus at all, you should've been exposed to both continuity (though at an extremely rudimentary level, e.g., "when you can draw the graph without lifting your pencil from the paper") and asymptotic functions (f(x) = 1/x) in an Algebra II course. It will only get worse once you get into finding the derivatives of trigonometric functions.

My advice: Brush up on Algebra and Trig, and do so seriously. After that, get a textbook and "How to Ace Calculus," and you should be golden.

2/27/09 12:16 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
shen 344 Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 9275	You need to get your numbers on, period. You have ignored this user.

2/28/09 6:10 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Reed Rothchild Member Since: 4/14/08 Posts: 4727	Hey sepe, still lurking at college. Loser You have ignored this user.

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