College Algebra

I went to the U of Minn Institute of Technology for electrical engineering. I subsequently got a job researching semiconductor materials for SDI applications (mainly infrared sensor materials, but also ultraviolet sensor materials). I worked directly under scientists that had PhD's in physics. I had to take three trimesters of calculus, then vector analysis, differential equations, multivariable calculus, etc.

Are they telling you that you only need three trimesters of calculus to meet the requirements of your degree? Because that doesn't sound like it's enough for a four year degree.

At 99% in college algebra you are doing great. Keep up the enthusiasm and hard work. You have a sound plan for a career ahead of you. Don't give up.

Anyway, there aren't any tricks to learning this material except for repetition, repetition, and more repetition. Make sure you write down the problem and work it step by step on paper. Don't skip and do the "easy part" in your head and then write down the answers. Always show your work.

Although I got all A's in high school math and pre-calculus I found university level calculus to be difficult. However, the application of calculus inside of physics problems was interesting and I found it to be easier to grasp. In calculus, moreso than in algebra, every thing you learn builds on your previous lessons. You can't just "wing it" for a little while and then say you're going to comprehend it later. Be prepared to study at least an hour, maybe two hours, for every hour of class time you have.

Here's one of the differences between high school algebra and college calculus.
High school homework assignment: "For tomorrow, do problems 1 though 21 odd numbers only. There will be an open book test on Friday on chapter 4."
College level calculus: "For tomorrow do problems 1 through 39. There will be a test on chapters 3 and 4 on Friday."

 

Sapper Woody- Good for you! You seem to be of the type who succeed, and I wish you the best. :thumbs:

 

And Satan said "Let's really mess with them and mix number and letters together and call it math."

 

Good luck Woody! I know you'll do great.

 

One could really think it might have happened that way... ;o
The worst part about math in physics is memorizing all those letters(the number of forlumas you actually need to memorize is very limited in comparrison),
if you dont wanna constantly look up how they resolve in a chart table, or youll end up with results of humongous fractions.
Mind you how God is THE mathematicial, who loves to keep fundamentals simple, and that a beautiful equation is a short one!

Aside from that @OT: Our modern way of doing Algebra is horribly abstract, and propably intentionally so.
I can really recommend looking into ViHart's Youtube channel, shes got a brilliant way of, so to speak, "looking behind the numbers"
and showing how maths nature is all way less bizzare, than Algebra would imply.
This stuff if really priceless, dont be repelled by its childish appeal...

 

I took College Algebra class because it was a requirement in school although I was an English major. I really had a hard time understanding the whole concept of it and I almost failed the subject. After graduation, I still don't know how to apply what I have learned in College Algebra in real life. I mean, I realized it's really not that important in employment.

 

Congrats on doing so well so far. Best wishes on your journey - though I don't envy you. I did my 5 quarters of calc - plus other higher level math courses - more than 25 years ago. I echo some of the prior responses. Here are my thoughts on this going forward.

1. Repetition is key to getting it right. The 1:2 ratio of class to study time is about right - though it can be a little light as you move forward to your calc classes.

2. Find a good professor that you can understand - and try to take his/her classes each semester. Nothing is worse than a poor calc prof.

3. Find (or start) a good study good group. This additional accountability will be a good thing and you will be able to learn a lot from each other.

4. Take advantage of the your profs' office hours when you need help. PS - you will need help at some point in time.

5. Stay up to speed on things. Since each section builds on the prior one, there are very little opportunities to "catch up." If you get behind, then you are out of luck.

6. Find your "best" class time. For me, it was the morning. Take your calc classes when you are at your best mentally.

7. Try not to schedule a class prior to your calc classes. Put at least an hour of free time before hand so that you will be able to prepare for class -- especially if there is going to be a test. This will provide a good time for review.

Best wishes!

[Note - I have never used any of my calculus classes - other than the way that it teaches you to think. However, I asked my son - who is a Research Assistant in ME - how often he really uses calculus. The response -- every day.]

 

You need this guy:

http://patrickjmt.com/