What kind of math learner am I?

Question

I do really well with graphing, and solving systems of of equations (not matrices). The point slope, finding intersections, finding slope, I am doing pretty well with. But, these were the only things I was really able to learn well from Algebra 2. Is there a reason for this? Does it require a certain kind of skill that differs from other algebra. For, I could not for the life of me, understand factoring, like when you take the equation and put it into its long form. Im interested to know what my problem is, so that I can work on the skills I need to be able to do better at math. So, please help me. Thnx

Answer 1

Who says you have a problem? Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, even mathematicians. Einstein was known to make schoolboy errors in algebra, yet he was a great mental visualizer and was able to translate what he saw mentally into equations which essentially changed the world.

My advice to you is that if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. What you don't understand now you may eventually get a handle on through persistent study. For example, when I was in junior high school, I was considered by my math teacher to be a pretty poor student. But I went on to study 5 years of math in only 4 years in high school because I wouldn't let her opinion discourage me, and turned out with a pretty decent average for all my courses. Then, when I was finally able to return to college after an 11 year hiatus, my interest and abilities in math really took off. Now that I am markedly older, I consider what I once thought difficult to be mere child's play today, though I am still learning.

When I was studying calculus in college, I sometimes had a hard time getting a grip on limits and other esoteric matters of that course. So, what I did was get a reference book from a local bookstore which explained things from a different perpsective than my course textbook or my professor. You could do the same thing with your algebra. Go someplace like Barnes and Noble, and look through their reference section for books on algebra. You can get one of their clerks to help you find these. Then choose one which explains things as though it is speaking directly to you. Choose one that boils things down to the bare bones and makes things perfectly clear in your mind. These are the types of authors who really know how to communicate. After you have found one that suits you, don't just read the text, actually practice their techniques by working problems they provide and try to relate them to what your textbook says. That will increase your comprehension of what the high falooting college textbook authors mean when they write their frilly proofs and use their tortuous logic.

Above all, and I cannot stress this enough: practice, practice, and more practice! That's one of the great things about Yahoo! Answers. It allows one to encounter new problems and to practice solving them. Professional athletes don't get where they are by being slouches. Neither do professional intellectuals. The only difference between the two is that the latter usually contribute something useful to society, while the other group .... Well, we won't go there. Just suffice it to say that their societal contributions are miniscule compared to what someone like Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Gottfried Leibniz, Johann von Neuman, and many others have done for mankind.

Don't give up on your objective. Just keep on keeping on, and eventually it will pay off.

Answer 2

Depends on what level of aviator you wish to become. Private pilots use basic algebra and some geometry. It is relatively simple problems. I have always looked at it as I'm flying from point A to point B at 85MPH and carry 100L of fuel. I have to account for a minimal of 30 minutes extra fuel (FAA regulations) and the speed would burn X amount of Liters of fuel per hour. I mean it's just simple stuff like that. I took professional aviation in college. If you want to be an airline pilot, don't rely on computers. You will do A LOT of math even with the computers in case of a malfunction. My school required up to college level calculus, so really it does depend on the level of which you want to fly. Personally, I would NOT reccomend this as a career unless you like flying long periods of time and rarely being home. It is what I found for the first bit of college. Personal opinon and experience though. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

It sounds like you do best with math problems that require you to follow a certain procedure to get an answer. With factoring, for example, you have to do a little guessing to get the answer. Perhaps you don't feel confident when you have to decide what to do.

I would suggest you ask your teacher for extra problems to try on your own for the topics you're struggling with. Usually when you practice, you'll gain the confidence and experience to do well.

Good luck!

Answer 4

So, you're the complete opposite of me, who is better off writing math down and doing matrixes, instead of drawing graphs. It has to do with the brain somehow, but I don't think you should worry. Just do whatever you usually do to help yourself at home, and try to do matrixes and other algebra at least 1% more. Relax. There is nothing wrong with you