bodhigirlsmiles Posted April 11, 2009 Report Posted April 11, 2009 i am going to try to put the pain and ugliness that i have created behind me, although it will not be easy and, i have no doubt, will take a considerable amount of time.having said that (and to lighten the mood slightly, if i may), what is the deal with math?especially algebra.algebra is my weakest link!i have had not a few conversations with teachers of mathematics regarding x. x, it seems, is missing. the problem with this is that they want (expect?) me to find it. why must this be? after all, i didn't loose x, so why should i be the one to find it? if they are so concerned, shouldn't they be out there looking as well??and please don't get me started on imaginary numbers. i have far too much difficulty with the numbers that do exist. Quote
LittleWyvern Posted April 11, 2009 Report Posted April 11, 2009 Half the fun of finding things is the process. Quote
Moksha Posted April 11, 2009 Report Posted April 11, 2009 One thing that always startles me is that X and Y can represent so many different numbers. Quote
RachelleDrew Posted April 11, 2009 Report Posted April 11, 2009 I've always liked algebra. You are essentially just plugging in numbers to create an already answered question. If you stick with it, eventually one day it will just click. Does your school have a math team or of any kind? That helped me out a LOT with my mathematics and I wound up doing quite well in it after years of struggling. Those clubs and teams aren't just meant for the kids who are good at math, they are meant for the ones who are interested in it. Quote
bodhigirlsmiles Posted April 11, 2009 Author Report Posted April 11, 2009 Half the fun of finding things is the process. now you are going to go and get all thoreau on me?An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. -Henry David Thoreau and if you happen to spot x along the way, lurking under a magnolia bush.... Quote
bodhigirlsmiles Posted April 11, 2009 Author Report Posted April 11, 2009 I've always liked algebra. You are essentially just plugging in numbers to create an already answered question. If you stick with it, eventually one day it will just click. Does your school have a math team or of any kind? That helped me out a LOT with my mathematics and I wound up doing quite well in it after years of struggling. Those clubs and teams aren't just meant for the kids who are good at math, they are meant for the ones who are interested in it.other than life itself, i am no longer in school. math was The Great Bane for me when i did attend. i would like to understand it more, but so far it has just baffled me."higher" math....fractal geometry, chaos theory, and the like....is very fascinating. i do not understand it, but it is fascinating nevertheless. Quote
havejoy Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 If you want to be constantly amazed at the way God does things, study physics. Quote
bodhigirlsmiles Posted April 12, 2009 Author Report Posted April 12, 2009 Biology would be good too.i LOVE biology! there isn't anything greater than learning about the beauty that surrounds us. Quote
GingerGolden Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 (edited) My dad was great with numbers, you could call him a mathematician of sorts, he was also great in card games since he could count them and remembered what had been played and generally figured out what everyone had in their hands, just by his figures.He told me the secret to math one day, and I will tell it to you."Math is a game, learn the rules and then play by the rules and you will find the answer."So, think of math as a game and you should come to the answers more easily, as long as you know the rules.I figured out the secret to English on my own.English is not like math.In English, they teach you a rule in one chapter and then expect you to forget it in the next. Edited April 12, 2009 by GingerGolden Quote
prisonchaplain Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 and please don't get me started on imaginary numbers. i have far too much difficulty with the numbers that do exist. April 15th is this week, isn't it? Some of the residents in my faclity should have done like you. . . stick with real #s! Quote
Dravin Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 Ugh, I hate quadratic equations, never could figure them out. Never was all that great at algebra (the pre-algebra stuff I do okay with). Of course the fact I've not been to school in 10 years does not help things in the least. Not exactly looking forward to the math portion of starting college. Quote
bodhigirlsmiles Posted April 12, 2009 Author Report Posted April 12, 2009 I figured out the secret to English on my own.English is not like math.In English, they teach you a rule in one chapter and then expect you to forget it in the next.spelling is a great example of this. i believe it was samuel clemens who once said, "i never trust a man who only knows how to spell a word one way." Quote
SMG Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 Ugh, I hate quadratic equations, never could figure them out. Never was all that great at algebra (the pre-algebra stuff I do okay with). Of course the fact I've not been to school in 10 years does not help things in the least. Not exactly looking forward to the math portion of starting college.Have some faith in yourself. :) Unlike most high school, colleges usually have a MUCH better support program in the form of tutors being available. I made use of tutors and the office hours of my math instructor when I was taking my required math class for my degree. From my experience, if you come willing to do the work, the tutors and instructors are VERY happy to assist you. Quote
pam Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 Ugh must we talk about math? Ugh ugh ugh ugh. Did I mention ugh? Quote
havejoy Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 i LOVE biology! there isn't anything greater than learning about the beauty that surrounds us.I was an atheist until I studied biology in college. It was the leaves that got me. Studying the dark reaction phase of photosynthesis and all the steps involved just blew me away. I didn't have enough faith in Darwin and chaos to believe that something as complicated as that leaf just kind of happened. It was then I started to look for a master engineer. Quote
Captain_Curmudgeon Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 April 15th is this week, isn't it? Some of the residents in my faclity should have done like you. . . stick with real #s!Inside math joke: "Money isn't real. At most, it's fixed decimal." Maybe more of a CompSci joke.Bodhi: check out Margin of Error's math jokes. My favorite: Quote
ADoyle90815 Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 This smiley basically describes what algebra was like for me in school. Quote
daenvgiell Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 I wasn't really good at maths, but I did enjoy algebra, it was fun to try and figure out the problem, it was like a game to me, only the game got boring and frustrating when I couldn't work it out. Quote
Guest Godless Posted April 12, 2009 Report Posted April 12, 2009 (edited) I posted this in the humor thread a while ago, but I'll go ahead and share it here as well since it fits the topic fairly well. This is a mathematical equation that came up during a discussion on alternate worlviews on another board that I post on. It's probably the most important equation known to man. Don't risk ticking off Thor. In mathematical terms it is simple risk analysis. * Chance of Thor existing = A = small number (lets say one three trillionth of a percentage point) * How much it will hurt if I tick off Thor= B = INFITINTY OH MY GOSH WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY FACE TIMES INFINITY GAZILLON OUCH! * Chance of Thor not existing = C = 1-A * What I have to gain by doing something that would tick off Thor = D = Not a whole lot... So in scientific terms: A*B-(C*D)= Too much hurt to handle Moral: Be nice to Thor! Edited April 13, 2009 by Godless Quote
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