rabbittss
Phoenix
Joined: Dec 30, 2011
Posts: 1348
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 Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| generally I can, with much struggling, do the ones that wind up as (a-b) (a+c) the ones I have the trouble with are the ones that are (a-b)(a+c-d) |
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Ancalagon
Computer Geek
Joined: Dec 26, 2007
Posts: 2387
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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| rabbittss wrote: | | generally I can, with much struggling, do the ones that wind up as (a-b) (a+c) the ones I have the trouble with are the ones that are (a-b)(a+c-d) |
The only things I could find that look like that are these:
a^3 + b^3 = (a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)
a^3 - b^3 = (a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)
Trying to figure these out by trial and error seems way too hard. I tried coming up with a relatively easy mnemonic and couldn't. If I ever saw these, it's been too long to remember, and I can't see where they might be useful. Anyway, you could find the linear factor (the (a+b) or (a-b) part) and do polynomial long division to find the other part.
So if you had 27x^3 - y^3 that's (3x)^3 - y^3, which is zero if 3x=y. So (3x-y) is a factor and you can divide 27x^3-y^3 by it to get the other factor.
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"A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it." --G. K. Chesterton |
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Alohilani
Blue Jay
Joined: Feb 16, 2012
Age: 30
Posts: 81
Location: The northern capital
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| Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:16 am Post subject: |
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I almost failed an entire year at school because of maths. To me algebra, calculus and the like are too abstract. I cannot create a picture in my head with all those formulas and strange characters. And nobody ever told me why I would have to know analysis and curve sketching so I lost interest.
The only area I loved and I was really good at was probability and statistics because I could actually use it in daily life.  |
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hollowfields
Hummingbird
Joined: Mar 06, 2012
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Yup |
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Hawkx
Butterfly
Joined: Jan 23, 2012
Age: 20
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:14 am Post subject: |
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| I'm a biomolecular major with a minor in physics. I depend on math a lot and I'm really good at solving mathematical problems. This helps me tremendously in chemistry and physics. |
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CDH15
Emu Egg
Joined: Feb 03, 2012
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| I was miles and miles ahead at math compared to the rest of my class...... until I got to Algebra in 7th grade. I almost had to repeat Algebra 1 because a. my teacher could not teach algebra to save her life and b. algebra was a really abstract concept to me. The next year in Geometry I had a better teacher and a better grade in the class. I am still amazing at mental calculations(I have over 50 squares memorized). As far as calculus, I can't say anything because I haven't gotten there yet. Overall, I would say I am pretty good at math. |
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muslimmetalhead
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 30, 2011
Posts: 1071
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| Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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You all suck.
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Math mastah since teh 3rd grade.
However, I've been failing all my classes since I started high school, though that is due to social issues.
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"I watched a change in you, It's like you never had wings, now you feel so alive" |
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LennytheWicked
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 23, 2011
Posts: 516
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| Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm very contextual, and so learning math is hard for me. I have a semi-photographic memory [I look at things once or twice and remember 90% of what I saw, assuming I was paying attention], which helps with formulas, and I have a very retentive memory, which helps me keep them in my head for years. I still know all the formulas regarding circles, all the formulas regarding quadratics, and all of the formulas that help you find the area of polygons. I'm at an Algebra II level right now, so I can't say about higher-level math yet.
Apparently I'm good at math, but I think it's because 'good at math' is too subjective. Most people are bad at math, so even if you think you suck you're probably about average.  |
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HollowJD
Butterfly
Joined: Dec 13, 2011
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| All of you bratty aspies with you're non math based learning disabilities lol. seriously though math is awful for me soo I stick with psychology, I allready memorized the entire DSM soo its a lose win thing. |
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dreammirror
Butterfly
Joined: Apr 30, 2012
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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Oh yes!
Failed algebra 1 junior year in high school
Failed math courses in community college several times and forced to retake them (Algebra in particular but any kind of math)
I really despise the subject. Numbers are not my friend. No matter how many times one 'tutors' me, no matter how many times I've 'applied myself', no matter how many times I've 'studied', I just cannot do math past basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. |
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Musicistheanswer
Emu Egg
Joined: Apr 26, 2012
Age: 31
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I too have always been awful at math. Without calculators or MS Excel, I would be completely lost. |
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FalsettoTesla
Phoenix
Joined: Oct 31, 2011
Posts: 531
Location: North of North
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 10:18 am Post subject: |
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I may be 'bad' at maths. But it's not as simple as that, for me anyway. I'm bad a mental calculation, I can't count without using my fingers, I do not know the multiplication table, and division is hard for me.
But I don't have a problem with the mathematical concepts used in maths more complicated than addition, subtraction, multiplications and division. I find algebra easy to grasp, probability, geometry, trigonometry makes a lot of sense to me.
Which I think was shown in my GCSE maths exams. I got a C overall. I was on the higher paper. I got A's and a B in the calculator papers, and D's in the non-calculator papers (I'm fairly certain I got my marks on those papers because of my workings out).
So, am I bad at maths? Yes! No? I don't know. |
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