MWGemini 0 #1 January 16, 2005 Two weeks ago I quit my job and went back to school full time. I haven't taken a math class since 98, but I tested into pre-calculus trig and came close to testing directly into calc itself. Problem is: I've forgotten some of the fundamentals (and some I was never that good at to begin with). So: I need help with certain aspects of pre-calc (namely that I just don't seem to understand the concept of factoring or solving certain equations). I've looked around at several sites on the 'net, but have not found any really good ones yet. My teacher is far too busy and unwilling to help me re-learn these things, and the tutors at school are swamped right now, so I can't get any help there. Also, it seems that of the 15 or so students in my particular class, I'm probably in the top 3-5 in terms of understanding the material, so I'm not learning much from my classmates either. Short version: does anyone here know of a good site/book that I can read to learn this, or might even be willing to personally help me? Thanks, Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spidermonky 0 #2 January 16, 2005 You can try going to your school's bookstore and buying one of the Cliff's Notes for Pre-cal. I have the calculus, chemistry, and organic chemistry books. They all give a pretty good explaination of the major concepts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LearningTOfly 0 #3 January 16, 2005 There are a few good books out there... I came across one called "Pre-Calc in a Nutshell" a few years back. It did a pretty good job of covering the basics. Try you local Barnes and Nolbe for books like that. Some school text books are pretty helpful once you get going, but others are just not worth a cent they charge- my "calc for eng['s]" for instance uses stupidly complicated phrases to describe simple operations. Have fun with integrals when you get there... they're a blast... Best of Luck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #4 January 16, 2005 good luck with college i'm gona go here in about a year... my advise.... choose amajor in the arts that doesn't require high math.... ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gordy 0 #5 January 16, 2005 Hey dude.... System is different over here, but i have a pretty good background in maths, if you have any more specific questions, drop me a pm and I will help you out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MWGemini 0 #6 January 16, 2005 I've received several PMs from people offering to help, and I really appreciate it. I'm also going by B&N today to look for some books that might help. In response to WingNut- I prefer math. Firstly, I'm pretty set on being a software engineer (computer programmer), which pretty much requires a computer science degree. Besides, the arts are hard and way too ambiguous. At least with math there is always an answer. I may be too stupid to find it, but it's there, somewhere.... Thanks, Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gordy 0 #7 January 16, 2005 Cool, thats good to hear, as I said if you need a hand just give us a shout. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #8 January 16, 2005 Quote Besides, the arts are hard and way too ambiguous. okay so i'm gona admit i don't know what the word ambiguous means.. but i didn't mean just like painting or music.... was talking braod like philosophy to language to even actual arts like music.... i could always do math in school just fine, understood it but just don't want to put the work in for it.. good luck! have a friend that got his masters in computer science last year he's working for a gaming compnay in san fransico, his first game he has worked on will be out the middle of this year... ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gordy 0 #9 January 16, 2005 That would be an awesome job..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MWGemini 0 #10 January 16, 2005 I've done game development as a hobby since I was writing code on an old Commodore 64. I've pretty much decided that pursuing that as a career is both unrealistic and stupid. The game industry is way too unpredictable to make a good living, and the working conditions are not all that great. I've got several friends working in the industry, and they have all been laid off at least once or twice due to cancelled projects or feature cuts. The strange thing is, that with all the code I've written for games, I can do some pretty advanced math instinctively (like 3 dimensional vector math, rotators, quaternions, etc), and yet some of the simpler stuff just eludes me. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Avion 0 #11 January 16, 2005 The main points of pre-calc are Functions, Limits(gotta understand limits) basic algabraic manipulations, and trignometric laws and identies. Oh yea, and conic sections. I used to have a really excellent pre-calc text, less than an inch thick, with an orange and blue design on the cover, with cool three color graphs. Try used a book store, or the school book store. I'm fairly sure this is a newer edition of that book: http://www.kendallhunt.com/index.cfm?PID=219&AUT=&ISB=&DIS=0&GRA=0&DES=&MTC=exact&BOOL=AND&KEY=YIZZE&PPS=25&SRT=rank&CMD=detail&SRH=simple&PRD=197 I need to get another copy of this book too. Somebody burned mine, along with every thing else I had in a tent some years back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
genoyamamoto 0 #12 January 16, 2005 Don't worry too much. If you're like most of us, you're gonna coredump all that info right after your final exam. In the real world we all use mathcad or look stuff up in the CRC standard math tables. Gotta go... plaything needs to spank me Feel the hate... Photos here Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Avion 0 #13 January 16, 2005 lol Mathcad, GOOOD! CRC Handbook, GOOOD! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MWGemini 0 #14 January 17, 2005 I don't even know what MathCAD or the CRC handbook are. Also, I can't really afford to forget any of what I learn in this class because I have to take at least 3 other courses that are built on what I'll learn here. I've found out that there is companion book for my textbook that has all the odd number problems worked out and explained, and I'll be buying that this week. I'm pretty sure that seeing them worked out will kick start the nether regions of my brain that have long since forgotten things that used to be second nature. If not, I'm probably screwed ... Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Avion 0 #15 January 17, 2005 Quote I don't even know what MathCAD or the CRC handbook are. You will That book is really good. Its what they gave me when I tested a little deficient to start calc. And, its what I bought again used, when I wanted to brush up to finish my calc sequence on my own. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigway 4 #16 January 17, 2005 yeah, i need help with my times table .Karnage Krew Gear Store . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MissMae 0 #17 January 17, 2005 Im in the same boat as you, fortunately, I work with an Engineer that just received his masters in Computer science and he offered to be my tutor... Boy, bet he will be sorry later. On the point you were asking about, I found a book with problems and answers and questions, etc at the college bookstore. It might help. Good luck take the time to appreciate the people around you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gordy 0 #18 January 17, 2005 Over here coding for the games industry does pay less than an average coding job, but it tends to be large houses that do it, so its not to different to a normal software house. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
