the real question is why did you have to take a placement test when you have math credit showing you past calc I? you shouldnt need to do that.When I was in high school I wasn't a math wiz per se, but I was reasonably decent at it.
I think I got an A in Geometry and B+/B's in most other math classes, and probably could have gotten A's if I'd cared enough to consistently do my homework. When I took my math placement test for college, I scored high enough to place straight into Calc 1. Didn't have to take anything past Calc 2 in college so I only took two math classes the whole time. So the last time I took a math class would've been probably like 2004/2005.
But last year I was interested in taking a class at a community college and had to take a math placement test...and I couldn't remember how to do any of that shyt.
Seriously, I was looking at questions that I felt like I should know how to do (and I'm sure I used to know) but I just couldn't. At this point I think I forgot everything past basic algebra. My profession (IT) just doesn't involve any math outside of maybe subnetting, which is basically just counting in Base 2. Other than that...I think I lost all of it. Years of math homework wasted.
Does anybody here (that doesn't use it at work) remember how to do most of the math they learned in school? And if not, do you feel that it's worth making students take this much math if only a tiny fraction use it?
Does anybody actually remember the math they learned in high school/college?
- Thread starter acri1
- Start date
Nah, where I went everybody had to take a math placement test regardless of what classes you took in high school. The idea was that they didn't want people enrolling in math classes they had no chance of passing.
But I didn't have credit for Calc 1, that's just what I placed into. The highest math I took in high school was Pre-Calc.
But at this point I doubt I could even do Geometry, much less Trig or Pre-Cal. I've pretty much regressed to Algebra 1 status.
Jhoon
Spontaneous Mishaps and Hijinks
I came into the thread to post this exact sentiment. If folks want to know why Micheal Jordan is still an egomanic, look at his daily schedule. Although hes years removed from the league, he still takes time to practice his moves on the scrubs of his team.
Practice makes perfect. Now, I don't subscribe to the ten thousand hours philosophy, but I believe in muscle memory.
oh i had it mixed up. i thought for some reason you said you had actual Calc Credit(college credit). But i see what you're saying. you are correct, they make you test into your class. like someone said Khanacademy is your friend.I'm on it right now. i just took a 3 week break since i was going so hard. the wife thought i was joking when i said i started from scratch. she was like Arithmetic? thats too easy. Thats not hte point. the point is. You need to rev your math brain back up again. dust the cob webs off. How many people knew that Fractions...Trying to find a common denominator or just trying to subtract add fraction that dont have common denominators. is where Math starts the "whatever you do to this side, do the same to the other side" routine.Nah, where I went everybody had to take a math placement test regardless of what classes you took in high school. The idea was that they didn't want people enrolling in math classes they had no chance of passing.
But I didn't have credit for Calc 1, that's just what I placed into. The highest math I took in high school was Pre-Calc.
But at this point I doubt I could even do Geometry, much less Trig or Pre-Cal. I've pretty much regressed to Algebra 1 status.
I think i'm up to like Alebra I and i've dabbled in some Algebra II and geometry so far on that khan academy. it took a minute but i got thru all of that low level arithmetic. The wife was still fighting it. She was talking about she might take another math class. I said you better get with me on this khan. she picked up the old college algebra book and started going thru there. i kept showing her my little achievements and what not in khan. eventually she started to try it and fell in love with it. she started out on pre algebra. i told her to start lower. but she wouldnt listen. then those problems started coming. "Wait...what... i darn near dont remember this?" yep. thats why i said start low then catch up. lol
She got the hang of it and we're almost in the same spot as we speak.
Just dedicate some time to it every day. you dont even have to say 1 hour or 2. just sit down and do some when you aint doing nothing.
I can still do Algebra but that's about it. My job consists of putting together project plans and IT documents. I think being able to write well is more important as you get in your career for most people.
Some math from college. Law of Thermodynamics, finding the derivative of a function, mostly calc stuff. I have some graphing calcs on my phone to make those funny graphs every once in awhile.
