Algebra is making me re-think my major! Help!!

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho, Hospice, Home Health.

First off, I should say I'm a good student. (I have a 3.89 GPA.) I love Biology- and can't wait to put some of this great knowledge to use!

Here's my problem. I have to take Chem 101 next semester (I've taken Chem 100 and got an A.) and the pre-req is intermediate algebra. I took IA as an audit class b/c my plate was already full this semester. Well I sit there in class and the instructor may as well be speaking Latin!:confused: I am so lost in this class and now I'm thinking I will never make it through Chem without this basic knowledge!:sniff:

My only hope is that my husband is an Engineer and he can tutor me, but he confuses me and then we end up snapping at each other. Also, I have this summer to study. Maybe I can buy a good Elementary Algebra book. My school offers tutoring but will they want to tutor someone as behind in math as me???!!??:nono:

Any advice or encouragement is very much appreciated!

Thanks.

Marci:chair:

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Hi. Go to the website MATH.COM . It has a lot of practice test for those who are trying to learne Algebra.

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Marci,

Algebra can be a hard subject at first...and if it's not explained well, it can be pert near impossible to understand! But it can be gotten! I'm the proof of that! By all means...go to the tutor. They can help imensly and dont be bothered by how behind you are. That's what they're there for. Don't beat yourself up...just take a deep breat, relax and call the tutor services in your school. IMHO...I know a few engineers and they don't really make good teachers.:D

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho, Hospice, Home Health.

Thanks for the replies. I bookmarked the website- thanks! I'll start with tutoring as soon as the semester starts. And you're right- my husband is not a great teacher- great engineer- but not a great teacher. He doesn't understand why I can't comprehend this "dead simple" math! Easy for him to say!:)

Marci

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marci,

Also try purplemath.com-it has been very helpful to me.

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I sucked royally at algebra, so I can totally relate. Get yourself a good tutor or go to some of those websites, because you use algebra EVERY SINGLE DAY in nursing.

P.S....my hubby is an engineer who took math all the way up to calculus 5 in college....makes me wanna smack him when it comes to math stuff. But hey, he sucks at english, so HAH!:chuckle

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I think Math is a difficult subject for most:rolleyes: (especially me...). What I did in school was to hit the tutoring lab as much as possible. And, I still had to take Algebra over again! But, when I did, I passed the 2nd time with a B! Can you magine? A B!!!!! And when I took Intermediate Algebra, I passed with a B again! So keep on pressing toward the higher mark...you'll get there!

:)

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Hi Marcie,

You are not alone!

Algebra can be very hard. I am horrible at at.

Since you took the first Algebra class via audit / correspondece I assume that means that you did the work on your own and probably just sent in homework and tests. If this is the case than you are probably just having trouble adjusting to a math class that is taught by a person rather than learning the information on your own.

I, personally, learn math better on my own by going through the book and doing the problems myself rather than have an instructor or tutor explain it to me.

You obviously did well in Algebra I so maybe you just need to think about the best way for you to learn this information and try different ways til you find something that works for you.

Definately try the tutor. They can really help you out. But if they don't help the situation, don't get frustrated, just try something else.

Also, I haven't taken my "nursing" courses yet so I don't know how much Algebra you will use in them but I've always found that the Chemistry courses, no matter what level they were, don't use much Algebra in them ,yet it is always a requirement.

But that's just me.

Take care,

Colleen

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Consider taking a "Math 000" or a Pre-Algebra Class first. Unfortunately, you probably won't receive credit hours, but it can prepare you for Intermed. Algebra. I dropped Intermed. Algebra 101 twice before biting the bullet and doing the prep class. It was worth it - Got an A in Intermed. Algebra! BUT it was still really hard and I went to a tutor daily, cuz I am a Math Moron : -).

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