In need of prereq help for a prereq

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Okay I am going to be taking Intro. Chem this semester and I havent taken any math in more than a few years. I have taken pre-cal and calculus in HS and pre-cal in College awhile back and did very well. But it has been a while. What kind of material should I start looking at (mathmatically) to prepare me for Chem 1? Any good websites that offer a quick refresher??

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Specializes in Cardiac.

If you've taken anything remotely close to calculus, then you are fine! At most you'll need an understanding of algebra. (sorry to intrude on the man forum!)

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Thanks for the reassurance! I feel a little better, its just been so long since I have done any math. I guess if I need a refresher I should just look online or get a cheap algebra book for help

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Chemistry requires basic Algerbra skills. So if you've done pre-calculus and did well, I doubt you're going to have any problems with the math in Chemistry.

Just review the basics and relax about it. :)

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Yeah what really helped me with a Chemistry of Life class was seeing a tutor. I had not done any math in like 3-4 years and really I was ok. I was not the math for me that needed to be touched up to help me with the course, it was just getting a really good tutor and knowing it. This Tutor from India was a Jewel and was really smart she helped me fast and effectively and I ended up getting a life changing A. Good Luck!

p.s. make sure if you get a tutor get a good one because I went to some others and they could not help me very much at all.

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Specializes in geri.

When I took Chem I, I had also been out of math practice for a very long time! But, the basic algebra skills came back quickly and we even spent half a class period reviewing so everyone was up to snuff.

Good luck!

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hey guy, no need to worry. its just basic algebra you might use.

eg,

PV=nRT

if you can manipulate and solve for T, you have nothing to worry about.

basic, basic stuff.

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Specializes in SRNA.

http://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/115exams/index.html has a pretty good spread of the types of questions you'd encounter in a general chemistry class. Just click one of the topics on the menu to the left.

Even though you may not be able to figure some out without taking the class, like others have said...algebra is the most complicated thing you dwelve into. A lot of it is just converting between units of measurement using multiplication and/or division.

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Thanks everyone for all your replies and help!!! I really appreciate everybody's insight!

:D

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I agree with the other posters. If your good with algebra you'll do very well in chemistry. I hate math but in highschool chemistry I did very well. Its really not all about math to me really. Its just knowing how to convert the answer using different types of formulas. I'm sure you'll do very well!

Good luck!

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I'm taking Chemistry this fall, and I've been out of school for a long time, so I found an Algebra website that covers all the basics. I'm flying through it and picking it up better on my own than I did back in high school when I just hated math classes. I also bought a book that explains Chemistry in a very user-friendly way, and I plan to read through that before class starts in September.

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I'm just finishing up chem this summer. As others have said, just brush up on your algebra. I would foccus on unit conversions, laws of exponents and scientific notation.

Best of Luck!

Peace,

Cathie

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