Statistics without recent algebra?

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Yay or nay?

People tell me they didn't even use all the algebra pre-req's in their stats class. But the teachers say it's a big deal.

My algebra is old, but I do remember it. It's the ti-89 calculator that scares me.

If anyone has experiences to share I'm interested in hearing!

Thanks--Tofutti ;)

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Ti-89 is a life-saving calculator! I remember using it in high school for my calculus class. I scored a 3 on my Calculus AP test and had to retake it in college because my university only accepted a 4+. I think the TI-89 is a crutch for learning when you using the solving function. TI-30x should be sufficient in statistics.

-Paul :-)

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i took AP stats in high school & absolutely LOOOOVED it. it's completely different than algebra/geometry/calc & as long as you've taken algebra at some point, you should be fine. i was horrible at algebra, geometry AND pre-calc/calc, but i did really well in stats.

also, your teacher will teach you how to use the functions that you'll be using on your calculator. good luck! & enjoy!

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Education.
Yay or nay?

People tell me they didn't even use all the algebra pre-req's in their stats class. But the teachers say it's a big deal.

My algebra is old, but I do remember it. It's the ti-89 calculator that scares me.

If anyone has experiences to share I'm interested in hearing!

Thanks--Tofutti ;)

I needed Stats for graduate school since my BSN program didn't require it. The community college required a "math placement test" before allowing you to enroll in stats. Needless to say, I did poorly since my college algebra was over 10 years old and I hadn't used slopes & lines as an ED nurse! I had to get a waiver from the department chair (or some title like that) saying that I could enroll in stats without first taking Pre- or Beginning Algebra. He gave me the obligatory disclaimer of "it may require more studying on your part"...yadda, yadda, yadda.

The class was fine: an easy A as long as I did the homework. I think you'll be fine!

As far as the calculator, our textbook had great instructions and our instructor was patient with us as well. (I even figured out the finance apps and took it when we bought my new car!)

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Thanks for all the good feedback.

I went to the first day of class and it looks totally doable. The teacher told everyone she didn't even know why they had all the algebra prereq's for stats, and that we won't use it. I even talked to her personally after class and told her I was thinking about taking algebra alongside it and she said no, drop the algebra. So yay! :monkeydance:

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Specializes in SRNA.

Just to back up all of the other replies...IMO, Stats is in a whole other corner of the math world than anything else (alg, geo, calc). I think this was one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much, as the course material was fairly independent of much of the math an average person has taken before.

In fact I'm taking it again after 5 years to refresh my memory! Good luck, I start my course in a few weeks!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I had to get a waiver from the department chair (or some title like that) saying that I could enroll in stats without first taking Pre- or Beginning Algebra. He gave me the obligatory disclaimer of "it may require more studying on your part"...yadda, yadda, yadda.

The class was fine: an easy A as long as I did the homework. I think you'll be fine!

:yeahthat:

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we didn't even use algebra in my stats class, so i think you'll be fine! there is math involved in statistics, but it's different because it's all based on data.

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Specializes in None.

I teach both and basic algebra is useful in statistics (algebra 1) but no more than that.

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