Question

How can I get 6 full chapters of Algebra in 2 days and understand it fully?
Have a state test in 2 days and I am behind in Algebra because my teacher doesn't explain everything fully. So i don't understand and I've asked for help but I still don't understand it and I'm seriously about to cry about this if I fail this state test! :'( Like it frustrates me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I go to an online school and have no one to help me &I cant afford a tutor or get one! Websites don't help either and neither do my textbook and no one on here wants to help me. I know that because I've tried 4 times already!

Answer 1

Tried watching the videos at Khan Academy? Lets you pick out your weakest spots and learn about them. Another good one for this is PatrickJMT.

Answer 2

I have also tried that one too! I still didnt understand it! :/

Answer 3

Well, 2 days is not mych time to learnwhat you need. This is one of those things were the best policy is to learn ans review as you go. There are obviously some earlier parts you have missed that are killing it all for you, and that is something that takes time to find and fix.

Answer 4

I know, I know. But if I fail this state test they have a choice whether they get to hold me back or not and I cant get held back! Like it just aggrevates me so much! Gah! Like I don't know if I can handle taking the test and knowing that I failed!

Answer 5

My parents will be so disappointed and I don't want to disappoint them, you know?

Answer 6

Yes, and all the pressure is not helping. That is also true. So all you can do is take out the book and go over review problems for each chapter. If you can get the answer that is in the back of the book, go to the next. Keep doing that until you reach one you do not get. Then come with that question and the work on how far you got.

Answer 7

@e.mccormick what if I never get how I got the problem wrong?

Answer 8

Also I have these review test sheets that I printed from my te

Answer 9

teacher** so there arent any answers for those...

Answer 10

That is why bringing it here with the work helps. Then people can point out what went wrong. That is really what helps learning, fast answers to correct mistakes.

Answer 11

Ever tried reading http://www.purplemath.com/modules/index.htm ? They have a way that worked better for me than many parts of my textbooks.

Answer 12

Well @e.mccormick the last time I posted a math equation on here, they just gave me the full answer without explaining it and then when i asked for them to explain it they never did a really good job at it...

Answer 13

read the book like will hunting

Answer 14

That was a bad response. It is an issue with peer tutoring. Not all peers tutors are great.

Answer 15

@Outkast3r09 what do you mean?

Answer 16

@e.mccormick that is so true! lol

Answer 17

read the textbook

Answer 18

@Outkast3r09 I have already. Twice. I also asked my teacher to for help but he didn't explain it thoroughly.

Answer 19

If I were you, I would start doing exercises in my textbook now and ask whatever I don't understand here. There's no guarantee that you can get help here, but at least it is worth trying. If anyone gives you full answer without explanations here, report it.

Answer 20

@Callisto I never knew you could report something like that! Thank you for the advice!

Answer 21

There is this guy, Scott Young, who went through 4 years of MIT material in 1 year. One of the ways he soaked up so much so fast is in a thing he calls the Feynman Technique. I have read papers by neuroscientists that call it personalization of learning. Whatever you want to call it, it is very helpful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrNqSLPaZLc

Between that, and doing what Callisto and I have said for working through problems, I think you will have the best shot.

Answer 22

Okay! Will I be able to turn to you, @e.mccormick , or @Callisto for help if I need it?

Answer 23

Yes, for sure. I'll try my best to help.

Answer 24

Thank you Callisto! :)

Answer 25

It all comes down to if I am here when you need help. However, there are a lot of very good people here. I have seen many of them answer some really long questions that took a lot of work. As long as you are willing to do the work part and have the tutor lead you, the best tutors here will help you.

Answer 26

Okay! Thank you @e.mccormick ! :)

Answer 27

It's kind of funny how 9 people are viewing this and only 3 have answered...

Answer 28

Well, I think 6 of them had the same question you did! Everyone wants to know how to learn fast.

Answer 29

haha, I was looking for something to contribute.. now I'm just saving all of these recommended links ;)

Answer 30

Oh yah. I have built up quite a long list of links as I struggled through it all. Sometimes it just takes a different point of view, which the web is full of, and presto, the light finally goes on for me and I get it and move on.

Answer 31

Haha! oh! Thank you guys!

Answer 32

Google has a ton of resources. Type in whatever algebra 2 concept you need help with, and see what websites seem to help you.

Answer 33

Google is good @agent0smith but I really couldn't find anything that helped.

Answer 34

Another thing that helps is studying in short bursts. Studies show that you retain more information when studying in 20 minute chunks with breaks, rather than cramming hours together. Not to mention it helps take off all this pressure you are putting on yourself :)

Answer 35

@zergog & @e.mccormick may I please have those links?

Answer 36

Thanks @zergog ! I usually try studying for hours and hours!

Answer 37

Yep, even just googling "most efficient study techniques" will give you some ideas of what to try to make the most effective use of your time.

Answer 38

The links I posted already are the ones zergog is talking about. As for more links, the Purple Math, KA, and PatrickJMT do it for most algebra. If you had more time, I would tell you to watch... umm.. it was I think Univerity of Kansas City that out their entire Algebra class on Youtube. But that took me a week to watch as intense preview before taking the class.

Answer 39

Okay...

Answer 40

And yes, I said preview, as in before. I watch videos on the topics I am going to take next semester while I am on vacation. I need the extra time to learn and that gets me the head start.

Answer 41

I will definetly use that website to help me in geometry this summer and then algebra 2 next year!

Answer 42

@TheKylieeM how specific were you? And keep in mind there'll be pages of links, you can always click through a few pages and see if something looks useful.

eg:

algebra 2 logarithms review

https://www.google.com/search?q=algebra+2+logarithms+review&aq=f&oq=algebra+2+logarithms+review&aqs=chrome.0.57j62l3.1377j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Answer 43

One other good link, with good examples and well written: http://www.mathsisfun.com/

Answer 44

Thank you! @agent0smith I am trying to learn linear and non linear equations and how to solve them but it gets really complicated!

Answer 45

theres also another algebra topic but i forgot what its called!

Answer 46

Yah. agent0smith has a great point! If you have the names of what you are studying in the book, it helps. A search for algebra geta a billion hits, but Pythagorean Theorem or Distance Formula will get a lot less.

Oh, and don't search for linear algebra when you want linear equations. Linear algebra is actually an advanced topic in algebra and you want the basics at this point.

Answer 47

Thats what its called Pythagorean Theorem or Distance Formula and then the rest is also confusing but I will try to do that!

Answer 48

On http://www.purplemath.com/modules/index.htm
Under "Beginning Algebra Topics" First column, second one down.

Answer 49

Alright.

Answer 50

You guys are really helping my pressure go away! :)

Answer 51

algebra 2 linear and nonlinear equations

https://www.google.com/search?q=algebra+2+linear+and+nonlinear+equations&aq=f&oq=algebra+2+linear+and+nonlinear+equations&aqs=chrome.0.57j62.1057j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Note you may want to be more specific than that - add in what it is you need help with, eg. solving equations by elimination... I can't tell exactly what you need help with if you just say "algebra 2 linear and nonlinear equations" so how is google going to know?

Answer 52

Okay @agent0smith ! Really, truly helps!

Answer 53

Purple Math and Math is Fun will let you get a topic alone like that. They take away all the other things when you look at a page of just one topic. Then there is less to distract you. Sometimes a book just has too much because they jump from this to the next and if you turn the page it is a different thing... suddenly you can be lost. On a web site, they can cut all that out so all you have is the topic you want.

Answer 54

I've seen and tried the purple math one and I got it a little but not so much.

Answer 55

@agent0smith She is in Alg1 at this point, taking Geometry next, then Alg2... But your general principal is great. The better the search, the less the results and the more they apply.

Answer 56

Oh I missed that, thought it was algebra 2. Include that in your searches then, eg

algebra 1 linear and nonlinear equations

Answer 57

OK. Lets say you get 10% from your book, another 20% from Purple Math, and so on. It all adds up and you only get 70% of a topic. Then you come here with what you have tried at that point and not gotten right. With just a few questions, we can pick up the 30% a lot more easily. Why? Because you will know enough to ask questions that will help you the most and we will be addressing specific topics that will be just what you need.

Answer 58

Haha! Okay! But what difference does it make between algebra 1 linear and nonlinear functions and algebra 2 linear and nonlinear functions?

Answer 59

They cover more difficult stuff in Alg2. A lot of it is the same, but using more complex equations, larger powers, and also the new things Alg2 adds.

Answer 60

Oh! Okay!

Answer 61

This is another site you can post questions and get answers (you won't often get an answer as quickly as you will here, though)

http://www.wyzant.com/Answers/

Answer 62

Thank you! But I think I'll stick with this website and Yahoo! Answers...

Answer 63

Ah, I have used http://mathhelpforum.com/ for that. I like Open Study more though.

Answer 64

I like open study because people reply faster. but I also like Yahoo! Answers because theres more topics on there to cover

Answer 65

Well, I think at this point you have a way to start. Go through the book, find things you do and do not get. Check them against the web sites and see if you can finally get something. If so, great, move on. If not, find a good example and have someone here walk you through it. That way you will have specific questions and get targeted answers to the things you do not know.

Answer 66

Okay! Thank you so much!

Answer 67

Mathopenref.com is a great site to refer to with math theory... Algebra is pretty much of basic common sense. You'll make it through. ALL THE BEST!

Answer 68

Sounds like you're in a bit of a pickle, eh? Are you in Connections Academy?

Answer 69

@TrashMan914 I do! Haha! How'd you know? I took the test and pretty sure I failed but I did study the WHOLE ALGEBRA BOOK! Took me a while with short breaks with a raging headache but i did it and I got all the homework done! But When I took the test I felt like the pressure was on and every time I did the work on a separate piece of paper, i didn't get the answer that was on the test so I rounded it to the nearest 10th or 5th, if I couldn't round it to the nearest 10th! Like I was so nervous so I told my parents and they said no worries if you have to take the test again at least you'll know what was on it or what was in the book! But i felt like crying but my friend Alexis who also goes there helped me get through it! Thank you so much guys for the help in just a short time! I am taking Geometry over the summer school at Primavera (willingly) just so I can get more credits and a head start so I can graduate early as that has been my plan for such a long time! Its really such a nice thing for all of you to do for me! Even though I don't know you in person I bet you guys are great in actual life! It's also great to know that I have people to turn to when I need help with school!

Do you guys think I did well? Honestly?

Answer 70

I also started with the Chapter Review before reading or doing the homework part of the book and when I got stuck I would read the section and then I would get it! (:

Answer 71

I am certain you did a lot better than you would have if you had not started to get it together and have a plan. How well you did, well, it is hard for me to tell because I have not been reviewing what you did in the book work. But, it is certainly better than it would have been last week!

Mathematics is a progressive set of skills and knowledge. That means what you learn now will change how well you do in the future. I got As in college calculus one because I went back and reviewed arithmetic and algebra. I am doing good in linear algebra because I am solid in most of the skills before it.

Want to do good in your later math classes and prep for the future? Develop the basic skills. You have choices like going to Khan Academy and working through their problems. If you watch the videos, fine. But if not, that is OK too. If you are better with written stuff, there are tons of free math books out there these days. Just get a source of problems with answers and work through them in any free time you have.

Being better at basic addition and multiplication means being able to pass tests easier because you make less small mistakes. Being better at algebra makes geometry and trig easier. Being better at algebra and trig makes calculus easier. And 90% of calculus is doing a bunch of algebra and trig!

Also, I have looked a lot into learning psychology and neuroscience for practical reasons. I have a learning disability, and I wanted to see what could be done to let me learn most effectively. It comes down to a few things no matter who you are and what the topic is. And the funny thing about it all is, once you develop good study habits, it takes you less time to study because you are understanding things more fully and targeting mainly what you do not know.

1) Know the basics and the terminology because without those you can't understand the topic properly. First time I saw the "apothem" listed in a problem here, I did not know what t was. When I took geometry, we did not use that term. But it did not take me long to learn what it was and how to fit it in with what I do know because I understood the other terms and concepts I did use in the past.

2) Don't try to cram it all in at once, that just never works for long term and rarely works well for even test taking. Cramming is stressful and hard on the body and brain, as you just found out the hard way. If you prepare properly, you can walk into a test relaxed and ready to go!

3) Use mnemonics, memory "tricks" (skills,) visualizations, and anything else that gets you a basic handle on things. You can't understand and process things until you get them to stick in your brain, so anything that helps you remember things also helps you process them and use them later. Anyone that pushes, "understand, don't memorize," has not looked into the science behind understanding! It takes some basic memorization skills to get things to the point where you know them enough to be able to start to understand them. Just knowing a math formula won't let you use it properly, but understanding how to use it can't happen until you know it or how to derive it.

4) Personalize the information, turn it into a story or whatever form make sense to you. Figure out how you would explain it. This makes it yours so you own it for the long term. Work out how you would teach a topic and then it becomes easy! This is how I have been able to explain things to people here. I don't read it out of a book to them, I tell them my understanding of it and that works.

5) Try and break things up over time. Study one topic for a while, make progress in it, and then take a break from new information. Do things like going over your notes or reviewing that topic for at least 20 minutes before moving on. This gives the brain some non-work time to sort through what was learned and transfer it to long term memory. If you jump right to a new topic, you are telling the brain, "This is no longer important, dump it and move on!"

6) Review, repeat, and space it out. Half of what you learn today you forget by tomorrow. However, it is easier to relearn it. Going back over things a few days later, then a week after that, and even touching on a subject months later can make it stronger in the mind and prevent long term loss. With progressive topics like math, that is critical!

7) Question and test. Questions make you think more deeply. Self testing helps you find your weak spots. Together these let you study more effectively so that you waste less time. A quick review of what you know, then focus on what you do not know!

Related to this is the double question flashcard. For example: On one side have, "\(a^2+b^2=c^2\) is what formula and what is it commonly used for?" and on the other put, "The what is the Pythagorean formula, which is used for relating the sides of a right triangle and finding distance?" Both of these are questions, but they are related and hold the answers to each other. Then, when you get a question on a test, you have seen it at least two different ways and chances are higher you will know the answer. I used this in Geology to learn all the terms and rocks, and while a lot of people were complaining they did not understand the questions, I easily got an A.

8) Visual, auditory, etc. learning theories are largely debunked. They did tests where they took people who had been labeled as a specific type of learner and trained them in a different learning style. After they developed the skills needed, they were just as able to learn through another form. This just shows that learning is a skill and it needs to be developed. So don't focus on just visual learning, or auditory learning, and so on. Use different methods in combination. That way of one fails, another might pick up where that stopped and let you keep going. So don't just watch a lecture or read a book, do both, take notes, read the notes out loud so you hear yourself, and get every part of you from touch, to sight, to sound involved a fully involved effort to own your learning process.

That should just about cover it. There are books worth of information on the topics, but that covers the key points.

Best summary I have seen by an expert in the field is "Memory Power 101" by Dr. W. R. Klemm. He really knows his stuff because he has edited the journals where it all gets published. On top of that, he used the very memory skills he talks about to get his DVM and PhD, which were both in very hard topics. He has also taught them to his students and the ones that use them got great results.

Answer 72

Okay. I have had my mom check my book work. She has a math & engineering degree and so far I am doing well! (:

Answer 73

Great. That helps. I bet you were close, on the cusp of understanding, and the panic work pushed you over to knowing some stuff. That should help. However, beter preparation will cause you less pain in the future, which is what the rest of my looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong message is about.

Answer 74

Haha! I will definetly plan ahead in the furture! (: Thanks!

Answer 75

Let us know how you did! With the reading portion as well :)

Answer 76

Haha okay! I will! (: