Pre-calculus


Turkeygirl

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Today is onyl the second day of pre-calculus class. I feel like I will never get it. We are using the T1-83 calculator and are working on line equations and solving problems with functions and a bunch of other stuff. I am so scared I will fail, I have never been so worried. I am going to a help session today which hopefully will help me in getting the homework done that is due tomorrow but guys, I feel so confused! I haven't had math since 12th grade!

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Re: Pre-calculus

Learn how to use that calculator! It will do most of the work for you, and if it is the model I am thinking of, it will do graphing too. I have taken calc and know how it makes you want to pull out your hair, but we weren't allowed to use that calculator because it does most of the work for you. Count yourself lucky you don't have the professor I did! LOL

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Re: Pre-calculus

Read the manual that came with it and get help if you can, especially from someone owning the same calculator. I had Calculus and its true that some of it doesn't make sense (well most of it smile.gif) but to pass the class you need to learn it. It comes down to alot of algebra and making sure you set it up right. If you get the TI-92 calculator you can set it up the way you see it and get the answer but with Calculus my teachers required showing the work, at least that way if you got the answer wrong you got partial credit for showing the work.

Do the homework and ask questions and before you know it, you might actually enjoy it, there are actually classes out there that make Calc. seem simple if you can believe that!! smile.gif

Good luck!

Lou

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Re: Pre-calculus

I wouldn't use the calculator. I figured stuff out much easier and it stuck in my mind when i did it the old fashioned way. There shouldn't be anything in Pre-Calc that can't be done with a pencil and a regular calculator.

when i took those classes i taught my self from the book and went to help sessions to check my work.

good luck

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Re: Pre-calculus

Stick with it.. it sounds like you're on the right track going to the help sessions. If all else fails, ask the professor for some one on one time. they should have scheduled office hours set aside to help students. I didn't have too much trouble with calculus... differential equations is another story. Somehow I pulled a B out of that class and never new what I was doing. cool.gif

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Re: Pre-calculus

That calculator is great once you learn to use it. There is so much to it that they had to give us an orientation course. They had a guy from Texas Instruments come and show us on this cool overhead version that he had.

I can't remember it now, because they banned them in college here. There is some memory and the calculator can hold full cheat notes if you know how to program it correctly. Also, you can get PONG and some other games for it!

Its a good tool when you figure it out. Took me a year. I was kind of angry that the fact I couldn't use the calculator was reflected in my grades, but once we had that course, everything changed. grin.gif

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Re: Pre-calculus

I had pre-calc in 11th grade, that was 5 years ago. I am going to be taking 2 or 3 calc classes and differential equations here in the next year and a half or so and I'm pretty worried about it. I've been going through my old math books to try and get my math skills back before I start calc. crazy.gif

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Re: Pre-calculus

the calculator is a HUGE help, it can solve matrices as long as you plug in the info correctly.

I guarantee there are several tutoring/ help session, I was able to get a private tutor through my university and ended up with an A in calc I and II.

Without their help I would have struggled.

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