- #1
Unteroffizier
- 28
- 3
Hello.
I am currently studying at a specialized mechanical engineering high school. I'm in my first (or 10th) year, as I've stated before.
I've done algebra I and algebra II, along with about one half of trigonometry (utilizing the trigonometric functions in practical problems, like splitting vectors into two x and y forces, but that's mechanics, another subject) and set theory (plus intervals) so far. It's all been relatively easy, but I'm seriously running into a brick wall here.
I know I said I took algebra II, but that doesn't mean I mastered it. In fact, I'm awful at it. I've got no problem solving equations with one or two unknowns, quadratic equations, sets of equations, graphing functions and quadratic functions, etc.. However, I can't seem to wrap my head around polynomials and rational expressions...
Polynomials I somewhat understand. When they aren't too long and difficult to simplify, I can easily complete them. However, once it involves square root, cube roots, powers and square roots of cube roots (or other nonsensical madness), I simply cannot do it. Maybe it's a mental block, a lack of confidence, I don't know. I just know that it takes me thirty minutes to complete a long polynomial, and I usually make computational or sign errors on the way, rendering my work pointless.
Rational expressions I simply cannot understand. I can't. I don't know how to define them, how to simplify them, how to work with them and I'm sick from looking at them. I just don't know what to do with them at all, and I seriously need help, or at least advice on learning to solve them.
My maths results have been suffering. I'm used to being a grade A or B student, but now my grades seem to be declining exponentially (seriously, the decline grows steeper and steeper as I go. How's that for a lesson in exponential growth). I'd normally wait it out and hope something better comes along, but I don't want to have a gaping hole in my knowledge.
I've got no problem at all with physics problems so far. Kinematics is working fine for me, and it's my best subject at the moment. Mechanics is also fine. It's difficult, and takes time to learn, but I'm somewhat confident in my ability to replace constraints with forces.
Please, no matter how many problems I try to solve, no matter how many videos I watch, I'm just not improving at all. I seriously want to do physics or ME in life, like really badly, but if I can't deal with trivial algebra II, how will I ever deal with calculus?
I don't want my dream to be crushed because of rational expressions. I am in dire need of help.
I am currently studying at a specialized mechanical engineering high school. I'm in my first (or 10th) year, as I've stated before.
I've done algebra I and algebra II, along with about one half of trigonometry (utilizing the trigonometric functions in practical problems, like splitting vectors into two x and y forces, but that's mechanics, another subject) and set theory (plus intervals) so far. It's all been relatively easy, but I'm seriously running into a brick wall here.
I know I said I took algebra II, but that doesn't mean I mastered it. In fact, I'm awful at it. I've got no problem solving equations with one or two unknowns, quadratic equations, sets of equations, graphing functions and quadratic functions, etc.. However, I can't seem to wrap my head around polynomials and rational expressions...
Polynomials I somewhat understand. When they aren't too long and difficult to simplify, I can easily complete them. However, once it involves square root, cube roots, powers and square roots of cube roots (or other nonsensical madness), I simply cannot do it. Maybe it's a mental block, a lack of confidence, I don't know. I just know that it takes me thirty minutes to complete a long polynomial, and I usually make computational or sign errors on the way, rendering my work pointless.
Rational expressions I simply cannot understand. I can't. I don't know how to define them, how to simplify them, how to work with them and I'm sick from looking at them. I just don't know what to do with them at all, and I seriously need help, or at least advice on learning to solve them.
My maths results have been suffering. I'm used to being a grade A or B student, but now my grades seem to be declining exponentially (seriously, the decline grows steeper and steeper as I go. How's that for a lesson in exponential growth). I'd normally wait it out and hope something better comes along, but I don't want to have a gaping hole in my knowledge.
I've got no problem at all with physics problems so far. Kinematics is working fine for me, and it's my best subject at the moment. Mechanics is also fine. It's difficult, and takes time to learn, but I'm somewhat confident in my ability to replace constraints with forces.
Please, no matter how many problems I try to solve, no matter how many videos I watch, I'm just not improving at all. I seriously want to do physics or ME in life, like really badly, but if I can't deal with trivial algebra II, how will I ever deal with calculus?
I don't want my dream to be crushed because of rational expressions. I am in dire need of help.