Despite the fact that I have a college BS degree, I haven’t taken a math class since high school (I have taken some comp. sci and physics classes, but not a math class). I was really good at math in school, and took a placement test when I was first in college and received several college credits for aceing it — which killed off my need to take a math class for the journalism degree I was after.
Tonight, my 21-year-old sister-in-law came over with her COCC math homework so my wife (also a science/math geek growing up) and I could help her. And I realized two things: One, I’ve completely forgotten how to use my TI-83 or my wife’s TI-85 graphing calculators, resorting to online versions, and two: it’s been way too long since I’ve even thought about any sort of advanced algebra. I’m bumbling my way through it, but I remember this stuff being stupidly easy back in the day. I’ve sort of become a math moron (granted, I’m doing better than some probably would, but just the same, not nearly like I used to be).
My late high school calculus teacher would be seriously disappointed in me.
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Same here. AP back then, but now I don’t know my TI-83 from my A.S.S.
Strange you should mention problems with math, on Thursday the company I work for launched Manga High.com – an maths orientated games site. At the moment, we are concentrating on the UK GCSE Curriculum, but the “Save our dumb planet” game should help with algebra in all countries.
I know we are considering a calculator type system, but I’ll try and see if we can do anything regarding “usage of graphing calculators”.
I’ve been out of High School since 1986.
The total # of quadratic equations I have been asked to solve since graduation, outside of a few college math courses, is still zero.
I has also never been asked to calculate the volume of a cone or other odd shape.
However, the typing class I took in 9th grade has continued to be used on a daily basis.
Go figure.