What the EFF have I gotten myself into???

[Svenskaflicka]

I've been accepted into the University, and I'll start the Preparing Course in Mathematics in the middle of August. I've gotten me the course literature to start practising a little ahead. Now, I've not done abstract math for 10 years. The type of math I've been doing is knitting instructions, fabric yard calculations, and counting my money, the latter easy enough for a 1:st grader to do, seeing as it hardly ever involves any high numbers.

I open the book, I start reading, and I make it to page 5 before the trouble begins. On page 8, I encounter

(root from 2 + root from 8) times itself

I got 10, the book said 18. M's husband, who's an expert on computer programming, told me to count like this and like that to get those and these, and when I asked him to back up to the second number again, he cracked and revealed the secret formula for counting this type of assignments:

x + y + 2xy

Now, again, let me remind you that this is PAGE 8. Of the FIRST chapter. The EASY chapter. The one regarding NUMBERS AND MASSES. It's all uphill from here, with trigonometry, algebra, and something called exponential equations or something. Now, this is the Preparing Course, which serves to refresh your knowledge of math from senior high school.
I studied the Classic Line. Our schedule said Latin and History, not Advanced Abstract Math!

And once I've survived that particular course, the REAL hardship begins - learning computer programming languages! 6 terms...

What the EFF have I gotten myself into???

 

[Equinoxe]

I don't know, I'd also much prefer the Latin and History line myself; I find it much more interesting and it just comes to me easier.

 

[Liar]

What the EFF have I gotten myself into???

It's called higher education because after not too long, you feel a sudden urge to toss the books and get high.

Math is a bitch. Question here is, how much math did you read in high school if you didn't cover trigonometry and algebra? I only read the basic course, but that's because I knew I would never need it.

 

[AppleBiter]

You know, I can totally relate because math has never been my subject and I had to take Beginning Algebra upon going back to school. I hadn't been to school since 1997. Anyhow, the best advice I have for you is to chill out.

I stressed when I got my book, too. BUT, it's much easier when you actually get to class because you have an instructor guiding you, step-by-step, through the whole thing. You'll be fine. Just breathe.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Viam inveniam aut faciam.

 

[Guest]

Viam inveniam aut faciam.

You're perverted!

(But the thought of a facial is a nice one, admittedly. )

Go, Svenska! You'll be fine, babe. Have faith in yourself.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

It's called higher education because after not too long, you feel a sudden urge to toss the books and get high.

Math is a bitch. Question here is, how much math did you read in high school if you didn't cover trigonometry and algebra? I only read the basic course, but that's because I knew I would never need it.

That's what I thought, too. I only read one year (Humanistisk Linje). We just mentioned x and y briefly, and that was the one and only time I ever had a 1 on a test.

 

[Equinoxe]

Viam inveniam aut faciam.

Es amans casus accusativi.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

You're perverted!

(But the thought of a facial is a nice one, admittedly. )

Go, Svenska! You'll be fine, babe. Have faith in yourself.

Thanks, Loulou!

Translation:

"I'll find a way or I'll make one."

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Okay, I misreads your title.

This isn't about the Electronic Frontier Foundation.



Non Illegitimo Carburendum. *









* Ask someone who speaks Porcine Latin

 

[R. Richard]

I open the book, I start reading, and I make it to page 5 before the trouble begins. On page 8, I encounter

(root from 2 + root from 8) times itself

I got 10, the book said 18. M's husband, who's an expert on computer programming, told me to count like this and like that to get those and these, and when I asked him to back up to the second number again, he cracked and revealed the secret formula for counting this type of assignments:

x + y + 2xy

I have good news and bad news. First the bad news the formula you were given is wrong. Next the good news. Assuming that X = "the root from 2" and Y = "the root from 8" then we have:

(X+Y)*(X+Y) = X**2 + XY + XY + Y**2
Where * = multiply and ** = exponentiation and assuming "the root fom N" means the square root of N
Or: (X+Y)*(X+Y) = X**2 + 2*XY + Y**2

The square of a square root is, of course, the number itself. The square root of 2 times the square root of 8 is the square root of 16 (check this with your calculator). Twice the square root of 16 is 8. X**2 +XY + XY + Y**2; 2 + 2*4 + 8 = 18 Q.E.D.

 

[minsue]

I have good news and bad news. First the bad news the formula you were given is wrong. Next the good news. Assuming that X = "the root from 2" and Y = "the root from 8" then we have:

(X+Y)*(X+Y) = X**2 +XY + XY + Y**2
Where * = multiply and ** = exponentiation and assuming "the root fom N" means the square root of N
Or: (X+Y)*(X+Y) = X**2 +2*XY + Y**2

The square of a sqare root is, of course, the number itself. The square root of 2 times the square root of 8 is the square root of 16 (check this with your calculator). Twice the square root of 16 is 8. X**2 +XY + XY + Y**2; 2 + 2*4 + 8 = 18 Q.E.D.

That's just cruel.

 

[elsol]

*sigh*

Remember the distributive property of multiplication so...

(X + Y) * (X + Y) really means [X * (X + Y] + [Y * (X + Y)] (distributive property of multiplication)

So in your example

(root2 + root8) ^ 2 means

[root2 (root2 + root8)] + [root8 (root2 + root8)]

Just distribute

Root2 * Root2 = 2
Root2 * root8 = Root16 which equals 4 (Square root of 16 = 4)
Root8 * root2 = Root16 which equals 4
Root8 * root8 = 8

All you do is add up your results -- 2 + 4 + 4 + 8 = 18.

Here's a good webpage..

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/61769.html

---

I had the same problem, wanted to go to business school so I needed Calc after not taking math for YEARS.

I decided to take the 'maths' at a Community College; they teach it more like a high school class and use methods which they use to teach kids now. The professors are also much willing to help.

Got an A in every class but I started from the BASEMENT -- Algebra 1 and it took me 4 classes before I jumped into calculus.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[R. Richard]

That's just cruel.

Is it not unfortunate that the truth always seems to hurt someone?

 

[pop_54]

Go Swedish lovely, you'll be Ok

I never bothered much with math at school to begin with... what the hell am I ever going to need with algebra and all that crap I thought, substituting bloody numbers with letters and making complex calculations out of it all... Then I chose to be an electrical engineer... Oops!!! where's that bloody math book!!!!

 

[Liar]

That's what I thought, too. I only read one year

Same as me then. Well, you have a bit of a hill to climb, but that's what the preparing course is there for, to get you up to speed with those who have read two or three years of it in high school (and actually remembers the shit )

Lots of luck to you. It's not impossible, if you don't think it is.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I can only imagine one thing worse than being the lousiest at math in class, and that's if I turn out to be the best in math in class.

Who shall I ask for help then???

OK, so I've got B to help me, but it's difficult to understand his explanations, because instead of X and Y, he calls them Number 1 and Number 2... very distracting.

As a last resort, I can ask M's husband, but M warned me that he might be a little annoyed with me right now, because I told his 6-year-old son about Lorena Bobbit.

Hey, it's easier to break them down when they're young!

I wonder if it would be easier for me to get a math book in chinese..?

 

[ABSTRUSE]

You go girl!!!!!

 

[Black Tulip]

Hi Svenska,

Go for it, girl. You can do it!
Not gonna be fun, mind you, but you'll get there.
Even I could do it, after I'd been out of school for 20 years.

Took a lot of hard work, but I managed it.
And I might add, I still don't know the tables of multiplication by heart.
Mind you, I am numerically challenged.

I even have a digital watch because I can't read the analog ones.

 

[oggbashan]

Svenskaflicka,

Don't believe everything Black Tulip says. She's hiding a brain behind those AVs.

The point of your course is to give you the tools you need. The text may look scary now but it will make sense later.

We know that you have the intelligence and application to do it. All you need now is confidence. You'll get support from those of us who are numerate.

Og

 

[DrFreud]

Mind you, I am numerically challenged.

I even have a digital watch because I can't read the analog ones.

Does this mean I can't ask you what's the angle between the hours hand and the minutes hand when it's 4:20?

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Does this mean I can't ask you what's the angle between the hours hand and the minutes hand when it's 4:20?

That's a trick question!

When I was in school, in 6th grade, when I was 12, I was so good at math that I got to advance to the Extra Difficult Math Book. In that book, I remember ONE question:

A fly is tired and sits down on the minutes hand of a clock that is 30 meters in circumference. The time is 14.20. The fly stays where he is until 16.40. How many meters has the fly travelled before he leaves the clock?

 

[DrFreud]

That's a trick question!

When I was in school, in 6th grade, when I was 12, I was so good at math that I got to advance to the Extra Difficult Math Book. In that book, I remember ONE question:

A fly is tired and sits down on the minutes hand of a clock that is 30 meters in circumference. The time is 14.20. The fly stays where he is until 16.40. How many meters has the fly travelled before he leaves the clock?

Not too bad. But it would have been more interesting if the fly was sitting on the hours hand

 

[Black Tulip]

Does this mean I can't ask you what's the angle between the hours hand and the minutes hand when it's 4:20?

I'm afraid that's exactly what it means.
I may be clever in some areas, but this is not one of them.



Svenska, you seem to understand it.
So what are you moaning about?

 

[oggbashan]

My Dentist

Is my dentist relevant to this thread? You may well ask.

My dentist is Finnish. He came to study dentistry later in life because it is better paid than his previous employment.

He now practises dentistry in England, with his wife, also a dentist. They met at the dentistry school, married and now have a joint practice.

His previous job: A Mathematics teacher in SWEDEN.

So, Svenskaflicka, if you really get stuck, send me an email and I'll ask my dentist. Just for you I'll suffer the twinges of pain that afflict my teeth every time I go near his surgery.

I may have to pay him for his advice in Andy Capp cartoon books. He accepts those as part payment for dental treartment too.

It ain't what you know, it's WHO you know.

Og