Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Do you know your times tables to 12x12, instant answer without thinking?

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No, I don't. Website where I can learn, please?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clough

No, I don't. Website where I can learn, please?

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Make flashcards out of 3x5 cards or even cut-up printer paper. Put the problem one side and the answer on the other. Go through them several times a day. Don't make cards for those you know and can answer immediately. Memorize the ones you don 't know.

In order to do higher math, you have to know your times tables perfectly!

I'll give you three days? A week? Then I will test you.

Do you know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals? Fractions? How to determine the equivalent fraction for a decimal and vice versa? Do you know anything about prime factors? (prime factors of 30 = 2, 3, 5) What about factors? (factors of 30 = 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30)

My boyfriend was looking over my shoulder while I was on her and suggested kahn academy. He says you can search for it on YouTube and its all about different levels of math.

Originally Posted by Clough
No, I don't. Website where I can learn, please?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Make flashcards out of 3x5 cards or even cut-up printer paper. Put the problem one side and the answer on the other. Go through them several times a day. Don't make cards for those you know and can answer immediately. Memorize the ones you don 't know.

In order to do higher math, you have to know your times tables perfectly!

I'll give you three days? a week? Then I will test you.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clough

Originally Posted by Clough
No, I don't. Website where I can learn, please?

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Learn what?

Here is a grid --

http://www.mathsisfun.com/tables.html

Nice grid, Wondergirl!

Okay, I would like to work on algebra. Seems like a good starting point, unless someone thinks differently.

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Originally Posted by Clough

Nice grid, Wondergirl!

Okay, I would like to work on algebra. Seems like a good starting point, unless someone thinks differently.

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Do you know your times tables perfectly now?

Algebra is the process of finding the value of unknowns. Unknowns (i.e. variables) may be shown as x or y or z or a or b.

4x + 16 = 32
What is the value of x?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Algebra is the process of finding the value of unknowns. Unknowns (i.e., variables) may be shown as x or y or z or a or b.

4x + 16 = 32
What is the value of x?

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Gosh! I'm lost! Need to start with the "bare bones", so to speak!

Let me tell you about pianos... :p

I always thought of algebra as the laws of math one needs to know in order to do math correctly. There are rules to follow. Follow the rules and you'll be OK. In math things have to be balanced.

Hey, I am into music as well. I play the banjo. Fun instrument. More advanced math deals with music and math and how they're related.
Take the 'vibrating string' for instance.
The Wave equation is used to model the vibration of a string.
Music is a pattern. Therefore, it can be mathematically modeled.

Okay. How about I learn the multiplication table as Wondergirl has prvided. That would be for a start.

You play the banjo, galactus? Oh, that's great! Much to write about there!

Math? I'm gust getting started...

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Originally Posted by Clough

Okay. How about I learn the multiplication table as Wondergirl has prvided. That would be for a start.

You play the banjo, galactus? Oh, that's great! Much to write about there!

Math? I'm gust getting started...

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Yes, as galactus mentioned, music is math too. That's why I'm hoping you will be a good math student. Did you ever study music theory?

I should call you and drill you on the times tables.

You are never too old to learn. You may just get a little out of practice and age can be a factor for attitude. That can be good and bad. As I get older, I'm more likely to recognize BS and less likely to put up with it. But, I've also been told that older students are often better students, because they mean business, when it comes to learning. Older students actually want the education for their money. Education is too often the one product that students don't mind getting ripped off on as long as they get their diploma.

I believe that most of the great contributors were younger, because they had the time. I'm in my 40's and I still like to do a little math research on the side as a hobby, but I find that I have far less time to devote to it now that I have a home, children, a wife. And a career. I hope that I still feel the same way when I'm old enough to retire, because then I may again find the time to contribute more.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Yes, as galactus mentioned, music is math too. That's why I'm hoping you will be a good math student. Did you ever study music theory?

I should call you and drill you on the times tables.

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I'm presuming that your question is directed at me. I'm sorry for taking so long to respond!

I teach music theory, Wondergirl.

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by WG

4x + 16 = 32
What is the value of x?

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How could I miss this thread? :eek:

Ok, Clough. I admit that such a problem is not the first type of problems in algebra we learn in maths.

The first ones are adding, multiplying etc of algebra. Algebra are just letters to represent a number that we don't know, an unknown number ;) The numbers in front of algebra are multiplied by the algebra.

Ok, say we have 'a', we don't know its actual value.

a + a = 2a

You make as if it was (when there is no number in front of an algebra, you can consider it as being a 1):

1a + 1a = 2a

Let's see if that is true.

Say, we now assign the value of 5 to a. Hence, we say that a = 5.

Let's plug back (substitute) a into the expression.

5 + 5 = 2(5) ----[2(5) means 2 times 5, when you find a number in front of brackets, it means that the number is multiplied by everything within the brackets]
10 = 10

See?

Let's use another value... a = 8. You should come to the conclusion that for any value that a can take, a + a will always be equal to 2a.

Now, we change a little. We take 'y' as the unknown variable (variable because it's value can be any value)

3y + 5y = 8y

You can again try to plug in any value in this expression, and you'll see that they are true. I'm sure that now, you are seeing the trend. You add the numbers as if the algebra was not there, and then, you insert the algebra in the final term.

Now some problems for practice:
2u + 7u = ?
5x - x = ?
8t - ? = 4t
? + 7p = 8p

Hi, Unky!

I would really like to learn what you have to teach! Just really mentally tired right now, among other things...

Later, though...

Perhaps on a new thread?

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clough

Hi, Unky!

I would really like to learn what you have to teach! Just really mentally tired right now, among other things...

Later, though...

Perhaps on a new thread?

Thanks!

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No, not a new thread. What good would that do? Have you been studying your times tables?

No problem Clough :)

Yes. A new thread. This thread is in danger of getting off-topic.

Yes. I've been practicing my times tables in my head when I'm in bed.