Learning Algebra

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Hey! Any math whiz's out there who know of a visual way to learn Algebra? I can only get through pre-algebra so far, it's my LD.... I need to pass at least college math before I can get my degree and I can't seem to grasp it. Just meaningless numbers and letters that don't seem to stand for anything tangible. I can do fractions because I cook and sew, I can get geometry because I play pool, but as far as binomials, polynomials, equations, ....... there isn't anything I can connect them to..... please can somebody help me????????

Hmm... what specifically are you having trouble with? Any examples... I know equations are strange to express through text like this.

I like visual explanations of math concepts myself. Are you good at graphing?

I am exceedingly good at math, but only because I can visualize the way different concepts work. Until you can grasp that variables are, well, variables whose real or complex values depend on the constraints of the problem at hand, you're in trouble. You really should focus on graphing extensively, so you start to get the ideas behind the concepts, but graphing isn't always best, it's just good to give you some "intuition" about different types of problems. Check out MITs opencourseware or whatever, their calculus section shows very useful tricks for "seeing" what solutions of different types of equations should generally look like.

There's a lot of different kinds of algerbra . . .

I know for simple number solving in an equation I'd often relate it to money to get an answer if I struggled.

umm, for example:

2x + 3x = 10
5x = 10

So, we have 5 bills, what number do they have to be?
$2 bills

Or someting like that.

What sorts of equations are they throwing at you?

It's weird. We teach young children algebra and they're pretty good at it, but then we stop, and 10 years later when we try again they can't get it.

Most of us did some algebra when we were first learning math as kids because we'd be given problems like:

5 + __ = 7

And we'd need to figure out what went in the blank. But that's exactly what algebra is, but algebra replaced the blank with an x.

Algerbra is really a matter of understanding and applying the following statement:
"what you do to one side you must do exactly the same to the other"
It might help to begin with apples (a) and banannas (b):
For example I begin with 7 (units/ pick your currency) and end up with a apple and 2 units then:
7 = a + 2
The logical step is to then subtract 2 from each side, so:
5 = a
Which means an apple is equavlant to 5 units.
Just out of intrest, how far do you get algerbra, so far?

I've mentioned in past threads I had ideas to write a software application that would help visual learners (I'm one) with abstract
concepts so they could ace college algebra (the level every college grad needs). I designed alot of the program in my head. I would make every concept into a real 3-D word problems.

Like for example in division of polynomials I would have lots of examples showing how the ratio of the surface area goes down as the volume of and object goes up. The user would see that the value corresponded to a real visualizable thing like for a cube surface area could be length * width * 6 but since length and width are equal in a cube that could be shorten to 6x^2. The volume is length * width * height but again since there all equal in a cube that can be expressed as x^3
so you have (6x^2)/x^3 represents the concept of as a cube gets larger its ratio of surface area to volume gets smaller. I would show it all in animations of the cube getting bigger and a flat sheet representing its surface getting bigger but a third value showing the ratio is getting smaller.

Then have short video explaining real world observations. Like why cells are the size they are as it is and optimal surface area to volume to permit membrane exchange of nutrient and waste products.

So instead having a completely abstract concept thrown at a visual thinker a massive amount of visual tie ins would be provided.

Myself I remember optimization problems were fun. Where one design the most cost effective solution to a problem. I got a kick out
of later that calculus could be applied to some the same problems to tweak the optimization even more. So seeing real useful value in math is critical for a visual learning. Completely abstract problems that the text books are often riddle with depend on very little visual thinking.

I was thinking of using something like povray to generate all the visual effects on the fly.

Cyber hugs and Many Thanks to all who've responded to my desperate cry for help..... I'm having pc problems at home and I've limited access to a computer except when at school, so ..... I'm not able to respond quickly or sometimes at all, but THANK YOU again.

I've managed to pass Pre-algebra with a C, and have flunked Intro to Algebra twice so far - which means I must either pay for the next class myself or skip intro and go straight into College Math/Algebra; which I'm not prepared to do right now. I've found that I hit a wall mentally when it comes to equations and stuff like that.

I will read and try your responses as soon as I can; I'm also trying to find out what's wrong with my car and trying to avoid back surgery while going to school full time, (putting off more math classes until I figure out where and how to get a grasp) and keeping up my A/B grades.

I think the program to show lots of visuals with the equation sounds wonderful, I would love to see it !

Thanks again

Timidme