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Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:51 AM
by shagrath
That kind of basic algebra is taught in 7th grade pre-algebra and 8th grade algebra 1.

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 12:54 PM
by pleasefixitup
slammin_e28 wrote:Algebra is why I never went to college. It's bullshit. Need it for everything.

Now, Geometry, I used to be great at. All A's through high school. Hit Algebra and barely made it through....barely.
That makes me want to pick up a math book and try again. :oops:
There is a reason for that....most people are either good at one or the other...I'm great with geometry and not algebra. I hit algebra II and it was like I was learning Cantonese.

For some reason I had all the answers in class today, I think I'm remembering everything from high school.

I'm going to try to test out of the classes, then I'll be done with college months earlier than expected.
shagrath wrote:That kind of basic algebra is taught in 7th grade pre-algebra and 8th grade algebra 1.
It's actually algebra II from math 102.

It's not the lowest college math class, but it's pretty low.

Math 108 requires a 22 on the ACT and I got a 21 years back...Algebra is hard for me!

Re: who's good at math?

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 1:49 PM
by Matt
pleasefixitup wrote:t=29-1/4(w-k)

I have to solve for k.
There are two things two remember
1) you can do anything you want to, as long as you do it to both sides of the "=" sign.
2) but you can never divide by zero

re #1: some things are more advantageous than others, and it depends on how your brain is wired. Let's try this:

start: t=29-1/4(w-k)

let's add 1/4(w-k) to both sides:

t + 1/4(w-k) = 29

let's get rid of the dumb fraction, by multiplying everything by 4

4t + (w-k) = 4*29

let's get rid of the parantheses -- they are now redundant (also, we don't have to distribute a negation operation any longer)

4t + w - k = 4*29

lets add k to both sides (i don't like having minus signs anywhere)

4t + w = 4*29 + k

alright, now we can isolate k by subtracting 4*29 from both sides

4t + w - 4*29 = k

flip it around

k = 4t + w - 4*29

if you want to clean it up a touch, pull out the 4 as a factor

k = w + 4(t - 29)

or if you want to leave it expanded out

k = w + 4t - 116

Re: who's good at math?

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 1:56 PM
by TheLazyDog
Matt wrote:
pleasefixitup wrote:t=29-1/4(w-k)

I have to solve for k.
There are two things two remember
1) you can do anything you want to, as long as you do it to both sides of the "=" sign.
2) but you can never divide by zero

re #1: some things are more advantageous than others, and it depends on how your brain is wired. Let's try this:

start: t=29-1/4(w-k)

let's add 1/4(w-k) to both sides:

t + 1/4(w-k) = 29

let's get rid of the dumb fraction, by multiplying everything by 4

4t + (w-k) = 4*29

let's get rid of the parantheses -- they are now redundant (also, we don't have to distribute a negation operation any longer)

4t + w - k = 4*29

lets add k to both sides (i don't like having minus signs anywhere)

4t + w = 4*29 + k

alright, now we can isolate k by subtracting 4*29 from both sides

4t + w - 4*29 = k

flip it around

k = 4t + w - 4*29

if you want to clean it up a touch, pull out the 4 as a factor

k = w + 4(t - 29)

or if you want to leave it expanded out

k = w + 4t - 116
That is wrong. "1/4 (w-k)" is not (1/4) (w-k), which is what you used.

Re: who's good at math?

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 2:05 PM
by pleasefixitup
Matt wrote:
pleasefixitup wrote:t=29-1/4(w-k)

I have to solve for k.

if you want to clean it up a touch, pull out the 4 as a factor

k = w + 4(t - 29)
that was the correct answer actually.

the computer is really annoying as to how you enter it--even if it's the same in the end.

canis - the answer you posted earlier was very incorrect.

I'm not the best with algebra by any means, but I know enough to know that you were very wrong.

Re: who's good at math?

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 2:18 PM
by Frybrid 524td
pleasefixitup wrote:
Matt wrote:k = w + 4(t - 29)
that was the correct answer actually.

the computer is really annoying as to how you enter it--even if it's the same in the end.

canis - the answer you posted earlier was very incorrect.

I'm not the best with algebra by any means, but I know enough to know that you were very wrong.
How so?
Matt wrote:if you want to clean it up a touch, pull out the 4 as a factor

k = w + 4(t - 29)

or if you want to leave it expanded out

k = w + 4t - 116
CanisLupusRobotus wrote:k = 4t + w - 116

Re: who's good at math?

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 2:27 PM
by mooseheadm5
pleasefixitup wrote: canis - the answer you posted earlier was very incorrect.

I'm not the best with algebra by any means, but I know enough to know that you were very wrong.
Well, you must not be the best with reading comprehension, because he was the first to post the correct answer. You should be saying "domo arigato Mr. Robotus".

Re: who's good at math?

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 2:49 PM
by pleasefixitup
mooseheadm5 wrote:
pleasefixitup wrote: canis - the answer you posted earlier was very incorrect.

I'm not the best with algebra by any means, but I know enough to know that you were very wrong.
Well, you must not be the best with reading comprehension, because he was the first to post the correct answer. You should be saying "domo arigato Mr. Robotus".
maybe I entered his answer and the one I posted stating it was the correct answer and his wasn't the correct answer.

came up as "incorrect"

Do I know why? No....I just know it was wrong.

Now, I have to do this crap on the computer....

So maybe both answers are correct, but the computer only recognized k = w + 4(t - 29) as correct.

Re: who's good at math?

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 2:57 PM
by mooseheadm5
pleasefixitup wrote: So maybe both answers are correct, but the computer only recognized k = w + 4(t - 29) as correct.
His answer and that answer are equivalent. That one is technically the most simplified answer, though.

Re: who's good at math?

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 3:07 PM
by pleasefixitup
mooseheadm5 wrote:
pleasefixitup wrote: So maybe both answers are correct, but the computer only recognized k = w + 4(t - 29) as correct.
His answer and that answer are equivalent. That one is technically the most simplified answer, though.
They are, and I understand that.

Maybe you can understand my frustration with this internet homework...It's not the right answer that is always correct...it's the answer the computer wants that is correct.

I have missed many points due to entering a equivalent answer that the computer didn't like, not to mention the program being case sensitive...

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 3:19 PM
by mooseheadm5
When in doubt, always go for the most simplified answer.

Re: who's good at math?

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 3:28 PM
by TheLazyDog
mooseheadm5 wrote:You should be saying "domo arigato Mr. Robotus".
:laugh:

pleasefixitup wrote:
Matt wrote:
pleasefixitup wrote:t=29-1/4(w-k)

I have to solve for k.

if you want to clean it up a touch, pull out the 4 as a factor

k = w + 4(t - 29)
that was the correct answer actually.

the computer is really annoying as to how you enter it--even if it's the same in the end.

canis - the answer you posted earlier was very incorrect.

I'm not the best with algebra by any means, but I know enough to know that you were very wrong.
By "that is wrong", I meant Matt did not solve with the correct order of operations. On your homework, or whatever, "1/4" is probably displayed as a one in the numerator and four in the denominator of a fraction bar. When you want to express "one-fourth" to us with charters on your keyboard you have to explicitly make it equal 0.25.

The expression you gave, in the form you gave it, is not what Matt and I found it to be in terms of k.



Being case sensitive is very important. V and v and different variables. As are M and m, etc.

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 3:48 PM
by mattur
Boy, glad I stayed out of this math lesson for awhile. Looks like you guys finally have it though. I understand the frustration with the order of the operations and working on a computer in type. I got the problem wrong myself and like to think I'm decent at math...

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 6:17 PM
by shagrath
Nothing about this is algebra II. But what do I know I'm only studying to be a math teacher and my dad is an active math teacher.

Posted: Feb 11, 2013 6:26 PM
by Greg E34
tsmall07 wrote:
pleasefixitup wrote: I'm going to school for english...
:confused:

Now, or in the future?
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: