Re-learning College Algebra

[nebe99]

I've been trolling this forum for the last week and it looks very impressive. I read through the various threads for nubies, did some searches and there is definitely some great info and resources here. Any advice for books on learning College Algebra from the ground up? I have to pass a College Algebra CLEP exam in November and have forgotten most of my college algebra from many moons ago..

Thanks very much.
nebe99

[burbuja0512]

I've been trolling this forum for the last week and it looks very impressive. I read through the various threads for nubies, did some searches and there is definitely some great info and resources here. Any advice for books on learning College Algebra from the ground up? I have to pass a College Algebra CLEP exam in November and have forgotten most of my college algebra from many moons ago..

Thanks very much.
nebe99

Hi and welcome I wouldn't use a book to learn from the ground up. There will probably be mixed opinions about this, but if you REALLY want to learn, the absolute best resource I've seen was ALEKS. See ALEKS -- Assessment and Learning, K-12, Higher Education, Automated Tutor, Math for more info and also do a search on the forums. ALEKS will teach you everything that you need to know and not re-teach stuff that you already have mastered. That being said, if you're truly learning from the ground up, it will be a time consuming process unless you're a very quick learner.

College Math is really no more difficult than most of what you probably learned in high school. Is that an option for you?

I started down the college algebra path with ALEKS and decided to stop because I was taking too long (and I already know that I use very little math for my career and that really won't ever change so I didn't want to spend the time learning more than I need). I used the refresher that ALEKS had given me and started studying for the College Math CLEP instead because that test was just as good for my major as College Algebra was. I used the IC cards together with youtube videos and studied just enough to barely pass. LOL.. a pass is a pass and my score of 53 gave me 6 math credits.

[P00057870]

Check with your public schools, adult education division, to see if they have anything. I was able to get beginning Algebra in a 9-week long, Saturday course here locally at a high school, that was enough for me to get caught up, pass the college entrance test, and go right into Intermediate.

If you want to talk time delay, it had been more than 45 years since I had algebra. Of course, it took dedication and hard work but is possible.

The cost was about $95 + $10 for a used book versus taking a course at the college that would NOT count toward any of the credits and combined costs would have been more like $400 or $450.

Check out all of your options. Maybe there is a private tutor who would be able to help you but that adds up. Another thought, a high school or college student who is willing to work with you. Lots of good used books on the internet to choose from but get the teacher edition.

[GoodtoGo]

I have to put my vote in for ALEKs. I hadn't taken math since I was in high school (I'm 41) and I didn't do very well in Algebra at all. I signed up for ALEKs for a month and went through the Beginning Algebra series until I felt much more confident and it helped me get a foundation to take and pass College Algebra at my school. Does your school take ACE credit? Maybe you can take ALEKs College Algebra and have the transcript sent to your school; you may not even need to take the CLEP test.

[beargins]

I've had comprehensive results by using the Virtual Math Lab which is free from Texas A&M.

Virtual Math Lab - College Algebra

Many others have also recommended that website, it takes time and discipline but its definitely worth it.

[dcan]

I second/third/fourth the ALEKS recommendation. $20 a month and it is structured, with an AI statistical learning engine based on Knowledge Space Theory. Because of that it can assess you in about 25 questions and then give you an individualized learning path that builds you up one tiny baby step at a time. No lectures, just problems, and if you have trouble understanding a problem just click "Explain" and it walks you through it.

I've said it before: I firmly believe the secret to ALEKS' success is that it is structured like an actual class, so you learn a little at a time as you go. And you can always reach out to YouTube/etc for lectures on topics if you want, but with ALEKS you always have a structure underpinning your learning, so you know what to research next. Trying to learn math through the internet without that structure is very very difficult, at least for me.

I'm using it right now. I did Beginning Algebra in my spare time in about 7-8 days (25 or so hours total) to about 85%, then Geometry in 10 hours. I decided to skip Intermediate Algebra and go straight to College Algebra, which I'm currently slogging through.

Plus several of their courses are ACE reviewed for credit, including College Algebra, so if your school accepts it as transfer credit you could take it at your own pace, with unlimited time for assessment tests, and once you hit 70% get 3 semester hours credit.

For $20 a month. Can't beat it.

(no, I don't own stock, and yes, I'm going back to studying now)

[scorched]

After high school I tested into pre-calc, but was too interested in partying to do well.

So here we are 20 years later and I am taking aleks college algebra because I intend to go all the way through Calc IV so I really need to understand it. As was previously stated I am not progressing as fast as possible but I really need this foundation to move forward so I am ok with the pace.

You say you have to pass the clep by November, seeing how it's only August that gives you 3 months to take a straighterline or aleks college algebra if you need to learn it as much as possible. Considering that typical college classes are 8 or 15 weeks thats 2-3.75 months.

The aleks system gives a report, that currently says it took me 18 hours and 46 minutes to just obtain 18%. So I started to panic thinking I would never get done, but what I found out is that number is not how long I was really taking. I have only spent 7 hours and 20 minutes doing work, but the 18 hours is where if I happened to have left the site after walking away to get a drink or food, etc..

With all that said if you can dedicate a few hours a day you will make it through pretty quick.

Best of luck!e

[29palms]

Yikes! I'm kind of in the same boat. I believe I may have to take this course, and its been LOWNG TIME since I took any form of math. I'm thinking of doing the ALEKS job but first I'm waiting on results of my transcripts eval via TESC to see what I actually need/don't need. From what I hear about ALEKS, is that it takes an assessment on your knowlege and builds you up so don't buy books. Though I doubt it could hurt. Use Aleks and let them break you down to build you up??? Like a drill instructor does.

I've been trolling this forum for the last week and it looks very impressive. I read through the various threads for nubies, did some searches and there is definitely some great info and resources here. Any advice for books on learning College Algebra from the ground up? I have to pass a College Algebra CLEP exam in November and have forgotten most of my college algebra from many moons ago..

Thanks very much.
nebe99

[rebel100]

Yikes! I'm kind of in the same boat. I believe I may have to take this course, and its been LOWNG TIME since I took any form of math. I'm thinking of doing the ALEKS job but first I'm waiting on results of my transcripts eval via TESC to see what I actually need/don't need. From what I hear about ALEKS, is that it takes an assessment on your knowlege and builds you up so don't buy books. Though I doubt it could hurt. Use Aleks and let them break you down to build you up??? Like a drill instructor does.

aleks assess the holes in your knowledge and patches them...no "breaking down" as such, but some have further to go than others.

[29palms]

Hopefully we can kick aleks assess!!! Ooops, I mean assessments!