<p>I've been struggling in pre-calc after taking a year of super-easy geometry that made me complacent and forget the necessary algebra. This wouldn't be too bad, if I could actually pay attention in class. Most of my classmates (and some are my friends, further complicating the issue) are the loud and annoying type who like to holler, flirt, and hate at each other from multiple parts of the room. But what really ticks me off is that those same facetious pains in the neck are the ones getting the highest grades. I really don't understand this. How can they be the ones getting over 100s on tests when they laugh and chatter over the teacher, while I strain to actually concentrate on my teacher's lessons and am averaging a low B? Help... :/</p>
<p>You’re dumb…?</p>
<p>You need to focus more. Talk to teh teacher and tell your friends to quiet down.</p>
<p>@SandwichGirl - Putanginamo.</p>
<p>@Mathcountser - Yeah, I know. My teacher already flipped out at these kids today an they still didn’t stop, and my friends already think I’m a frigid Asian freak. God, I feel like I’m in one of those below-college-prep level classes where everyone’s high and won’t calm down.</p>
<p>Could you be in a class where they’re the loud smart people who actually know what they’re doing?</p>
<p>Yes. And I’m the quiet smart person stuck in the back who knows what she’s doing in every other class except this. Math never having been my strong point, my Asian ego is taking quite the hit.</p>
<p>Have you considered going over the lessons in your book prior to listening to the lectures in class?</p>
<p>If you opted to do that, you could just focus on specific clarification questions.</p>
<p>My math book is even harder to understand than my teacher in class. It’s probably from the 70s, from its deteriorating state and dated real-life applications. But I guess I’ll try that. My teacher told us not to really focus on our book and just read the ‘homework hints’ on his website, but it won’t hurt to take a peek at it. But I think my problem is that while I actually do understand the concepts we’re learning, I’m somehow not able to apply them on the more complex problems that my teacher puts on tests and quizzes. How exactly does someone become “one with precalculus”? It’s hard for me to get in the questions that I’d like to ask, since my classmates are always being obnoxious and yelling out their own contrived questions, comments, and other diversionary tactics.</p>
<p>I think that it’s just a matter of exposing yourself to various sources and methods. There are a lot of information and free tutoring sites that cover the material presented within pre-calculus books. Perhaps you’ll find some methods and explanations to be more comprehensible than your teacher’s lectures. </p>
<p>[Pre</a> Calculus resources, help, tutorials and support.](<a href=“http://math.about.com/od/precalculus/Pre_Calculus_Help_Resources_Tutorials.htm]Pre”>Math)
[url=<a href=“http://www.themathpage.com/aprecalc/precalculus.htm]Precalculus[/url”>Precalculus]Precalculus[/url</a>]
[url=<a href=“http://www.aw-bc.com/demana6e/]Demana/Waits/Foley/Kennedy-Precalculus[/url”>http://www.aw-bc.com/demana6e/]Demana/Waits/Foley/Kennedy-Precalculus[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Thanks, those links are quite helpful. I really hope that I’m just in a slump right now that I can climb out of pretty soon. And I wish that the honors math track at my school didn’t put geometry before precalculus. Whoever thought of that genius idea … smh.</p>
<p>You are not innately strong at math. Everyone is not innately inclined to some things. For me, I’m not innately inclined to losing; blame it on the genes.</p>
<p>khanacademy.org</p>
<p>It could be that this is a reality check for you and your vanity, perhaps? Maybe these people who you perceive to be stupid/annoying/etc. are actually able to comprehend the subject better and thus feel like fooling around and what not in class, while you believe yourself to be above these students and feel that as a result you should be ahead of them. Happened to me, and after I realized that I was being too proud, I was able to focus my arrogant attitude towards the others into studying and concentrating for that subject.</p>
<p>@SandwichGirl - I wish I could blame it on the genes. But I can’t. My dad went to “the MIT of the Philippines” that is literally named MIT, and he and my mom both were smarties in math and science. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I, too, am not inclined to losing.</p>
<p>@thes1tuation - Oh, I had heard about this but never thought about actually checking it out. Thanks!</p>
<p>Perhaps you are adopted.</p>
<p>@HeWhoPwnz - I never said I thought they were stupid. These are smart kids, we’ve all been in honors together. I’ve just been raised to stay silent and obedient, especially in the presence of ‘elders’ (a load of tosh, but nevertheless ingrained in my manners), and find myself questioning how they could possibly be learning anything as they chuck change at each other and see how many different ways they can use the phrase ‘you fancy huh.’ Sure, I usually do better than them, so I just want to know how the paradigm shifted. And I’m sure not being prideful - not after spending months on CC, land of the super-geniuses.</p>
<p>@SandwichGirl - Perhaps. :(</p>
<p>Perhaps they are cheating…Pretty much calc is all about copying others homework the day it’s due, atleast that’s how it’s like at most schools.</p>
<p>What school do you go to?</p>
<p>Heck… we don’t even copy. We come up with like individual mini-proofs, then critique them.</p>
<p>Well, then in that case, perhaps they just study everything out of class. You don’t always have to pay attention in class to understand the material. Most of my classes are like that. If you read the textbook, look up information online, and do the daily homework assignments, in-class lectures give little to no additional help.</p>