<p>As long as I can remember, I've always been an English/Humanities guy. However, the last two years, I've become incredibly drawn to math -- particularly Calculus. However, I'm not really that strong in it (I've taken a college calc course and got a b+). Although I can get the material in upper-level math courses, I didnt receive a good foundation in math in elementary school, which can obviously hinder a student. I'm going to college soon, and I don't want basic things to affect my performance when I can get the material. How should I review the fundamentals? I'm too lazy to buy a prep book -- any suggestions online?</p>
<p>Secondly, I read a lot of literature, and I've always been used to coming up with my own interpretations. However, I obviously can't do that with a textbook. I take AP Bio, and it's so incredibly dull to me (I prefer the other life sciences) that reading the book is torture. I usually try to read the chapter about an hour before class, and I score in the low 80s. Granted I try to study earlier, how should I approach science books that have concrete facts? (i.e - taking notes as I go). Someone recommended me "cornell notes", although i'm not too familiar with the concept.</p>
<p>Seriously, if someone could give me some good tips, it would REALLY make a difference.</p>
<p>I will quote one of my own articles to answer you: "2 plus 2 tends to remain 4, no matter how a student 'feels' about it."</p>
<p>You can't get around learning formulas and theories; you can use different methods to memorize them, but you do have to memorize them. You can't take disguises off problems if you don't know fundamentals. If you don't have a foundation, you can't be shocked when your house crumbles under you. There's thousands of methods for learning, but they all come down to memory tricks.</p>
<p>Think of yourself like a computer; you're being reprogrammed. You don't need to know WHY a formula is; it just is. At some point every student has to learn to submit to blind obeyance of their notebook's commands. I don't care if this sounds too "in-the-box" or "uncreative"; it's the truth that comes BEFORE earning the right to go "out-of-the-box".
Do not question the notes; do not question the textbook. Of course, there can be mistakes, but 99% of the time what you have to learn is naked in front of you. Go to your local bookstore and page through all the learning method books. I don't use them, so I can't help you there.</p>
<p>^ In 1984, 2+2=5 :).
To the OP, It is hard to tell you what to do at this point. You would need to start over all over again from the beginning of math to find exactly what you need to make you a better mathematics student.</p>
<p>I can relate to OP, because I've long been a humanities/linguistically oriented person taking the hard math/science classes just to remain competitive (and out of curiosity too). Languages and literature are comfortably open to interpretation, and depending on the situation, there are several means to an end.</p>
<p>With math, however, if the teacher explains it one way, and I don't get it, tough luck for me. I've got to figure out for myself how this concept works. Often I have to go to the book, which just makes things even more ambiguous (great for math). </p>
<p>This is a bit strange, because I'm a guy, and at my school, the stereotype that male=math/science and female=humanities is virtually 100% true.</p>
<p>Calculus is built on strong algebra skills more than anything else. If you can "see" the solution but can't compute efficiently, it won't be very fun at all. The first site has very good algebra tutorials (start with intermediate, look back to basics if you need to). The second is a forum where you can ask questions if you have them.</p>