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Madison Lawson
Branch Unspecified
05 Apr 2018
Passing Mathematics Courses
I am currently an engineering major just starting out. Although I know I am where I am supposed to be, I am still struggling in mathematics. Mostly in Trigonometry; I cannot seem to grasp the concept. I have turned to tutors, videos, books, and I am beginning to feel discouraged. Should I reconsider my major or am I just overthinking?
Kaustubh Katdare
Electrical
05 Apr 2018
I'd say overthinking. Is there any specific part in Trigonometry that you find challenging?
PS: When I look at my old engineering math books now, all the 'impossible to understand' topics look super easy.
PS: When I look at my old engineering math books now, all the 'impossible to understand' topics look super easy.
Ramani Aswath
Chemical
05 Apr 2018
Trigonometry is a bit ‘tricky’nometry.
In 1956, our text book was the then gold standard ‘Plane Trignometry’ by S.L.Loney. I found it very good. It is available for free download from archives here. Worth looking at.
Plane Trigonometry : Sidney Luxton Loney : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive
This book below will get you off the discouragement. The author hated maths. She became a professor of Maths later.
A Mind for Numbers: ‘How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)’ by Barbara Oakley.
I got it for my grand daughter, who has a similar dislike of maths. It is a great book. We play at maths. I pretend to be a duck,who is great at maths, and squawk about how good I was. Then I make silly mistakes. Tara (my granddaughter) will whack me on the head saying ‘grampa, you know nothing. This is how it is’. (I am only 68 years older than her.) But she remembers what it was that we were discussing in algebra that was troubling her.
In 1956, our text book was the then gold standard ‘Plane Trignometry’ by S.L.Loney. I found it very good. It is available for free download from archives here. Worth looking at.
Plane Trigonometry : Sidney Luxton Loney : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive
This book below will get you off the discouragement. The author hated maths. She became a professor of Maths later.
A Mind for Numbers: ‘How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)’ by Barbara Oakley.
I got it for my grand daughter, who has a similar dislike of maths. It is a great book. We play at maths. I pretend to be a duck,who is great at maths, and squawk about how good I was. Then I make silly mistakes. Tara (my granddaughter) will whack me on the head saying ‘grampa, you know nothing. This is how it is’. (I am only 68 years older than her.) But she remembers what it was that we were discussing in algebra that was troubling her.
Kaustubh Katdare
Electrical
05 Apr 2018
Thumbs up for S.L. Loney! 😀
Madison Lawson
Branch Unspecified
06 Apr 2018
Thank you both for the encouragement. I am mainly struggling with proofs in my class. I will definitely look into your suggestions!
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