I like both but am better at algebra because memorization is HARD for me, but rearranging things comes easily, and I am fascinated by how stuff works (I had both "yay!" and "argh!" in physics because of that combination). Geometry is generally more interesting because it deals with visual variation too, but algebra is a little easier because it's less stuff to memorize.
I always liked (and was generally good at) math until I met calculus. Maybe I'd do OK if I could concentrate on it and had a good teacher. I flunked it hard in college because I went headlong into the class without a clue, with a new calculator to learn. The main problem I suspect is that the professor was ALSO trying to learn the new calculator and failed miserably at trying to teach us how to use it as well as fumble through how to explain calculus with the silly calculator.
About 3 years later, I took a required algebra class and scheduled it for evening, when most of the students were nontraditional. All the older ladies who sat around me called me "the brain" because I could explain the concepts (especially when it came to logarithms) better than the professor was. If I had been paying more attention to the professor rather than reading the book and aiding my fellow students, I'm sure I would have gotten confused over things I already knew too. :-p We all passed with flying colors. The professor was nice and knew her stuff, she just didn't break anything down into simple steps or keep the steps in sequence.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-09-10 04:44 am (UTC)I always liked (and was generally good at) math until I met calculus. Maybe I'd do OK if I could concentrate on it and had a good teacher. I flunked it hard in college because I went headlong into the class without a clue, with a new calculator to learn. The main problem I suspect is that the professor was ALSO trying to learn the new calculator and failed miserably at trying to teach us how to use it as well as fumble through how to explain calculus with the silly calculator.
About 3 years later, I took a required algebra class and scheduled it for evening, when most of the students were nontraditional. All the older ladies who sat around me called me "the brain" because I could explain the concepts (especially when it came to logarithms) better than the professor was. If I had been paying more attention to the professor rather than reading the book and aiding my fellow students, I'm sure I would have gotten confused over things I already knew too. :-p We all passed with flying colors. The professor was nice and knew her stuff, she just didn't break anything down into simple steps or keep the steps in sequence.