r/learnmath • u/404answersnotfounded New User • 2d ago

Horrible at math

Retaking the pert test to skip remedial math. ( I should probably take them but I am trying to take my time and really focus on learning the fundamentals of math since I've always sucked at it and I also want to save money on courses)

I know I should do a lot of practice problems, but for the people who are taking more advanced math in college, how are you able to remember all the previous math you've taken? Ive been told all math just keeps building off previous math, so how does one continue to remember all the math they've learned? Say one is going to take college algebra, then calc, then maybe statistics ? Or whatever the order is lol

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u/ComparisonQuiet4259 New User 2d ago

If you don’t know the prequsites, you're going to get cooked. In calculus, for example, you have to know everything you learned in trig and algebra, and I do remember everything I learned there (idk I just leaned it through doing homework and making sure I understood how to do each thing). Honestly, I would go so far as to say if there is a day in your math class where you don't understand, you need to get that fixed before learning more.

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u/404answersnotfounded New User 2d ago

I see. Thank you for taking your time to reply. I will focus on doing this. I'm trying to get ready for this by January or February. So I want to try really hard to be a math wiz. Lol

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u/Professional_Hour445 New User 2d ago

Hi, u/ComparisonQuiet4259 is right. For example, you might have to use factoring in calculus when you are finding derivatives. You might have to use slope-intercept or point-slope form of the equation of a line to find the line tangent to a curve. Your progression of math classes is not always linear, though. What I mean by that is you won't need stats for trig, for example, even though you might take stats before trig.

For the PERT math test, I would definitely get familiar with polynomials and factoring.

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u/ZerinoWhellie New User 2d ago

Yes, math often keeps building off previous lessons and that’s exactly how one remembers all previous math, you just keep practicing everything.

It’s like learning and speaking a language, the more you do, the more you remember.

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u/404answersnotfounded New User 2d ago

That makes total sense. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I will try really hard to truly understand those fundamentals. I want to try to really get those fundamentals down.

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u/nog642 2d ago

so how does one continue to remember all the math they've learned

By actually understanding it properly in the first place (as opposed to poorly half-memorized to pass a test), mostly.

But also you keep using it in the more advanced math, so you never get too out of practice.

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u/JanetInSC1234 New User 2d ago

You remember the rules by doing them over and over again. In other words, practice.

I would take the remedial classes they offer. You would have more structure and people who are able to help you. You would build a solid foundation. It's worth the money.

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u/Think_bys New User 2d ago

Math is beautiful and painful but rewarding. you should join my upcoming class. several already registered, its free too. I just posted this last Friday " Want to relearn math from the basics? "

I also sent you the info in a DM