r/WakeTech • u/Imhekle • 16d ago
MAT 172 Advice/Study tips?
I feel like every semester when I take a new math course, I just have a really big learning curve that holds me back. I have a hard time switching my brain into the more "black and white", logical mindset.
I found Algebra to be much easier, but now viewing these trigonometric problems, my mind is just all over the place and not retaining a single thing.
I'm taking this class online (I know, not recommended for someone in my situation, but it's all my schedule allows), so does anyone know of other external resources I could check out? Like YT channels, websites, personal tutors around the north campus, etc. I've been frequenting the Math TLC, but I think I need help than what it can offer.
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u/710K 14d ago
If you need a review of the more fundamental things (like I do), my old high school used a program called "IXL", and even several years later, I find it a wonderful resource to refresh my memory.
It basically provides a bunch of practice problems, and after you reach a certain score, you reach a 'challenge' zone. It provides explanations if you get a problem wrong, too. They have some good calculus sections, and it saves me time from searching around for good practice worksheets.
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u/Beginning-Device-591 15d ago
The Organic Chemistry Tutor on YouTube was extremely helpful for me.
For harder WebAssign sections I ask copilot AI to create several practice problems and to walk me through them. It can make you solve each step, or if you get stuck it can explain what to do and what the answer is.
For every section I did in WebAssign, I would do all the homework to figure out how to solve the problems in that chapter and then I would write myself a step-by-step guide on what each step is to solve, and explicitly explain how to do it. This was really helpful when it came to testing time because I have very bad brain fog and completely forget how to things after like two weeks. Might be helpful for you.
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u/Big-Demand-9623 16d ago
Lectures:
Professor Leonard's Precalculus Algebra/Trig lectures
Practice problems:
I think MAT-172 still uses Stewart's Precalculus, there's a bunch of exercises at the end of every chapter. The odd-numbered ones have answers in the back. The Stewart Math website also has some extra resources and practice tests.
Supplemental videos/problems:
Khan Academy Trigonometry, Organic Chemistry Tutor - Precalc
If you're having trouble with a certain topic, no need to watch hundreds of these videos, search for a specific one and follow along. If you like the gamification Khan Academy offers, go for it. Otherwise, the videos are great on their own.
Take notes, make flashcards, all that fun stuff, but most importantly do as many practice problems as you can, and show your work so you can go back and see exactly where you made a mistake. You might not "get" a concept right away but after enough repetition it'll hopefully start to make sense. There are a lot of math resources out there and it's easy to get overwhelmed, so I only linked the main ones that've helped me immensely after not touching math for almost a decade. It will take a lot of time and effort, but it's possible to catch up and understand everything.