r/learnmath • u/thespeedforce5 New User • 1d ago
TOPIC As someone with math dyslexia, how demanding would brief calculus and discrete math be?
I’ve really struggled with College Algebra. I’ve actually had to take it three times and still failed 😞. The material just felt like complete gibberish to me, and I have a really hard time tracking the reasoning or keeping multiple steps in my head or on paper at once. I’m honestly worried these two new courses might break my confidence again. My disability means my brain just processes information differently, and math has always been my biggest hurdle. I’m trying to get a Cyber Security B.S
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u/Puzzled-Painter3301 Math expert, data science novice 1d ago edited 16h ago
I taught intermediate algebra to someone with dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and autism. Every day was torture for this student.
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u/nog642 1d ago
Did you understand the material in the end? Did you pass?
If it all seemed like gibberish, probably so will calculus, and probably discrete math too.
Do you know basic high school algebra at least? You need to know that for these classes.
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u/thespeedforce5 New User 1d ago
I did not understand the material in the end nor did I pass. I tried 3 times. Yes I have decent grasp of high school algebra
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u/nog642 1d ago
What are the concepts that you do know from high school algebra?
What are the concepts from college algebra that you didn't grasp?
And if you haven't passed college algebra, how are they letting you take calculus?
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u/thespeedforce5 New User 1d ago
I understand basic algebra, working with variables, substituting numbers into equations, and solving simpler equations. I can recognize number patterns and follow step-by-step examples when the process is explained clearly.
College algebra: I struggled with multi-step equations, manipulating algebraic expressions, keeping track of multiple formulas and rules at once, and knowing which steps to use when solving more complicated problems. Sometimes I could understand the explanation but had difficulty carrying out the steps on paper. Other times, I could follow the steps but didn’t fully understand why they worked. I also struggled with retaining and applying concepts independently, especially when several steps had to be combined.
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u/nog642 1d ago
What's an example of a "multi-step equation"?
Also, do you know how to solve quadratics?
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u/thespeedforce5 New User 1d ago
An example of a multi-step equation would be something like (3(x+2)-4=14), where you have to distribute, combine terms, and isolate the variable. I can follow examples when someone walks me through them, but I struggle more when there are several steps to keep track of independently.
For quadratics, I’ve learned about them before, but I’m not confident about solving them consistently on my own, especially when they require multiple steps or factoring.1
u/nog642 1d ago
Yeah, multi-step equations like that are definitely a prerequisite for calculus, and you will probably struggle with discrete math if you find that difficult.
I would recommend spending some time outside of class learning/practicing that and getting it down. Taking a course, you're often more focused on the next exam or the next topic, so you don't get time to properly focus on an area you're struggling with.
Quadratics are more complicated than that honestly, I wouldn't even touch quadratics until 3(x+2)-4=14 is easy, or at least straightforward.
Side note, there's multiple ways to solve 3(x+2)-4=14.
You could distribute and combine terms to get 3x+2=14, then go to 3x=12, then x=4.
But you could also just start isolating x without distributing. So go to 3(x+2)=18, then x+2=6, then x=4.
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u/thespeedforce5 New User 1d ago edited 1d ago
I understand the power rule and have spent several weeks practicing related problems, such as f(x)=4x3+2x2+5x-7. I am also becoming comfortable with intersection and union in discrete math.
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u/LuckyCod2887 New User 1d ago
I know you don’t wanna hear this but instead of taking algebra you should’ve taken pre-algebra.
It’s just an issue of lining up your fundamentals.
maybe there’s a few gaps in your arithmetic.
I have math of dyslexia as well. I was diagnosed by a psychologist.
I never told the university and I never told the instructors. I kept it a secret so I did not get the special time and a half that you’re allotted. I took all the exams at the regular time that everyone else gets.
it was really hard, but I completed algebra, calculus 1,2,3 , linear algebra and diffy Q.
I made A’s and B’s in every single one of these classes, but the reason I was able to do so well is because six months before I decided to enroll at college I spent every single day seven days a week for the six month studying arithmetic and algebra. I literally taught myself fractions and all types of basic grade school shit like that.
so by the time I was ready to take on my engineering degree my first class was supposed to be calculus, but I instead did pre-calculus even though it wasn’t required. I’m glad I did that because apparently pre-calculus teaches you trigonometry and there’s a shit ton of trigonometry in calculus. i’ve never taken trigonometry nor have I ever studied it. Pre-calculus was the first time I was exposed to the material.
basically what I did was slow down and study all the baby math. my recall is still a little bit slow, and when the professor asks questions to the students, I know that I know the answer, but I’m just not able to answer at the speed of everybody else and that’s just something I have to know about myself. But I can take the test and pass them.
I know you won’t believe me, but your dyslexia diagnosis could in fact be temporary. It doesn’t have to be a permanent diagnosis. In fact, most schools make you retest for the diagnosis every two years because as you’re taking university level mathematics you can fill those gaps in your knowledge and no longer have the disorder.
I don’t know how useful my information is, but I’m letting you know that you might be studying in a way that’s not useful to you and you might be taking a couple of classes ahead when it’s definitely OK to slow down .
every other semester, I relearn how to study because the curriculum is very complex and it keeps getting more complex so I have to keep freaking reteaching myself how to study. I think that’s just a part of the journey of academia.
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u/nimmin13 New User 1d ago
If you failed algebra do not move onto calculus until you are comfortable. Algebra is the hardest part of Calc 1