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Relearning Math (and eventually chemisty/physics) as an [older] adult

Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:45 am
Posted by McLemore
Member since Dec 2003
31473 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:45 am
Does anyone have any recommendations for relearning (assume “from scratch”) math and later chemistry/physics?

I’m almost 50 and have a boy starting a kindergarten next school year.

He has a late bday so he will be almost 6 going in. We have done nothing to push him like some psycho parents do with young kids. But he shows an interest in numbers.

He got the multiplication principle literally the first time I tried poorly to explain it. He adds in his head. Nothing prodigy level but clearly has an interest in and ability to process basic arithmetic.

Assuming he gets in (lol, sounds absurd), he’s going to be doing 2-day classic school with one-day homeschool, next school year. I’m frankly a little daunted by the prospect of co-teaching this kid math in a few years and want to brush up.

I always got the concepts and was good at applying math to chemistry (one would hope, given my dad has a PhD in polymer chemistry) in college. But I remember nothing. And I wasn’t a good math student. One problem was my instructors at LSU didn’t speak much English, and I zoned out. As a lawyer, the most I do is calculate interest and maybe graph some stuff.

Anyway, I want to start as basic as possible. Like algebra and trig. And if I’m getting it just blaze through to calculus. We have a 3yo also, so I need this to stick for several years.

There’s so much junk out there, it’s hard to sort through. And I try to avoid Reddit holes.

TIA!

Posted by beerJeep
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2016
35003 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:47 am to
YouTube
Posted by Displaced
Member since Dec 2011
32711 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:48 am to
Try dropping a box of toothpicks on the ground and see what happens.

Then head to Vegas.
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
65597 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:48 am to
quote:

I’m almost 50 and have a boy starting a kindergarten next school year.
Subtle “I had sex at age 45” brag noted.

Posted by 9Fiddy
19th Hole
Member since Jan 2007
64038 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:51 am to
quote:

YouTube

This. Kahn academy is great for math and the guy makes it really easy to understand.
Posted by dyslexiateechur
Louisiana
Member since Jan 2009
32069 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:53 am to
I also came here to recommend khan academy
Posted by Privateer 2007
Member since Jan 2020
6167 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:53 am to
Khan academy

Free online modules
Posted by 9Fiddy
19th Hole
Member since Jan 2007
64038 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:55 am to
quote:

I also came here to recommend khan academy

I’m a late schooler and just finished my undergrad and am now getting a masters in finance. I have his page as my number one bookmark. It’s been a godsend.
Posted by McLemore
Member since Dec 2003
31473 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:55 am to
lol. My back!

And thanks everyone!
Posted by VolSquatch
First Coast
Member since Sep 2023
1837 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:56 am to
Khan academy, like others have said.
Posted by AutoYes_Clown
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Oct 2012
5175 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:56 am to
quote:

I’m almost 50... he will be almost 6 going in.




To answer your question, I'm on the same path with my young ones. The best bet for you is probably Kahn (Academy) and you can also sign up your kid with an account. You can also look into specialty afterschool programs like Sylvan or Kumon. However, a private tutor who is also currently a teacher is the best for kids. Teaching methods are very different than when were in school.

My biggest challenge with helping my kids is that they teach now-a-days, methods that lead up to algebra very early. Memorization is no-more. So "show your work" has a different meaning than what I was taught. The only answer here, is to literally read your kid's text books and their instructions.
This post was edited on 2/14/24 at 6:57 am
Posted by Sheep
Neither here nor there
Member since Jun 2007
19493 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:56 am to
quote:

Does anyone have any recommendations for relearning (assume “from scratch”) math and later chemistry/physics?


"GOD DAMN, HOW CAN YOU NOT DO 8+4? GIFTED, MY arse!"

Yelling at my child seems to be working for me, as it did for my father and me
Posted by Corinthians420
Iowa
Member since Jun 2022
6515 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:57 am to
Unfortunately math is not like riding a bicycle imo, but with some work you should be able to get it back. Good luck
Posted by JackaReaux
BR
Member since Feb 2017
724 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:57 am to
Khan Academy is great. I believe the founder is a Louisiana man himself
Posted by aTmTexas Dillo
East Texas Lake
Member since Sep 2018
15051 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 6:58 am to
TabletClass Math
Go to this YouTube site. He produces much content releasing every day it seems. But in his videos he will tell you that you can sign up for his math courses that will take you from pre algebra into calculus. Of course each is a different course. I've not taken the courses but I watch his videos all the time.
Posted by drizztiger
Deal With it!
Member since Mar 2007
36951 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 7:11 am to
quote:

Anyway, I want to start as basic as possible. Like algebra and trig. And if I’m getting it just blaze through to calculus.
You want to teach your 5 year old calculus?
quote:

Nothing prodigy level but clearly has an interest in and ability to process basic arithmetic.
As someone that truly enjoyed and was good at math from a young age, make it about the why and not the how. "Here's a formula, plug the numbers in." is super boring and terrible teaching from my experience.
Posted by drizztiger
Deal With it!
Member since Mar 2007
36951 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 7:13 am to
quote:

Khan Academy is great. I believe the founder is a Louisiana man himself
He is. Sal Khan.
Posted by tiger94gop
GEISMAR
Member since Nov 2004
2914 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 7:28 am to
I went back to school for a grad program in CM and had to relearn almost all of the math. As people here are saying Khan Academy is good, but I found a high school teacher who had a YouTube channel and really helped that she spoke without an accent.
First few classes she wasn't pregnant, then became pregnant, then had the baby, then back to normal. I don't know if I could have learned trusses without it.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
14277 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 7:30 am to
Chemistry, physics , 2 year old. What??
Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
31014 posts
Posted on 2/14/24 at 7:30 am to
youtube and wolframalpha if you are looking to learn how a specific problem is solved.
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