How do you deal with jerk college math professors?

[wsmac]

Originally Posted by anonymouslyadd

Thanks for the reply.

I get private tutoring and that helps. Sometimes, I wonder if it is a slight hindrance as I know I need to make math learning an active process.

Math texts suck for sure. The problems are rarely as easy as the examples are. We don't have a math lab.

I wonder if I could do that. I mean if I could request certain teachers.

I've had some tutors who are real adept at providing example problems that I can work out, then go straight to the original problem and see how it applies.

[Gloralera]

Private tutoring did it for me, otherwise I would never pass it

[Footsore Ramble]

Originally Posted by anonymouslyadd

Yes, he draws a picture. If I had time, I'd try to take a picture for you. Integration by parts is Calc 2. I'm in Calc 1. We have not learned integration by parts yet. By integration, I'm talking about using indefinite/definite integrals. Yes, U substition means substitution.

• ie u= 2x + 1
• du=2

It's hard as h*** to use math language with a keyboard.

OK, so I am still having a hard time with interpreting that. Does that mean you can either solve the problem by integrating it directly, or you may find that you have to use substitution in order to integrate? I'm going to assume that's the case in my discussion to follow.

OK, so the problem you describe requires you to:
- be able to find the area under a curve by using a definite integral
- be able to find the area under a more complicated curve that has 2 functions (the original one, and the tangent line)
- be able to find the equation for a tangent line, and solve for some of its parameters given others.

Does that seem right? Of those things, which are giving you the most difficulty? Do you have a hard time setting up the problems in the first place, or do you get bogged down in the details once you start?

Sorry about the 20 questions game. Hopefully it will help identify what you need in order to understand this stuff. In the meantime, here are some more suggestions: you may want to try looking at a different textbook for another perspective. There are probably some in your school library you can check out. If you are a computer-friendly person, you may want to see if any of the following tools help you to learn what you need: http://www.univie.ac.at/future.media...werkzeuge.html

I personally like computer solver tools for learning, because I can quickly see the result of making small changes in a formula or graph. That and the videos referenced above might make a difference to you. Good luck!

[uncle shrek]

Originally Posted by anonymouslyadd

Thanks for the advice.

I'm too old to rely on my parents, and I don't need them anyway. The chair of the department (headmaster in UK?) I hear is the same way.

then go a head above the head of department