Where can I learn algebra for when my professor fails?

tutor or start a study group…...

Many gamers are startlingly good at algebra, even if they do it more on street-smarts than book-smarts. Of course, not all gamers are math-g33ks, but there are enough min/max munchkins that know the odds and how to make their own equations to calculate them that you might find a suitable math tutor at a gaming shop.

Depending on what you are trying to achieve, this podcast may make math more accessible to you. (Personally, I am waiting for “his book“http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1541803748/punk-mathematics to come out.)

Or you could just get with one of your classmates (preferably one in the front row) and ask what the hell the old guy actually said/wrote.

A book. With the whole internet right here, sometimes it’s easy to forget how much more information books can offer. Check online, check your college bookstore, or check the library for one that looks like it will help you. I was in the same situation with a high school algebra class, and my dad and I kept going back to one of his old college books. If you can find something that isn’t too densely written and has good examples, you should be able to fill in your algebra knowledge.

I would go along with book plus study group. If you can get a few others to use the same book, I think there is value in getting together once a week to go over problems in the book and to offer mutual support.

@hobbitsubculture Any suggestions on which book? There are lots, I’d like to skip the crap ones.

Have you tried http://www.khanacademy.org/ ?

Most schools should have learning centers that provide tutor services, study group is a good option too

I tutor from a book “Algebra Know-It-All” by Stan Gibilisco (McGraw Hill 2008). The author is an engineer rather than a pure mathematician, so the book is based on practical “what do I use this for” knowledge. He starts out at basic number theory and gently leads the student through linear and non-linear equations. He often explains concepts several different ways. The demonstration problems are worked through with plain-English explanations of each step, not making any leaps or assumptions.

Danica McKellar (the child actress from Wonder Years) has just published another math help book – Hot X: Algebra Exposed

There is a series of books called Algebra Programmed I, II, III, IV, by Robert Alwin. They are available through Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. You’ll be doing quadradic equations by the second day. I took a course from Alwin in the early 70s. The books were actually fun and I’m not math guy by any means. They are DYI and take you through the whole thing from the very begining to the highest level. I think Bob Alwin was basically a smart, lazy guy. We never had to attend class and we all did very well because of his books. I still have my four volumes. If you can read and have a pencil and paper, you can do it.

I don’t remember the name of the book I used with my dad, otherwise that’s what I would recommend.

In my experience buying any type how-to or explanatory book, it’s a good idea to skim through some small section you’re more familiar with to see how the material is explained. That way, you’re not left wondering if you’re dense, or if the writing style just isn’t helpful.

Try reading your text book… it really does have all the answers. Also, try a tutor, study group, office hours (of another prof/teacher if talking to your prof about your needs doesn’t help). Some text books offer online assistance such as tutors and the equivalent of worksheets with guided practice.

TutorVista sure does advertise on the Web. For another view of them, check out TutorVista complaints

I work for an online tutoring company called Tutor.com A lot of towns have Tutor.com services in their libraries and you can get an individual subscription.