Any links for a refresher on 10th grade algebra.
I know that a straight line can be defined by y=mx+b
But I just found I had difficulty calculating m and b given 2 points on
the line.
I figured it out, but's obvious that after >45 yrs, I need refresher ;{
[OT] Algebra brush up
Started by ●January 20, 2006
Reply by ●January 21, 20062006-01-21
On Fri, 20 Jan 2006 19:38:36 -0600, Richard Owlett <rowlett@atlascomm.net> wrote:>Any links for a refresher on 10th grade algebra. >I know that a straight line can be defined by y=mx+b >But I just found I had difficulty calculating m and b given 2 points on >the line. > >I figured it out, but's obvious that after >45 yrs, I need refresher ;{Hi Richard, it seems to me that given two points on a line (x_1,y_1 & x_2,y_2) that we could write: y_1 = mx_1 + b y_2 = mx_2 + b, and we could solve the above two equations for the two "unknowns" of m and b. (Sheece, I haven't solved simultaneous equations since I had dark hair--and that was a long time ago.) Don't feel bad if it takes a bit of effort to determine m and b. What the heck. If you mention to a stranger, someone in the coffee shop, that it took you longer than you expected to determine m and b given two points on a line they'll look at you like you're nuts. The average person (by that I mean 90% of anyone you meet) will have no idea what you're even talking about, let alone be able to offer any advice. Remember Richard, you're exploring science and math while the average guy is primarily concerned with which illiterate millionaire bounced a rubber ball better than some other illiterate millionaire, or which Hollywood slut has more silicone pumped into her chest that some other Hollywood slut. And the average gal out there is concerned about the color of her fingernails, her astrological reading, what happened on the TV show "Desparate Housewives", and whether the psychotic Angelina Jolie is pregnant, or not. Richard, never, NOT EVER, feel bad if your understanding of some DSP or math topic seems to be slow in coming. You're flying toward the clouds while the average knucklehead out there is groveling around in the dirt. You can tell what a crappy mood I'm in today!! [-Rick-]
Reply by ●January 21, 20062006-01-21
R.Lyons@_BOGUS_ieee.org (Rick Lyons) writes:> [...] > And the average gal out there is concerned about the > color of her fingernails, her astrological reading, > what happened on the TV show "Desparate Housewives", > and whether the psychotic Angelina Jolie is > pregnant, or not.What most "average" girls always wanted to know but were too afraid to ask: "How am I going to shake this irritating yeast infection?" -- % Randy Yates % "Watching all the days go by... %% Fuquay-Varina, NC % Who are you and who am I?" %%% 919-577-9882 % 'Mission (A World Record)', %%%% <yates@ieee.org> % *A New World Record*, ELO http://home.earthlink.net/~yatescr
Reply by ●January 21, 20062006-01-21
Not exactly an answer to the question about good references for a refresher, but I have found the website www.mathforum.org to be very helpfull in discussing all levels of math topics. There is an archive on there for the Ask Dr. Math, where people write in with questions and the math professors at the university that sponsers the site answer their questions. The answers are geared towards understanding the problem and the range of solutions as opposed to canned answers to a particular problem.
Reply by ●January 21, 20062006-01-21
Noway2 wrote:> Not exactly an answer to the question about good references for a > refresher, but I have found the website www.mathforum.org to be very > helpfull in discussing all levels of math topics. There is an archive > on there for the Ask Dr. Math, where people write in with questions and > the math professors at the university that sponsers the site answer > their questions. The answers are geared towards understanding the > problem and the range of solutions as opposed to canned answers to a > particular problem. >Took a quick look. It should also help with another project of mine, tutoring a 7th grader. Thanks.
Reply by ●January 21, 20062006-01-21
Richard Owlett wrote:> Any links for a refresher on 10th grade algebra. > I know that a straight line can be defined by y=mx+b > But I just found I had difficulty calculating m and b given 2 points on > the line. > > I figured it out, but's obvious that after >45 yrs, I need refresher ;{One of my sons teaches math in high school. Shall I ask him to recommend a text? Jerry -- Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get. �����������������������������������������������������������������������
Reply by ●January 21, 20062006-01-21
Richard Owlett wrote:> Any links for a refresher on 10th grade algebra. > I know that a straight line can be defined by y=mx+b > But I just found I had difficulty calculating m and b given 2 points on > the line. > > I figured it out, but's obvious that after >45 yrs, I need refresher ;{ >Wow. It was a long time since anybody asked such a deep question here. Here is more appropriate newsgroup, where this question will be perfectly in place: alt.idiot.richard-the-stupid There is a real newsgroup under this name, and you will probably find all answers there. VLV
Reply by ●January 21, 20062006-01-21
Jerry Avins wrote:> Richard Owlett wrote: > >> Any links for a refresher on 10th grade algebra. >> I know that a straight line can be defined by y=mx+b >> But I just found I had difficulty calculating m and b given 2 points >> on the line. >> >> I figured it out, but's obvious that after >45 yrs, I need refresher ;{ > > > One of my sons teaches math in high school. Shall I ask him to recommend > a text? > > JerrySure, especially he also does adult ed. The www.mathforum.org that Noway2 pointed to looks good.
Reply by ●January 21, 20062006-01-21
Vladimir the diplomat wrote:> > > Richard Owlett wrote: > >> Any links for a refresher on 10th grade algebra. >> I know that a straight line can be defined by y=mx+b >> But I just found I had difficulty calculating m and b given 2 points >> on the line. >> >> I figured it out, but's obvious that after >45 yrs, I need refresher ;{ >> > > Wow. It was a long time since anybody asked such a deep question here. > Here is more appropriate newsgroup, where this question will be > perfectly in place: > > alt.idiot.richard-the-stupid > > There is a real newsgroup under this name, and you will probably find > all answers there. > > VLVAt least I admit that I don't know it all ;!
Reply by ●January 22, 20062006-01-22
> Wow. It was a long time since anybody asked such a deep question here. > Here is more appropriate newsgroup, where this question will be perfectly > in place: > > alt.idiot.richard-the-stupid > > There is a real newsgroup under this name, and you will probably find all > answers there.Vladimir, what's up with that arrogant comment. Don't you have better things to do than to put other people down. Is it your company that sucks or do you just need a sex life?
