Friday. First period. Learning center.
I got a call from the other learning center. Would it be okay if they sent someone over for me to assist? Um, sure...
The student had homework to complete. Integrated math three (read: algebra 2/junior math). The problems: logarithms.
Uh oh...
Okay, so I've had all the math. I took three semesters of calculus in college. I even took senior level math classes in applied analysis. You can throw most math topics at me, and I have at least a basic working knowledge of it.
But not logarithms.
They didn't bother with logs in my high school. (I think that's pretty much what all the schools did at the time.) We did natural logs and the e function, but that's as far as it went.
But, pretty decent working knowledge of math, so I can fake it pretty well. Where were the student's notes? Uh, yeah, no notes.
Deep sigh.
Third period, IM3. Ms. B went over their homework, the homework I couldn't help the kiddo with. And, after her brief explanation...
Yeah, if only I had had third period before first period. Because after seeing the example, yeah, I totally could have done those problems.
Because if the kiddo had had the notes so I could transform the problems, I knew how to solve once the logarithm was handled.
The one topic I couldn't help with. Naturally. Sigh.
My brain only has one side and it doesn't include math. I don't know what's on the other side of my brain. Maybe lots of leftover liquor and chocolate.
ReplyDeleteWell, we didn't do that in school either. I had to google exactly what it meant.
ReplyDeleteI also like math and algebra, but I know nothing about calculus and logarithms...
ReplyDeleteGosh! I am reading the word 'Logarithm' or the first time since my school days in the early 1980s! We had those logarithm tables. Thanks, Liz, for bringing those memories back!
ReplyDeleteI stopped at high school geometry! Didn't need to take math for my library technology certificate. I love Sharon's comment!
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