Maths and the mature student.

Scioch

I'm very nervous about the level I'm expected to be at or get to fast in relation to maths. Having left school in 5th year and not done anything in 10 years I'm basically below Junior cert level in regards to maths.

Will this be a major problem for me ? I'm doing computing and maths is part of the course. Will it take off and build on itself without relying too much on leaving cert stuff or will it just assume a certain level of competency to begin with ?

Any advice in relation to studying maths on a computing course with little in the way of study of maths under your belt ?

Agent_99

Start with Text and Tests 5 Higher level Leaving Cert maths book this covers the basic in what you will cover in your first semester. I found in invaluable when I went back to Uni. Esp after the first couple of weeks when in lectures I was wondering what language he was speaking

rob w

I agree with the above post, text and tests will definitely help you! I don't know what college your going to, but if it's DIT they have a Maths learning centre which is free to attend and they are really good! Other than that, just put a bit of extra work into the maths and you will be fine, the practice will always pay off!!

Best of luck.

BrianDug

http://www.khanacademy.org/

its free and very good

Scioch

I'm going to IT Carlow. By covers the basics do you mean its handy to go to to go back and understand certain things that will be brought up ? Or that you really need a good grasp of higher level leaving cert stuff to get through the first semester ?

Larianne

BrianDug wrote: »

http://www.khanacademy.org/

its free and very good

This is a brilliant resource. I use Youtube all the time for various things I don't quite understand in college.

Most colleges are quite supportive of mature students so if you speak to your lecturer if you are finding things difficult they may go through the course work with you. Also, you have your fellow class mates who could help you out. Don't wait till things are way over your head. If you don't understand something and cannot work it out yourself, ask for help!

They also may have a Maths support centre in CIT.

eire-kp

Your best bet is get a really good understanding of the basic simple stuff its all based on that.

This book is pretty good and easy to follow goes from adding fractions to integration
http://www.pearsoned.co.uk/bookshop/detail.asp?item=100000000483334

When you get as far as Calculus this girls channel on youtube is simply brilliant.
Easy to listen to and explains stuff a lot better than some books channels which might skip a step and leave you confused.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUowajlKIKA&feature=channel&list=UL

Dymo

No it won't matter how good at maths you were back in school providing you can add up. Every thing is going to be new for everyone and it's not going progressed from leaving cert.

I did a computer course a couple of years ago with the same fears as you but it didn't matter in the end