Re: Should I take Algebra II over the summer?
Kevin Karplus
> I was contemplating taking algebra 2 for summer school. I'm a
> sophomore in high school taking geometry and I want to get into
> calculus before I graduate. But in order for me to do that, I have to
> take algebra 2 and precalculus. I got an A+ in algebra, and I even
> aced the district final, so I feel that I'm pretty adept at doing
> algebra. I was wondering if it's a good idea, however, to take
> algebra 2 over the summer. I know in summer school that a lot of
> material is gone through quickly, or omitted, but I believe that can
> handle it and the numerous intermediate and college algebra textbooks
> on my computer can compensate for that. What are other things that
> factor into this (if any) though? Do you think I should take algebra
> 2 for summer school? Give me your feedback, for it is very
> appreciated. Thank you.
>
> P.S. I can't sign up for summer school for about two more months, so I
> have enough time to think about it.
When I was in high school the top track was algebra 1, geometry,
algebra+trig, calculus. It sounds like your school has split the
algebra+trig class into two years, which may be necessary for the
slower students, but should not be necessary for an A+ student. I'd
suggest going ahead with your summer-school plan, with the
understanding that you may want to repeat the calculus class in
college (perhpas taking an honors version of the course there), as
most high school calculus classes are the equivalent of "calculus for
those who don't really need it" courses at colleges, rather than the
more solid calculus classes for mathematicians, engineers, and physicists.
------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Karplus kar...@soe.ucsc.edu http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/~karplus
Professor of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz
Undergraduate and Graduate Director, Bioinformatics
Senior member, IEEE Board of Directors, ISCB (starting Jan 2005)
life member (LAB, Adventure Cycling, American Youth Hostels)
Effective Cycling Instructor #218-ck (lapsed)
Affiliations for identification only.
--
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J. Frost
Nick <vansc...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>I was contemplating taking algebra 2 for summer school. I'm a
>sophomore in high school taking geometry and I want to get into
>calculus before I graduate. But in order for me to do that, I have to
>take algebra 2 and precalculus. I got an A+ in algebra, and I even
>aced the district final, so I feel that I'm pretty adept at doing
>algebra. I was wondering if it's a good idea, however, to take
>algebra 2 over the summer. I know in summer school that a lot of
>material is gone through quickly, or omitted, but I believe that can
>handle it and the numerous intermediate and college algebra textbooks
>on my computer can compensate for that. What are other things that
>factor into this (if any) though? Do you think I should take algebra
>2 for summer school? Give me your feedback, for it is very
>appreciated. Thank you.
>
>P.S. I can't sign up for summer school for about two more months, so I
>have enough time to think about it.
My sons both took summer classes to advance in topics they enjoyed,
and found summer school in the UW's Summer Stretch program to be just
as complete as the full-year course. They had a lot of homework every
day for the one class, so it was closer to college level workloads than
the standard high school program, which was another benefit. When they
did get to college, they weren't surprised at having ten weeks to learn
what would have taken 9 months to cover in high school.
I don't know what summer programs are available in your area, so you
might want to talk to the advising staff for the program you were
interested in, to be sure that they can work with someone who is
taking the class for advancement rather than remediation. If so,
fast-paced classes are a great way to stretch yourself.
MA Math Teacher
> I was contemplating taking algebra 2 for summer school. I'm a
> sophomore in high school taking geometry and I want to get into
> calculus before I graduate. But in order for me to do that, I have to
> take algebra 2 and precalculus. I got an A+ in algebra, and I even
> aced the district final, so I feel that I'm pretty adept at doing
> algebra. I was wondering if it's a good idea, however, to take
> algebra 2 over the summer. I know in summer school that a lot of
> material is gone through quickly, or omitted, but I believe that can
> handle it and the numerous intermediate and college algebra textbooks
> on my computer can compensate for that. What are other things that
> factor into this (if any) though? Do you think I should take algebra
> 2 for summer school? Give me your feedback, for it is very
> appreciated. Thank you.
>
> P.S. I can't sign up for summer school for about two more months, so I
> have enough time to think about it.
>
Typically, when my school has a student who wants to move up a level
(usually, like you, to get into Calc before graduation), we prefer that
they double up Geometry and Algebra 2 during 10th grade. I'd definitely
talk to the department chairperson in your school to find out if that's
possible; given that you aced Algebra 1, it might be possible to do
that. If not, I'd also see what he or she says about Algebra 2 over the
summer, and if you can get a listing of the topics and depth to which
each SHOULD be covered; summer school algebra is often a "make-up" class
for credits, for kids who have failed, and not to nearly the depth you'd
need for precalculus. You'd almost certainly need to (as you suggest)
supplement the summer class with your own independent study. And
lastly, make sure that the department will permit you to take
summer-school Algebra 2 as a prerequisite for precalculus and not
require the full year course.
George Cox
>
> .. Do you think I should take algebra
> 2 for summer school?
No. Summertime is for enjoying yourself. "Get a life" is a phrase some
people use, but it sounds a bit rude.
Kevin Karplus
> Nick wrote:
>> .. Do you think I should take algebra
>> 2 for summer school?
>
> No. Summertime is for enjoying yourself. "Get a life" is a phrase some
> people use, but it sounds a bit rude.
Why do you think that taking Algebra 2 in summer school wouldn't be fun?
With a good teacher and a love of math a summer school class could be
a lot of fun.
If Nick enjoys math, why discourage him? Many adults take classes at
community colleges and through programs like ElderHostel for fun, why
shouldn't teenagers?
------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Karplus kar...@soe.ucsc.edu http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/~karplus
Professor of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz
Undergraduate and Graduate Director, Bioinformatics
Senior member, IEEE Board of Directors, ISCB (starting Jan 2005)
life member (LAB, Adventure Cycling, American Youth Hostels)
Effective Cycling Instructor #218-ck (lapsed)
Affiliations for identification only.
--
Bob
>I was contemplating taking algebra 2 for summer school. I'm a
>sophomore in high school taking geometry and I want to get into
>calculus before I graduate. But in order for me to do that, I have to
>take algebra 2 and precalculus. I got an A+ in algebra, and I even
>aced the district final, so I feel that I'm pretty adept at doing
>algebra. I was wondering if it's a good idea, however, to take
>algebra 2 over the summer. I know in summer school that a lot of
>material is gone through quickly, or omitted, but I believe that can
>handle it and the numerous intermediate and college algebra textbooks
>on my computer can compensate for that. What are other things that
>factor into this (if any) though? Do you think I should take algebra
>2 for summer school? Give me your feedback, for it is very
>appreciated. Thank you.
Lots of good answers posted so far, so I’ll just add one point...
If you want to do it, then do it.
Think about the risks of the possible decisions. If you try it and it
does not work for some reason, so what? You are no worse off than if
you hadn’t tried it, and you may have learned something from the
experience (say about the pace). If you don't try it, you'll always
wonder.
But do be sure the details are ok with your school. If the proposed
course is within the same school or system, that is probably easy for
them to deal with. If you are taking it elsewhere, you might even
check with the instructor to get course info, so your counselor (or
math teacher) can say, yes, good course.
And it is also proper to weigh this against what else you might do
with the time. That is a personal choice for you.
bob
Nick
>In article <d8vtm05dohqujjed2...@4ax.com>, George Cox
wrote:
>> Nick wrote:
>>> .. Do you think I should take algebra
>>> 2 for summer school?
>>
>> No. Summertime is for enjoying yourself. "Get a life" is a phrase
some
>> people use, but it sounds a bit rude.
>
>Why do you think that taking Algebra 2 in summer school wouldn't be
fun?
>
>
>With a good teacher and a love of math a summer school class could be
>a lot of fun.
>
>If Nick enjoys math, why discourage him? Many adults take classes at
>community colleges and through programs like ElderHostel for fun, why
>shouldn't teenagers?
>
Thanks, Kevin, I agree with you completely. The reason I don't want
to take algebra 2 a whole year is because I want to get into calculus
as a senior, I want to get into harder math since that's what I think
should be spent more time on, and I think I might get bored taking
algebra 2 the whole year. Also, taking the honor calculus class in
college is one of the reasons I want to get into calc before I
graduate, because as you said, it's a more solid calculus class than
the ones in high school for mathematicians, engineers, or physicists
(which, out of those three, is what I want to become when I grow up,
but I'm still undecided as to which I really want to be).
As for that one guy's insult toward me, I don't even see where
"getting a life" has anything to do anything. Summer school is only
six weeks for five and a half hours a day. This guy's a moron so
don't worry about anyone like hime discouraging me.
George Cox
>
...
> >>
> >> No. Summertime is for enjoying yourself. "Get a life" is a phrase
> some
> >> people use, but it sounds a bit rude.
>
> As for that one guy's insult toward me, I don't even see where
> "getting a life" has anything to do anything. Summer school is only
> six weeks for five and a half hours a day. This guy's a moron so
> don't worry about anyone like hime discouraging me.
That was an insult? I'm a moron?
Chergarj
schools and in colleges. Intermediate Algebra is difficult to study for the
students' first times. Earning an A+ in introductory algebra may mean that
intermediate level may be easier for you than for many other students, but
intermediate algebra will be more difficult. You will study ideas that you
never saw in the introductory level, and they require much more prolonged and
focused thought. Specifically, in intermediate algebra, you will study the
distance formula, conic sections, completion of the square and general solution
to the quadratic equation, and logarithms.
My suggestion is to try the summer course anyway; but start on it AS SOON AS
the current term ends, and DO NOT STOP STUDYING the intermediate course when
the summer course ends. Six weeks will not be enough. You should spend at
least 16 weeks on intermediate algebra; not just six.
G C
Nick
>Nick wrote:
>>
>...
>> >>
>> >> No. Summertime is for enjoying yourself. "Get a life" is a
phrase
>> some
>> >> people use, but it sounds a bit rude.
>
>>
>> As for that one guy's insult toward me, I don't even see where
>> "getting a life" has anything to do anything. Summer school is
only
>> six weeks for five and a half hours a day. This guy's a moron so
>> don't worry about anyone like hime discouraging me.
>
>That was an insult? I'm a moron?
>
loser or any other label for which it is associated. No, you probably
aren't a moron, I just didn't understand how me wanting to go to
summer school to take algebra 2 interferes with me getting or having
"a life" or enjoying myself, which baffled me.
I apologize for what I said about you since it may not be true. Also,
I want to apologize for misusing this forum in the way I have just
now.
Michael H. Stuart
>> No. Summertime is for enjoying yourself.
Summertime is for enjoying yourself but don't let anybody define for
you what "enjoying yourself" means. I would take the course.
Anything you might miss you can catch yourself up on. That's a poor
sentence.
Good luck. Mike who took Complex Analysis during the summer and
enjoyed it.