Re-learn the math I forgot from school, and learn how to do math I never learned in the past

So here is my problem.
For another project I think, I need to understand this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_product

particularly the bits with the matrix stuff.
My ex, “helped” me with my photopuppet rig using this type of maths. He solved some rotation/orientation problems in a moment. Things that had taken me months to get no where.

I was impressed, and since then have held a respect and love of mathematics. Unfortunately, he also was not terribly nice to me, and would not tell me what I needed to know in order to understand the building of transform and rotation matrices.

Here is a little bit where I am coming from also.
I was “home-schooled” through out my entire youth. I am no stranger to the life long quest of learning. But I am stuck on this problem. I am not afraid of the time I need to commit to learn. Months, years, whatever. Even if the outcome is of negligible use. I am ready. I just do not know where to start.

I am going to pick back up my math studies again soon. Probably in the late spring, and hope to completely my algebra lessons by mid summer:)

But after that, what comes next? Is it Trig? Is it Calc? Physics? What is the next step towards my goal of learning math?
I don’t know. And I’m in the unfamiliar position of not even knowing who to ask!

Interestingly, over the past months I’ve needed to do some bits of maths here and there.
All that silly practice I repeated in France for those two months really paid off!!! Doing the exercises again and again got some numbers in my head, solidified fractions, and divisions, I can still transform algebraic expression painlessly.
I can also do simple things like add and subtract in my head. Something I could never do before!
Makes one want to learn more and more.
I am glad that I stuck to my guns and did that.

Had to transform an algebyic expression yesterday. It was amazing that I could remember how to do it! Seems I did learn something while studying math in France for 3 months!

It’s gotten me excited to continue my studies!

Almost sounds like a deep life statement:
Simultaneous Equations

But really they are the latest topic my Algebra book is covering.
The Math studies are going super slow.
Though I spend a couple of hours on most day studying, I’m only 1/3 way through the book!!

Not having a teacher is probably slowing things down a bit. Have to figure out every problem completely on my own.

But still chugging away.

Strange the reactions one receives when you tell them you are studying basic math. Very varied.
Sometimes people are shocked and think it’s ridiculous or a waist of time at my age. Some other folks get very excited at the prospect that a person can always be learning and improving.

Still the hardest part of this, and being here in France is my Family and friends desire for me to be constantly traveling, seeing the sights they have visited on their journeys to Europe. All the time while sitting here working on the mathematics there is the little voice in the back of the head saying…”Is this really such a great thing you are trying to do? Is this worth the effort? What do you possibly hope to gain from learning general maths?”

But I plug on just the same. Struggling everyday with the same dramas. What I would pay for a little confidence or self assurance!!!!

For two hours every day.
Rough catching up. But spending the time to learn long devision and multiplication is paying off big time!

I use it a thousand times to check my answers.
Also being able to divide something into the decimal places is soo cool!!

Functions. Awesome.

Mostly fuck up on the simple arithmetic when solving the book’s exercises. Which slows the entire process up. One has to understand if something intrinsic was misunderstood or if 5×6=35 someplace by accident.

Took two days from the algebra book to learn long division and long multiplication! Amazing that I’ve gotten so far without it!!!

My boyfriend does not approve of the way I’m learning math. And it’s got me pretty down.
Perhaps he sees after the several years we are together how little I actually know:( I’m quickly falling off the pedestal I was put on.

The algebra book is probably the best text I’ve ever had.
And despite his criticism, I believe there is merit in honestly completing the exercises. Checking ones answers, understanding, then correcting the mistakes, it’s practically the definition of learning!

I’ll agree with him that it is slow, and boring. So what?! This is life no? Great stretches of nothing sprinkled with moments of passion! This is the journey! I can’t start at the end. Perhaps I just suffer his disapproval and go this at my own pace.
I want to learn math, and a little boredom is a small price to pay for this life goal!

Everybody’s has an opinion on how I should be going about learning this math stuff.

Very disheartening.

BUT!

I am sticking to my guns.
They have no idea how little I actually know. How slowly I would like to take this.

It’s a clue though.
I read that a person who has never been hated has never stood for anything.
In a smaller way it’s like that with life. You can always tell when you are doing something of substance, or perhaps meaning when people around you disagree:)

Maybe their criticisms are a sign that I am on the right track.

It was a painful blow to the ego, but I started the Algebra book from the beginning.
Flipping though, it was clear the the problems I was having in my calc class were being address somewhere in the middle….but the little voice told me to fuck all, and who cares what anyone things, and start at the begining of the book.

Very glad I did!!!!
It’s actually proofing challenging, and rewarding.

Only the very first few pages concerned algebraic principles, and then it dove right in!

Exponents, and their principles were covered, then adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing,(all algebra of course), then all that stuff again with fractions!!

it’s really very exciting! This is the first time in my life I’m actually understanding this stuff!

I’m not sure where this is all going though. No idea where, or how one uses these maths. BUT! I am trusting in the process. I will complete this book, despite how entirely non-usfull it may seem. Continue despite the embarrassment of being 25 and not knowing it all ready!

The french class coming up next week is going to throw me off my game…..

That took way longer than it needed.
Found them in the London Science Museum.

Here is a link:
http://www.teachyourself.co.uk/maths.htm

I bought the algabra book. It seemed to be pretty comprehensive and filled in all the gaps from my calculus course that I took.

This is the bes teach your self book I have seen! and I’ve seen and used a few.

Now I just have to schedule time to sit and go through the book. Also I need a notebook or two. I’ll go out first thing tomorrow! It’s after five now, and Grenoble sort of shuts down:)

Rock on!