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Another Failure
Well, this morning I took yesterday's failed test a second time, and failed again. The teacher allowed me to take the final test anyway, in the hope that I would at least pass that one, since the questions are different from the ones on the failed test, but I failed that test as well. Two tests - two failures.
I cried a bit as I walked home, but then I got to thinking about what a kind teacher explained to me, and my optimism returned just a little - he'd seen my struggling by myself, and was nice enough to explain some things to me. Finally I found someone with patience, and a better way of describing things. After speaking with him, I have a better understanding about decimals, and why I'm tending to place them incorrectly. It was too late for today's tests, but I will use his advice when I take the tests again. Tomorrow morning I have another chance. Boy, this is really awful.
I'm feeling dissilusioned and weary, but I'm not broken. Maybe tomorrow I'll pass.....
Now I better study some more.......
I cried a bit as I walked home, but then I got to thinking about what a kind teacher explained to me, and my optimism returned just a little - he'd seen my struggling by myself, and was nice enough to explain some things to me. Finally I found someone with patience, and a better way of describing things. After speaking with him, I have a better understanding about decimals, and why I'm tending to place them incorrectly. It was too late for today's tests, but I will use his advice when I take the tests again. Tomorrow morning I have another chance. Boy, this is really awful.
I'm feeling dissilusioned and weary, but I'm not broken. Maybe tomorrow I'll pass.....
Now I better study some more.......
posted by Marian (Jolene) | 2:35 p.m.
4 Comments:
Awwwww. Bummer. But hang in, and don't give up. In all honesty, how many adults - especially creative types who gravitate more toward English than math - could get this stuff. In all honesty, I don't think I could - decimals and fractions are a pain in the butt.
You're really taking your life good places - so don't let a little setback stop you.
Keep your spirits up, Marian. You're a special gal just for doing this. You may not know, but I've been reading your blog sometimes and my hopes are with you. Annteann's right. Math isn't always an artist's favorite thing and our brains aren't quite wired that way, but you're a star for what you're doing.
Marian,
I am so sorry for you. I did not know you were having trouble with decimals and fractions. I am no expert but I can do them.
decimals take the place of fractions in a way. Such as 10 cents is one tenth of a dollar or 10/100ths or .10 (hundreths)
You will notice that there are different ways of writing 10 cents.
or 12/100ths or .12 or 12 cents
The decimal or dot divides the whole number from the part of a number. Such as:
$1.00 or $1.10 or one dollar and ten cents. (presuming you can figure in American money).
left of the decimal are whole numbers.
Right of the decimal are parts of whole numbers.
Such as:
$1.00 = one dollar
.10 = ten cents (1/10th of a dollar
3/4 of a dollar = .75 cents
half a dollar = .50 cents
1/4 of a dollar = .25 cents
Which now brings us to percentages
the percent sign % means 100 parts.
one tenth of a dollar is .10%
or ten one hundreths of a dollar.
There are 100 cents in a dollar. So .10% of a dollar is .10 (cents)
All these decimals, fractions and percents are related. There are just different ways of writing them.
So when you come to a problem that has both decimals and fractions, change the decimals to fractions or change the fractions to decimals and then work the problem.
If the problem has percent just put the problem into decimals and work from there and forget about the percentage unless it is needed in the answer. Then you can add it back at that time and place.
Hope this is not too confusing.
Suggest you print this out and take it to class when you take your test. Show it to the teacher and ask if you may use it while you are taking your test.
It will not be cheating because you will still have to figure the problems.
Best of luck,
Lyd
I have 100% faith in you.
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