Help!!!!!

[kimmy888555]

Hi my name is Kim and I have a problem see tomorrow I have to take a test to see if I can start algebra and I am only in 8th grade. Only 40 people in the county are taking it. Well problem is I don't know one single thing about algebra. I don't know the first thing you learn. So can somebody please just tell me what is the first lesson you learn. I would really appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Hi my name is Kim and I have a problem see tomorrow I have to take a test to see if I can start algebra and I am only in 8th grade. Only 40 people in the county are taking it. Well problem is I don't know one single thing about algebra. I don't know the first thing you learn. So can somebody please just tell me what is the first lesson you learn. I would really appreciate it. Thanks

Go to:

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/index.htm

 

[mmm4444bot]

My guess is that your test will cover some basic prerequisites.

Can you do arithmetic with fractions?

Have you memorized the multiplication table?

Can you factor numbers? How about prime factorizations?

These skills are important, in beginning algebra.

It will also help students beginning algebra, if they have some experience with units of measure, conversions, basic formulas for things like area and perimeter, percentages & percents, and ratios.

I do not understand why you included the statement about 40 people; is that information important?

Cheers :cool:

 

[Willie]

I'll assume that you're already pretty well versed in arithmetic and pre-algebra in general. Since you have so little time to study, I'd suggest reviewing just these topics:

order of operations
properties (commutative, associative, distributive, identity, inverse, etc.)
rules of exponents
simplifying radicals

Testing just those topics alone would give a pretty pretty good indication of whether someone is ready to move on to algebra, so they are very likely to be present on your placement test.

 

[mmm4444bot]

Ah -- that's a very good point, Willie.

I don't really know what the poster's school district does, but, when I was in K12 (around the fall of the Roman Empire), my junior high school offered no pre-algebra course. Everything that you listed, as well as the Real number line (i.e., signed numbers), were introduced as Algebra I, to me. I still have some of my papers, lol.

I would say that arithmetic with signed numbers and the Order of Operations are the two most important, for any beginning algebra students taught "pre-algebra". :cool: