Just have some questions about studying on a time crunch

[molten prairie]

im trying to test out of college algebra with a CLEP exam and i have tonight and 1 day to learn enough to get a 50/80 or ~66% of the questions on the test right.

im watching a CLEP college algebra practice test rn and a lot of comments are saying that the questions on the CLEP are exactly like the ones on the video so im focusing on it.

what would be the best way to memorize how to do the questions? do i watch him do a couple then try them myself from memory or watch and follow along with him on my notebook then try to do the practice test myself?

[jovial beacon]

Hello, I would suggest first learning some important theory, and take notes while learning. There are two paths after that. If you struggle with theory, you should watch the yt guy and first try doing the questions beforehand. If you can't follow along, just watch him do it and then try it yourself. If you do understand the theory, well I guess you just gotta get to practice. Remember to take notes though. Only the important stuff

[molten prairie]

im not sure what i understand, i guess theory? because when i hear him working out the problem like 95 percent of the time i get why hes doing what hes doing and im rarely ever lost. its just more recognizing what to do for what questions, like basically solving methods

i dont know when to use which solving methods

[jovial beacon]

I see. I am like that as well. You should keep watching his videos and take some breaks to practice random problems to see if you're getting better. If you have any questions you can send them here or open a different help thread and people, including me, will help you

Also, please dont burn your mind out. Take the information in slow and steady

[molten prairie]

unfortunately i kinda have to go fast, got tonight and tomorrow before test day.

i mean im not starting from scrach i have pretty decent background knowledge so i think i could do it.

[jovial beacon]

That's true. I hope you remain sane and enjoy your 48 hours of pain

You got this broski

[molten prairie]

thank you man ill try. though, i guess i dont HAVE to take it on friday. i havent scheduled it yet. but i want to take it soon because classes start in 2 weeks and i know around this time a lot of people start changing their classes around and i want to get a pre calc class that lines up with the rest of my schedule and has a good prof before they all taken.

do you think i should just do it next week?

[jovial beacon]

Algebra is a subject that could be learned quickly. Eventually, the choice depends on how you feel about the whole thing. My suggestion is to learn how many weaknesses you have. If you feel like you can fix them in 2 days, then why not? You should trust your gut with these decisions, you put other people in a tough spot too lol

[molten prairie]

wdym lol? i put other people in tough spot?

[jovial beacon]

If I told you it's better to do it in 2 days, and you go on to fail even by a little bit, I have contributed to your failure. Not a nice feeling

[molten prairie]

haha no man not at all. its my choice whether or not i listen to you or not and if i fail itd be my fault for not having better judgement. i just wanted advice from someone better at math than me

[jovial beacon]

My advice is trust your gut. It will be better for you eventually. I personally don't like to ask others about when to do stuff. I can help you with any problem you have though

[molten prairie]

hello why can x^2-4 be rewritten as (x+2)(x-2)

[jovial beacon]

,tex
You can find the roots first. $x^2 - 4 = 0 \implies x^2 = 4 \implies x = 2 , x = -2 $ when you have the root of a quadratic like this one, you can factorize it by using the roots "a" and "b" as such: $ x^2 - 4 = (x - a)(x - b)$

[vivid mortar]

fijokazż

[jovial beacon]

instead of a, write 2, which is one of your solutions, and instead of b, write -2 which is your second solution

if you don't understand something you can tell me

[molten prairie]

so could you do something like that with x^2 +25 or no

[jovial beacon]

In the terms of your subject no. This equation, you will say, has no real solution

think about it

,tex
$x^2 + 25 = 0 \implies x^2 = -25 $ can you tell why there is no real solution?

[vivid mortar]

fijokazż