<p>Alright guys I’ve got a bit of a problem at the moment. I’ve been in honors math classes since middle school and breezed through them up until this point. It’s not the material of this precalculus class that I have difficulty with; after all, it’s just a repeat of Algebra 2 with a little extra depth and material. But somehow I ended up with a B. </p>
<p>My teacher and one other teacher teach this Honors course. My teacher is a fantastic, nice guy who wants everyone to do well. Quizzes that he makes are easy (for an honors level, mind you) and I feel confident going into the test. However, the OTHER teacher usually makes the tests for both his class and my teacher’s class.</p>
<p>This is the problem. Pardon my language, but this other teacher is a complete ass. His tests are brutal. Sure, they’re long as hell, but this isn’t really the issue. The issue for me is that he unknowingly targets my biggest weakness when making the tests: fractions. Try finding the determinant of a 3x3 Matrix containing fractions like 3/17, 9/107, and 7/65, just to name a few from a recent test. (No calculators, of course, since it’s an honors class) </p>
<p>Anyway, I got a B last semester, and likely will this semester as well. How do I convey to MIT that I understand the material and can do the math, I just got unlucky with the teacher? I’m taking Honors Physics with an A and am self-studying AP Physics B with an expectation of a 4 or 5. Also I expect my SAT MATH I score to be fairly decent.</p>
<p>Will anything outweigh the fact that the only Bs on my transcript are in math?</p>
<p>I would not discredit yourself based on one B.</p>
<p>Also, arithmetic heavy tests are lame. Being good at math (let’s define this as the ability to know which methods to use to arrive at the solution and to apply this knowledge to unfamiliar problems effectively) and being good at arithmetic are not necessarily the same. A test should be challenging based on the content and how problems must be approached, not number crunching. Your test writer sucks :P</p>
<p>@Jalmoreno</p>
<p>Thanks. That really raises my spirits as I was concerned that a math-intensive school like MIT would cross me off the list immediately based on a PreCalc grade because other applicants are through Calc BC or other Calc courses with all As. I’m assuming college calculus is much more “know the concepts and apply them” rather than tricky arithmetic? I’ve never done a college calculus proof, but I hope that any mistakes made on those are serious errors that reveal flaws in conceptual understanding rather than simple multiplication mistakes.</p>
<p>Can’t you just replace the more ungainly fractions with variables and then substitute at the very end? (e.g., 9/107 = p, 3/243 = q)</p>
<p>I can’t say for theory calculus (i.e. proofs) but in normal college calc, it can be arithmetic heavy, but, for the most part, you are tested on your ability to use mathematical concepts and apply them. Integration can become especially bad if you mess up arithmetic (I do it all the time, lol) but it is doable, and for the most part, the problems have the arithmetic set up in a user friendly way.</p>
<p>I can tell you on my BC Calc class tests that have calculator, I often did all the calculations by hand and then checked with the calculator, showing that everything can be done by hand with little trouble (my answers were almost always right)</p>
<p>@collegealum
this only works when you have a few terrible fractions. I’m talking the entire 3x3 matrix is composed of these. replacing with variables would take forever. and i don’t think it would solve my problem, because at the end I’d still have to do the arithmetic and likely mess it up. not to mention that time is not plentiful on these exams…</p>
<p>@Jalmoreno
I don’t mind doing calculations by hand and then checking. That’s actually preferred as I can write it out faster than I can plug it into the calculator. However, I get anxious when I know I have no way to check the answer. Anxiety + me = arithmetic disaster.</p>
<p>Basically I’m excited for college calculus where I can apply math concepts instead of mess up stupid arithmetic and get a C+ on the test.</p>
<p>My point was that, in my calculus class, arithmetic is doable. You want to be careful is all, I double, sometimes triple, check my tests. Also note, if you are in AP Calc, part of doing well on the AP test is knowing how to use a calculator. This should reduce the number of non-calculator tests making it easier to avoid arithmetic error.</p>
<p>Math rocks. Arithmetic sucks.</p>
<p>The best you can do is all you can do. A B is not the end of the world. I got a B in honors precalc too! and I got into MIT. Hope is not lost.</p>
<p>Consider talking about your problem with the exams with your teacher. If your scores are obviously not reflecting your understanding of the material, he/she might be sympathetic.</p>
<p>You can demonstrate your competence in math by taking AP (calc bc, stat, comp sic) exams (self study if the classes aren’t offered in your school/won’t fit in your schedule), and then by taking classes at a local university/community college. You could also tutor.</p>
<p>Also, fractions will continue to exist in college. =p</p>