jwlallen

Thanks for the input guys, genuinely appreciated. On reflection I think I'll just need to do away with this tablet shortcut nonsense and go down the LaTex route, it's always something I can try later but probably not the best idea while I'm studying. In my next module I have to do a part on typesetting of which LaTex is an option along with Word. Plus, had a look around and LaTex really is just so damn pretty! Thanks again.

Thanks for your responses guys. It was mostly for presentation purposes in essays and assignments so the "showing my working" part. I've had a look at my first assignment and there's going to be a lot of this type of stuff. Even typing out the various stages of say a simultaneous quadratic is a lengthy business on word equation editor. the only other alternative is LaTex or something similar. Just weighing up my options before I start. Sorry edited to add ill be using pen and paper for the main work but possibly using the tablet and stylus for the write up.

Hi, Hope this is in the right place, apologies if not. I've recently started a Maths & Physics Degree and am just about to embark on my first Maths module. I've been toying with the idea of getting myself a graphics tablet to use on my assignments alongside the Windows Maths Input Panel. I'm not planning on using it day to day as i find it easier to scribble with a pen and paper but thought it would save me quite a bit of time when writing up assessments etc. I just wondered if this is something any of you guys have experience of and if it was a viable idea. Additionally if you have used these before do you have any recommendations? Thanks in advance, James.

Thank you so much for the input. I think for now I'll carry on and finish the textbooks and since I'm not planning on taking formal exams at this level use the write up as a revision exercise before moving on. There seem to be so many new things to learn that if I was to do a write up I'd want to add more to it a few days later. Thanks for the encouragement Akash, means a lot. I'm quite lucky with regard to support as I work at a university in a non-academic capacity so there are a few people around I can ask if I get really stuck. Must admit however I'd still feel a bit embarrassed asking them about the basic stuff. Best wishes.

Hi, I think this is the right place for this question. I'm self studying entry level Physics, Chemistry and Biology which is ticking along at a steady pace. What I'm finding is that there is a lot of cross over of the subjects, particularly Chemistry and Biology. As a result I've been considering sitting down and attempting to pull all of it together into some kind of essay paper around my understanding of cells, enzymes and general catalysts, respiration and my understanding of reactions and changes of state etc. My spare time is pretty limited what with a full time job and young family so to do this properly would probably take a fair while, during which I wouldnt be moving on to anything new, I wouldnt be expecting it to be anything amazing due to my limited knowledge base of what is actually going on. As a result do you think there would be any value in the exercise for the purpose of pulling the various parts together, or do you think that for now my time would be better spent just continuing on with my studies and worry about that sort of thing once I have a wider knowledge base to draw on. Thanks in advance.

Hi, Think I might be able to help with this. I left school more years ago than I care to remember and came away with no qualifications. I certainly struggled with maths as well. I've recently self studied and retaken the exams and achieved an A. I used this textbook. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0007410158 Just go through it from start to finish without skipping anything even the parts that come easy as it all provides a base and then builds on it later in the book. I imagine it's the same with most textbooks but the start of each chapter is easy to get through and the end gets pretty tricky (especially if the very concepts are new to you). I'd say expect it to be tough in places and just because you're struggling doesn't mean it's about you it just means that it's tough. If you could fly through the book without it being hard in places you probably wouldn't have needed to study it in the first place.. I'd say that on most of the sections there were aspects of it that were troubling but rather than give up and say I don't have a talent for it. Maths is a tricky business especially when your starting out but there's a ton of places you can get support including here. It is ultimately such a rewarding endeavour when you crack the nut of it and it all starts making sense. Honestly if I can get a grip on the basics anyone can but by it's very nature it's difficult so just persevere, ask and be confident that you're not alone in feeling like it just won't ever make sense. I really hope this helps.

Hi, I'm jwlallen, I've been lurking around the site for a few months so thought I'd better introduce myself. I'm self studying maths, chemistry, physics & biology starting with the basic secondary school stuff as I wasted didn't make the most of my time on the first go. Just really wanted to say how fascinating the whole thing is, up until a few months ago it all seemed so inaccessible but thanks to this site and a handful of textbooks becoming more aware of all the little patterns that surround us. My next step when I've got the time is to get my hands on a few basic bits of kit and run some of the experiments in the text books. Specifically catalysts including enzymes. Anywho just wanted to say hi and thanks for such an interesting site.

^^This^^ I've started doing this myself and if you're coming from a "next to none" knowledge base like me it really helps to go through the basics. I'm working through the Pearson IGCSE Physics, Chemistry and Biology books, relatively cheap and gradually builds on itself definitely worth a look. hope this helps.

Thanks for your answers guys. Had a bit of a wtf moment this evening. I think the gravity of conservation has just set in. The breaking up of one compound and formulation of another creates energy, it's that energy that is responsible for so many of the day to day phenomenon I've taken for granted. I'm only doing gcse stuff so don't know the really deep business right now but I feel like I've started stumbling down a rabbit hole. The answers just lead to further implications, which raise more questions! How the hell do you smarter guys sleep!?! Thanks again for the answers, cleared a lot of stuff up.

Hi all, Bit of background, I'm currently self teaching some gcse level science. Messed around a lot at school and trying to repair some of those poor adolescent choices. Recently completed Maths (A) and English (B) I've now started studying Chem, Phys & Bio separately. My question is this: The chemistry work I'm doing shows that in any reaction no elements are destroyed they are simply rearranged into different states, I've got that side of things. I've also spent some time on catalysts and the part they play in the reaction. Now the Biology work I'm running through seems to brush over these laws and is more than happy to describe Oxygen as "used up" during the process of respiration, I know that it can't just disappear. Where does the oxygen go, I appreciate that using enzymes it reacts with (mostly) glucose to create energy, is the energy created as a result of the splitting and creation of bonds? Or something else. Does the oxygen remain in the body or is it expelled? Further question, oddly related, do plants actually "create" oxygen as I was taught as a kid or simply separate and excrete it? My apologies that turned into a bit of a waffle as each question I wanted answered posed another. Now I'm just thinking all elements are finite according to what is available in earths bio system so nothing is created or destroyed. Still if someone could answer the energy question and where does it go question I'd appreciate it. Sorry for the ramble.

Hey all, Just wanted to thank you all for your help with this. After tearing my hair out again yesterday and using your feedback i'm finally getting somewhere. Seems like screwing up on the more basic side of things was tripping me up (feels like every time i learn something slightly more advanced it pushes out something basic This alongside setting out the problem in a not so helpful way just made it even more complicated. This is where i am so far: "3 consecutive positive numbers are written as x, x+1, x+2. The square of the largest number is 45 less than the sum of the squares of the other numbers. Find the 3 numbers?" Soooo.... (x2) + (x+1)2 = (x+2)2 + 45 x2 + (x+1)(x+1) = (x+2)(x+2) + 45 x2 + x2 + x + x +1 = x2 + 2x + 2x + 4 + 45 2x2 + 2x + 1 = x2 + 4x + 49 x2 - 2x - 48 = 0 x = 8, -6 Since the question asks for positive consecutive numbers (apologies, I missed that in my orginal post) then I get: x=8, x+1=9, x+2=10 So satisfying to nail this one. Thanks everyone that contributed. Just had a flick through what comes next and i'll be attempting quadratic fractions then simultaneous equations with quadratic fractions, so I'm sure I'll be back again soon.

You know what reading that I think it's just clicked a little. I'm thinking: x^2 + (x+1)^2 = (x+2)^2 + 45 x^2 + (x+1)^2 - (x+2)^2 = 45 x^2 + x^2 + x + x + 2 - x^2 + 2x + 4 = 45 X^2 + 4x + 6 = 45 x^2 + 4x + 6 - 45 = 0 x^2 + 4x - 39 = 0 I'm still going wrong somewhere but can't see it!

Hi all, This is my first post & I hope I've put it in the right place. I'm a mature student retaking secondary school Maths by distance learning. I'm currently on Quadratic Equations and I've got myself in a right pickle! I'm ok with the theory but when it comes to applying it to word problems I'm struggling. Specifically the following problem which I've been banging my head against a wall to solve but just can't get: "3 consecutive numbers are written as x, x+1, x+2. The square of the largest number is 45 less than the sum of the squares of the other numbers. Find the 3 numbers?" I know the answer is 8, 9, 10 but I can't see how the solution is reached. My distance learning course is pretty poor and no explanation is given how to solve this one. I've muddled my way through a few others but this one has me totally stumped. Thank you in advance for any support you can give.