Rebuilding Math Skills to Become a Mechanical/Aerospace Engineer

[Septenary]

I would love to learn math and become a great mechanical / aerospace engineer, but there is one huge problem! I dropped my math classes in the 10th grade because I was an idiot. Years ago I didn't want to learn math, I hated it but now I love learning. I love challenges, learning is truly my passion. Where can I start learning Algebra and Calculus again? I'm expected to enter school this year (I also have to take my SATs this year). Do you guys think I can learn these maths in about a month or 2? Any websites that can help? Any books, videos?

 

[D4rk]

It would be helpful to have an idea of what level of Calculus and Algebra you need. I can however refer you to a few resources that I find helpful to this day (2nd year Engineering Student).
The type of math you can expect:
1) Calculus 1: Differentiation, Basic introduction to Integration, Types of functions.
2) Calculus 2: Integration Techniques, Parametrisation of curves ,etc.
3) Calculus 3: Line Integrals, Integrals in 3D, etc.
4) Linear Algebra: Solving systems of equations using matrices, Complex Numbers, etc.

The content might not exactly be the same but I'm guessing that a lot of the stuff is covered in a similar way.

Videos:
PatrickJMT - You've probably already heard of him, if not just google and you can access his videos from either youtube or his website. The most helpful math videos in my opinion. Also he gets the ideas across nicely and quickly.
KhanAcademy - I need not even be mentioning this, by far the most popular learning resource on the internet as of this moment.
MathTutorDVD - You have to buy the DVDs but I found the method of teaching here to be very simple and helpful.

Textbooks:
Stewart Caculus: Early Transcendentals (Currently using this textbook for Calc 3 and used it for Calc 1 and 2, really good textbook).

 

[symbolipoint]

I would love to learn math and become a great mechanical / aerospace engineer, but there is one huge problem! I dropped my math classes in the 10th grade because I was an idiot. Years ago I didn't want to learn math, I hated it but now I love learning. I love challenges, learning is truly my passion. Where can I start learning Algebra and Calculus again? I'm expected to enter school this year (I also have to take my SATs this year). Do you guys think I can learn these maths in about a month or 2? Any websites that can help? Any books, videos?

You can learn such things, but NOT in a month or two. Go to your local community college or adult school and ask for their advice and assessment. Start at the level the councelor and advisement tell you. If the say, "Basic Mathematics", or "Pre-Algebra", or "Introductory Algebra", then do it! You might need to work hard in every one of your Math classes, but you will start wherever necessary, and work upward. Eventually you will reach Trigonometry and Calculus.

 

[Septenary]

You can learn such things, but NOT in a month or two. Go to your local community college or adult school and ask for their advice and assessment. Start at the level the councelor and advisement tell you. If the say, "Basic Mathematics", or "Pre-Algebra", or "Introductory Algebra", then do it! You might need to work hard in every one of your Math classes, but you will start wherever necessary, and work upward. Eventually you will reach Trigonometry and Calculus.

I just looked up community colleges in my area, but none seem to have mathematically focused programs.

Update: there is one, its called CCAC but its $10K. This is what they offer: https://www.ccac.edu/Mathematics_and_Sciences.aspx

 

[symbolipoint]

I just looked up community colleges in my area, but none seem to have mathematically focused programs.

Update: there is one, its called CCAC but its $10K. This is what they offer: https://www.ccac.edu/Mathematics_and_Sciences.aspx

Look at the specific mathematics courses which the local community college offers. You do not need a highly focused program at the start, but you could move to one when your academic mathematical knowledge puts you ready.

 

[symbolipoint]

I just looked up community colleges in my area, but none seem to have mathematically focused programs.

Update: there is one, its called CCAC but its $10K. This is what they offer: https://www.ccac.edu/Mathematics_and_Sciences.aspx

The website shows a Physics degree program and lists Cacluluses one through three, and a linear algebra. Being a community college, the Math department MUST have the less advanced courses too. Check directly with the college. Nothing seemed shown in the website.

$10000 per year even for a full-time course load seems too high for a c.c. Is that what the costs are like in that geographic area?

 

[SteamKing]

I just looked up community colleges in my area, but none seem to have mathematically focused programs.

Update: there is one, its called CCAC but its $10K. This is what they offer: https://www.ccac.edu/Mathematics_and_Sciences.aspx

I don't know how you arrived at $10,000 for CC tuition. Here is a list of fees and tuition for CCAC:

https://www.ccac.edu/payment/

According to the table, a resident of Allegheny Co. can take up to 19 credits at a flat rate of about $1600 a semester. Out of state students would pay about $4800.
Twelve credits or more is equivalent to being a full-time student, according to the school.

 

[jtbell]

The website shows a Physics degree program and lists Cacluluses one through three, and a linear algebra. Being a community college, the Math department MUST have the less advanced courses too.

Look at the math course listings that start on page 260 of their https://www.ccac.edu/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=35613 (PDF file). It includes e.g. Arithmetic Fundamentals, Algebra Fundamentals, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Pre-calculus, College Trigonometry...

 

[symbolipoint]

Look at the math course listings that start on page 260 of their https://www.ccac.edu/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=35613 (PDF file). It includes e.g. Arithmetic Fundamentals, Algebra Fundamentals, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Pre-calculus, College Trigonometry...

That as expected. This is good for a community college.