Algebra

i think you all are right. I will try to ask for help form him. I dont think he will give it to me, he never does, but i will also ask a student for help
 
i think you all are right. I will try to ask for help form him. I dont think he will give it to me, he never does, but i will also ask a student for help
 
Back in grade school I too thought algebra was invented by some guy that was on the wrong stuff. But a few years later I learned you truely do use it in everyday life, not just in aviation. If you dont use algebra, you limit yourself to addition, subraction, division and multiplication. Those are capable of getting you somewhere, perhaps McDee's, but not much further. Even if you don't use it in a job, employers like to see that you are capable of using your head. Look at many of those on this board, they are or have gotten a 4 year degree in something completely unrelated to aviation, but they do it because their employer likes to see that they know how to put their brain to work.
If you're struggleing, let your teacher know. Often times just doing that will get your grade increased a full level
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. I kid you not. It worked for me. Just show them you are trying and working to do well, they will reward you.
 
I never say "I'll use algebra to solve this problem" ever, but I certainly use algebraic principles on a daily basis at work. Especially today when we had to do a fuel divert into MGM enroute to ATL. Being handy with numbers, doing math in your head and being able to remember figures in your head and prioritize tasks is absolutely crucial.

And no, the FMS doesn't handle that.
 
Well actually using the sin and cos buttons are quite easier for doing wind problems than using an E6B especially when the speeds go beyond the end of the slide. Sure it looks like a complicated formula but its just plug and chug as well

HW= WS*cos(WD-RD) (tailwind negative)
XW= WS*sin(WD-RD) (positive= wind from right)
 
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My algerbra teacher is teaching our class all kinds of stupid crap. I want to know how much algebra you really need to know to be a pilot. My brother a flight instructor at BGSU says you dont need much.

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There is a good book that you should pick up an read. It's called Aviation Math. It will go over any and all types of math that you'd use in the cockpit!

-Matthew
 
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i think you all are right. I will try to ask for help form him. I dont think he will give it to me, he never does, but i will also ask a student for help

[/ QUOTE ]what do you mean he never does? is this your teacher your talking about?

he's supposed to be there to help you.. are you going in there with an open mind and a good attitude? if not, try being more personable and make your teacher your friend - that's what he's there for. he's there to help you learn and if he's not going to help you learn, he needs a "talking too" from/by YOU.. you are the client and you need/want to learn!

you need to show that enthusiasm whether you like the subject or not.
 
You'll need basic algebra stuff to do computations in your head. You'll actually use that a lot when computing descents, fuel burn, time to destination, time enroute, etc. Now, for a degree, you'll probably need at least college algebra. I tested out of college algebra at ERAU, but I honestly couldn't do any of the harder problems now if my life depended on it....
 
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There is a good book that you should pick up an read. It's called Aviation Math. It will go over any and all types of math that you'd use in the cockpit!

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Mental Math for Pilots. It's actually an okay book. Helps with a few GA things, but I think it's mostly geared towards people going for an airline interview.
 
Which brings up a good point. For an interview/sim session, is there any math required? As far as fuel burn, diversion times,etc...Anything that requires an E6B...Also, I have the electronic E6B, am I allowed to use that, because my math is limited to: If you have to descend from 10,000 to 4,000 feet, how many feet do you need to descend? I thought that was it!
 
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There is a good book that you should pick up an read. It's called Aviation Math. It will go over any and all types of math that you'd use in the cockpit!

[/ QUOTE ]

Mental Math for Pilots. It's actually an okay book. Helps with a few GA things, but I think it's mostly geared towards people going for an airline interview.

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Ahhhhh I was close....
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-Matthew
 
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. Especially today when we had to do a fuel divert into MGM enroute to ATL. Being handy with numbers, doing math in your head and being able to remember figures in your head and prioritize tasks is absolutely crucial

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Speaking of Diversions was just teaching this the other day and wonder what kinds of methods or rules of thumbs people use for determing ETE and ETA.

Anybody have a simple or good ways for doing this?
 
Algebra is used in virtually every calculation you do in aviation. For example: If you know groundspeed and distance determining ETE is algebra. The fact that most math curriculums and classes make algebra a confusing subject and fail to show you how to apply it doesn't mean it isn't useful and easy.

Calculus on the other hand is best done with computers. It is the kind of calculations that an FMS was designed for.

If you are confused by algebra you need to find a simple text like this one and understand it correctly the first time.

saxon math

Hint, many high school teachers can't even define the term algebra, much less teach the subject. If you can't define what algebra is, you aren't learning it. That would be explain the "all kinds of stupid crap" feeling you are getting about the subject.
 
I was never a big fan of math either. In fact, I hated it when I was in high school. When I got to college I was really happy that I only needed pre-calc to graduate. This was until I decided to pick up a minor in meterology...which required Calc III. To tell you the truth, it wasn't easy and I had to study a lot but it was probably the biggest challenge academically in college for me...and I am very glad that I decided to try it. I think I got more personal satisfaction doing well in something that I thought I couldn't do at all. Now, do I ever integrate a vector function while flying? Heck NO! And when was the last time that I had to find the normal and binormal vectors of a smooth space cuve while in an airplane?? NEVER! The point is that it is important that you have the basic foundations of mathematics. Finally, if it is challenging to you now, it will feel that much better when you succeed at it later.

Later,
Andy
 
During job interviews at Delta and TWA, which were multiple day interviews, one day was devoted to nothing but tests. You don't even talk to anyone...you just take tests. If you were successful on the tests...the next day you actually got to do a face to face interview.

By the way...on each testing day...there was an algebra test...60 algebra questions if I remember correctly.
 
Math is probably my favorite subject, and I actually enjoy doing algebra.
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Something must really be wrong with me.
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What's goofy is how hard algebra is made. Most kids think that algebra is some form of math different from what they've learned to that point. With the students I've tutored I ususally start by showing them that in first grade they were doing algebra. When the teacher asked: "2 plus how much equals 4?" it was the same as saying:

2 + X = 4, solve for X.

Then you teach them what an equation is and how to keep equations "balanced" on each side (usually use poker chips for that). No more confusion about what algebra is.

It is amazing, but most of the kids I've tutored in algebra couldn't tell me what an equation was. That's like trying to fly an airplane when you don't know what an airplane is.
 
Yeah, algebra wasn't my thing either. However, you do need to have some idea of conversions, basic time/fuel/distance formulas.

Just do your best and GET HELP if you need it. Tutors have saved my butt in many a class in high school/middle school!

Good luck man
 
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