[TnGOP]

My wife started back to college last fall after 28 years out of school. They placed her in the lowest level of algebra, two steps from college algebra. This semester, she has intermediate algebra.

My oldest daughter started this semester, after taking one semester off after high school. They started her out in intermediate algebra.

My youngest daughter, a freshman in high school and in algebra 1, was helping them BOTH with their homework last week because her class had already covered the material.

The students today are terrible in math, with a few exceptions. Nobody fails in the end, they get make up work or tutoring or whatever that allows them to PASS the class. These kids get to college and have no idea what they are doing.

[rbg81]

In many cases, the GPA is meaningless. My daughter gets Bs and As in math (including ‘intermediate’ algebra), but still can’t do simple math problems.

[fatboy]

TnGOP, see my post #11. I'm smiling because both of my kids (age 21 and 18) have taken HS Calculus and I've had to get their help numerous times. Still, to stay sharp in math you need to practice and a 2 or 3 year lapse will make one look dumb as a rock.

My instructor is old school and does not allow calculators in class. My attitude towards algebra has changed 180 degrees, a year ago I would have laughed at the thought of becoming proficient in math, today I'm beginning to enjoy it and will in any event do what ever it takes to get a good grade in college algebra which I'm planning to take in the fall (elementary algebra this term, intermediate in the summer, college in the fall).

[Jim from C-Town]

If I returned to college I would need remedial algebra as well. I was very good in math and took calculus in high school. That being said, now that I am out of practice with all but basic business math, I would need a refresher.