I'm in Calculus and I struggle in Algebra.

[Guest]

So, the issue is that I am in Calculus, but I struggle with Algebra. Calculus in itself is very easy; the algebra part is killing me. So I have a D in the class from the first 2 tests (first one I got 74% and got an F on the second test). Both of those tests were all review; I struggled with the limits because I simply could not factor correctly. I already know how to differentiate, both implicitly and explicitly, and integrate (including some basic differential equations and multivariable). I also have trouble conceptually connecting logarithms to real life. I am pretty sure I aced the test with differentiating, but I struggle with the more complex equations because I did not pay attention in Algebra.

Quitting is not an option. I need to get my grade up. Teacher will drop the F test and replace it with the latest test. I know light years ahead of my peers, yet I fail to replicate that knowledge onto tests because of inadequate performance in previous years. Calculus based Physics comes easy to me because I know the relationships between units and their equations. However, I found that I have to connect concepts to physical entities; that is why I had trouble with Algebra. Sure, I can compute things in my head easily, but I choke up with I come across this: "find the limit as x approaches 0 (cos(x) -1)/sin(x)"

BTW, I am a high school Senior.

[HallsofIvy]

My first thought was to drop the course and take an algebra course in its place but you say you cannot do that.

So get an algebra text book (your Calculus teacher can probably loan you one) and go through it in detail. It will be hard to try to learn algebra and Calculus at the same time but you will need to try. Certainly you need to talk to your teacher about this.