Heh, math can be a major [bleep]. Tutoring might help you grasp it as well. Once you grasp some of the basics, it's much easier to understand [cabbage].

Here's an example of a problem:

 

5.6d^15e^13

___________

-7(de)^12

What it says above it:

 

Find each quotient. Assume that the conditions of the Quotient-of-Powers Property are met.

[Rocco is correct].

 

Dude, use more brackets.

 

[(5.6)(d^15)(e^13)]/[(-7)((de)^12))]

 

Disregard the constants, and then it's just a matter of minusing the powers.

 

so, we get - [(-5.6)/(7)]*[(d)^(15-12)]*[(e)^(13-12)].

 

Which is (-0.8)(d^3)(e)

Man. I've not been in math for 2 years. And it shows. damn.

I've done worse problems than that. That one isn't too bad, it's just really weirdly formatted in text instead of an actual paper.

Now, for that particular problem, where is the application in real life?

There isn't.

I have a feeling you just don't understand the question they ask. I'm a pretty intuitive guy and if someone explicitly asks me to solve a math problem a certain way I'll do it in a hitch. However, when textbooks and tests ask questions in a different way it's hard to understand what they're asking for. The ONLY way to get around this is to do a few practice examples in your book and pay close attention to the wording. You'll know you've mastered the chapter once you can look at a question, understand what they're asking for and then assume you can answer it but decide not to.

 

Goodluck

Go engineers.

 

Also, if you're really that concerned about it you'll just need to spend extra time or get a tutor or something. Otherwise, it's probably not that important for you to have the top level math classes if you want to eventually teach non math related classes.