I put in a few college applications this week, despite knowing that my chances of being able to go back are slim to none. I desperately want to go back. A few of the colleges I applied to are not offering a handful of the careers I am interested in, but they have others. 

In the meantime I am taking a few free online math courses to try to brush up on stuff cause math is my weakness. I suck at it. No if ands or buts about it. But here we go. I am going through Pre-Algebra and still hitting spots where I am like WTF?! I DON'T KNOW THIS STUFF - cause let's face it. I worked my ass off to learn it when I was in college pre-baby, but all that information has been wiped and replaced with things like what to do for a rash, what to do if my baby chokes, information about breastmilk, and other things that will do no good at advancing me out into a career once I do finally jump back on that work horse. 

So Concourse comes to HP for help, because you are the most supportive community ever (let's face it - I have more support from you guys than I do from family XD )  and I could use some help. Anyone in here good at math? Or bad at math, but still willing to help? 

This is the current question I am struggling with. Going by order of operations, I would do the 3^(4) first, which is 81. So that makes it 9-1 [PLUS] 9 [PLUS] 81 and then moving down the order (PEMDAS) It would be the addition next, would you make it 9-81. Then .... then that would make the answer -72. But the program that checks the answers keeps giving me a hard core NOPE, WRONG, TRY AGAIN. I feel like a freaking idiot. 

I am going to bump cause this is driving me crazy. Also to clarify that [PLUS] indicates the additon / plus symbol, but HP kept deleting it for some odd reason. 

My husband said the answer is 98.

He did the 3^4 first, got 81, added 9, so that's 90. Then 9-1 is 8. 8 90 is 98.

But I'm hopeless at math, so idk.

I'm arguably bad at math, but if we're doing BEDMAS...

3^4 would be first =81

Then you'd just go in order left to right for the [PLUS] and -

So

9-1[PLUS]9[PLUS]81=x

8[PLUS]9[PLUS]81=x

17[PLUS]81=x

x=98

So, why would you do subtraction betfore addition when it is suppose to come last?

Addition and subtraction can interchange, but generally you should go left to right once you get parentheses and exponents out of the way (the same goes for multiplication/division).

Some people learned BEDMAS, I learned PEMDAS 

My brain literally jumped off the nope train. Can't math to save my life. I struggled really bad in school in that subject.
All's I can say is kudos for getting back out there and going for it!

Yes, what mango said.

addition and subtraction are interchangable when there all that's there. Same with multiplication and division. Brackets and Exponents must be done before them though.

Yeah I was taught PEMDAS as well, and for some reason that they are interchangable is now confusing the living crap out of me. -cries-

yea it took me 3 tries to pass remedial college algebra....
aka 
I need to take it 2 more times probably just to get into college algebra XD

but then i would need like 3 other classes and i could walk out with 2-3 associates XD
I was bored and had daddy issues AND daddy was paying for said college XD

That is actually my issue. I was in college for a while, and every semester I had the stupid remedial math classes because the school system I went to as a kid was stupid as hell. Oh you failed pre-algebra? lets move you up to algebra. Oh! You did worse there. Let's move you up to the next one. Then I dropped out due to family issues and moving out at 16 and I got my GED as soon as I was able. I have to pass the remedial math to get into the college level math course and then I need to pass Psych 101 class and I have my degree. 

I can eventually get things, but I feel like it takes a while and I work better when I have a friend or two to bounce stuff off of. The classes I am doing right now are on the Khan Academy website, and while the videos get on my nerves - they do seem to help a little bit. 

Editing to add: I got through a few more questions and felt all proud and happy. Then this thing slapped me in the face. XD I feel like this is BASIC math, but dear lord this crap is hard. 

I was pretty bad, too, so I tried to remember this one and I got it right. I made Tatu check lol xD

Anyway, start with the fraction. So 8 x 8 x 8 is 512. Divide that by 2 is 256. Then add 9 so the answer is 265.

So this morning, things have been going a lot better. I finished up that lesson and aced the quiz. I figured out that doing this on a computer alone is just pretty darn impossible. I have to have pencil and paper so I can right it down, otherwise the numbers just get all jumbled and lost. XD So here is to hoping I can get a good enough hang of this before I have to take my entrance exam.