Now, I learnt maths a long time ago, but I want to learn it again (kinda self-teach), mainly for computer science. I know quite a lot of arithmetic and basic geometry. I understand about exponents and logarithms. However, I would love to learn more algebra and equations.
I want to learn more about Algebra, even if it involves starting again. I've checked out KhanAcademy's Pre-Algebra and Algebra course. My question is
With my knowledge, would the Pre-Algebra tutorial help me understand most about what is taught in the Algebra tutorial?
How long is an estimate for me to learn?
Should I start with early maths before touching it? I do know maths.
I may also want to learn Linear Algebra. I might even use the lectures done by Gilbert Strang from MIT Courseware, which I've found as a recommendation on several sites. It looks quite interesting.
Thank you.
If you're asking whether Khan Pre-algebra is good enough preparation for Khan Algebra, the the answer is "yes."
If you're asking whether Khan Pre-algebra counts as "knowing algebra", then the answer is "no."
My opinion about pre-algebra is that it should disappear from the face of the planet. It's been a huge mistake over the last few decades to try to teach calculus and algebra in earlier and earlier grades. Children's brains develop at well-known rates. We ignore this science and try to teach Calculus to 10th graders (and when we can't quite do it, we invent "pre-calculus" which is just algebra stripped of anything that isn't directly applied in calculus). And, worse, we try to teach algebra to 6th graders and when we fail we invent "pre-algebra" which pushes necessary things out of the curriculum for the sake of doing pointless acrobatic that are vaguely similar to stuff that's done later in real algebra.
Better to wait a couple years and then just teach the student algebra, now that his brain is developed enough to handle it easily.
Notice that there's nothing called "pre-piano".
The purpose of this rant is to say that for an adult, I firmly believe that "pre-algebra" is a waste of time. Pre-algebra was invented so that kids who are too young to grasp algebra could still play with algebra-like concepts. My advice in the end is that you just do the Khan Algebra.