Originally Posted by
mklotz
Yes, math is very much a "use it or lose it" skill. This is especially true with algebra, the most fundamental math skill after arithmetic.
If you encounter a derivation or solution to an equation as above, don't simply ignore it because you think your poor math skills will make it unintelligible to you. Try to follow it as best you can and puzzle out what is happening. Do that often enough and you'll soon understand how to solve simple equations.
Of course, the real skill is being able to construct an equation that captures what you know and what is unknown so that you have something to solve. That takes more time but, again, if you start with simple problems and cogitate over other people's equations, understanding will come.
The key here is not to ignore what you don't understand, be it math or some other discipline. Most of our post-school learning comes from real world examples; ignoring them is a waste of resources.