How do I learn if I don't already

[cookderosa]

I empathize with you

The thing about math, especially in your case, is you need to develop intuition in the material. What I mean by that, is college math won't "be" your degree math, it will jump prereqs for your degree math- a class that presumes you understand all that goes up to that point. I will go against what might be normally suggested, and say either a) attempt to self-study and test out of the math for your degree or b) take the remedial courses.

I know that is terrible, awful, long, and expensive (I often rant about this very thing- and how placement tests and remedial education can add YEARS to a degree plan). After 18 years teaching in a CC, I'd bet my last 10 cents that remedial classes are the reason our drop rate is so insane...but anyway.....

If you have the option to take a CLEP for your degree math, there are TONS of ways we can help you study (Khan, ALEKS, IC, purplemath) but if you need to learn it, time is important because -again- it allows you to marinate in the material and develop intuition of the process. Otherwise, you're just setting yourself up for trouble.