WHY is MATH SO HARD?!

[lizbud]

And you also must take this piece of advice, and that is that when you're learning algebra at first, it can be extremely challenging. However, stuff will start to make way more sense once you get the basics down, so I promise you it will get better. Keep it up though, and don't stop trying if you don't get a concept, that's what I do!

~abigail

This is an excellent piece of advice. If you can understand the basics,
you will do so much better later on. Don't skip over any concept that you
don't understand completely. Good luck to you.

[M&M's Mommy]

I am very good at math. Got A+ on all the math classes I ever took, and being a science major, that was a lots! I've also worked as a math substitute teacher at a highschool after I first graduated from college, and lots of peer-tutoring while still in school. If you need help on math questions, maybe you can pm me, and I will see if I can help..

Math is a very important subject throughout your education and later in life. Maybe you can find a tutor who can help you understand the concepts. If you study hard, do all your homeworks but still do bad in tests, it is because you're doing them in a automatic/mechanical way without really understand what's going on. A good tutor/teacher can definitely help you get better in this subject.

[CountryWolf07]

I'm an Art major -- Math was extremely a difficult class for me.. any level of it.. I never did that well but considering from B- to C-.. I got by! Just study the material per night.

[carole]

As you can see you are not alone, my 15 yr old daughter struggles with maths too, she is really good at English and languages and IT though, so as i tell her you can't be good at everything, for her she lacks confidence, she thinks she is really bad, but her grades are passes, only just, but if she were that bad she would be failing.

I wish math could be as simple at 2+2=4 myself, i was also not very good at maths,but hey i can count,balance my bank account and do what is necessary in life, unless you chosen career needs good passes in maths, one gets by on the basics don't they?

It is obvious you try hard and do your best to your ability, so don't be so hard on yourself, maybe some extra tutoring might be the answer, honestly i believe if you have a great teacher, you can be taught anything, in my daughter's case she just needs that and i think she will do just fine.

Wishing you the best of luck.

[Miss Z]

I'm so sorry you're struggling, Alyssa. I know it can really prey on your mind when it feels like the work isn't paying off. I agree that maths clicks with some people amazingly and others just can see how it works logically, and it's frustrating, but I'm sure your classwork is appreciated and noted by your teacher. I would start there for advice.

In the meantime, concentrate on what you enjoy and are good at and keep achieving in those areas. There's nothing worse than fretting so much over one weakness that the strengths start to fail too. Good luck! We're all proud of you no matter what.

[Alysser]

Thanks for the support guys. I know I am not the only one who struggles with math. I know tons of people who do. It's definitely not an easy subject. About the tutoring...I am not sure I'd be willing to do that honestly. I've had tutors and private instructors before and they didn't really help me, at all. It may have been a long time ago but it'll be a waste of money if it doesn't help again. My teacher is nice but he isn't a good teacher at all. Last year in math I got a B- the first two marking periods because I had an excellent teacher. She really helped me if I didn't understand it. But now..I am not sure if he even KNOWS what he's doing. WHAT I can do is ask the extra help teacher(who is in our class and helps the real one)for help though. She's much better at math then my normal teacher. Thanks again for the help and support. I appreciate it.

[slick]

I still count on my fingers. What does that say????

[Hellow]

I've been told by several highly educated folks that women tend not to do as well as men in math. However, it is suggested that men tend not to do as well as women in language. There's been a wide variety of studies on the difference between the two genders and their propensity towards language vs. math.

Well, they are right. Math is one of the easiest classes for me, after that is Science, after that is Social Studies (my teature in this class is a extreme nut, she makes this class the funnest), and my worst class is Language Arts.

[Barbara]

I still count on my fingers. What does that say????

I do too- and I studied math at university. Mathematics is not about calculating. Many mathematicians are bad in calculating.

I was never good in maths in lower grades because I always got the wrong results. I started to become good when it was no longer about knowing what 5 times 13 is but about algebra and especially vector geometry . I still love it but for my husband it was a torture at school and he still hates it. Both of us were able to make our way in life I still hope that you may discover the fun in math as I think it is such a rewarding discipline. And for that getting the basics right and start from there is the right way.

[Miss Z]

Oh, forgot to mention in my last post that even though lately I haven't been on PT an awful lot, if you ever get stuck with any mathematics then feel free to PM (or e-mail) me at any time and I'll try to help. I'm planning to take Further Maths at A-level soon, so I generally click with maths! I know the teaching systems vary enormously in the US to those here, but I reckon that the basic concepts will be the same. Anyway, just to let you know you have that option available whenever.

(That applies to anyone else who would like academic help with maths or any other subject!)

Oh, and I must say I agree entirely with Barbara about how maths can be understood. Fire 20 multiplications at me, and I'm pretty unlikely to figure them out quickly. I am pretty useless at mental arithmetic! Yet write down a multi-step problem for me to sit down and ponder over for a while, and I'll usually get it. The best mathmaticians can see the logic behind the question, not necessarily being someone just good with numbers.

[Chilli]

Alyssa, I'm in the same boat when it comes to Chemistry.. except worse. I just barely pulled a 62 for the last semester... not something to be proud of. I highly doubt I'll pass the class as a whole. Its also ruining my chance at a good scholarship. My grade-point average has plummeted down, and without a decent average, my 26 on the ACT is basically worthless.

If only I had the brains like my sister.. she's good at every subject.

Good luck, Alyssa! I know how stressful these things can get. Just sit back and take a breather every now and then, it helps. :] I wish I could be of better help to you.

[Suki Wingy]

I hear ya too! Algebra was a major cause of stress in my life. 2 years in summer school later, I've passed.

[K9karen]

I feel your pain. I'm still lousy at any subject that involves logic. What's that say about me??? Still have a slight case of numerical dyslexia, spent 3 years in summer school for Algebras and geomety and still count on my fingers and hate the 9x table. John however uses the other side of his brain and is a math whiz. Gawd I hate him. On the bright side, give me a crossword puzzle, books, books, books. Love writing (ya think?) A private tutor helped me. He went so s-l-o-w but I finally aced it. Went from a 42 average to a 70 in less than a year and the teacher was so impressed, he gave me a B and I graduated. Those were the days. Thankfully I had a great supportr system. My parents never got mad, just helpful.

[Lady's Human]

I struggled with Algebra II and Trig. I got through the classes mainly through the assistance of my next door neighbor, who was a mathematician. My problems weren't with the formulae, they were with dealing with the abstract. Chemistry and Physics I did very well with, as you had concrete results as opposed to a mishmash of X's and Y's.

I have to disagree with the statement about females being worse at math than males, as the best person in dealing with pure math is our older sister. There are also female mathematicians scattered through history,most notably Ada Lovelace and Madame Curie (You can't separate the physics from the math) I personally think it has more to do with nurture and societal expectations than ability.

[Alysser]

I am not surprised alot of people really don't understand math. IT IS extremely hard for alot of people. We got progress reports today and I got a D in math which is Danger of Failing at a 69. I will bring it up lol. I have alot of easy things coming up that should boost it to at least a 76