Math and Me.

[lilsprocket]

A good Friday to everyone!
I have been shy about telling people this, but I decided to put it out there. It's a big deal for me, anyway.

One of my childhood beliefs was, "I'm not good at math", which was drilled into me by teachers, parents and experience: public humiliation, homework sessions ending in tears (for everyone involved), and physical consequences for inevitably poor grades in math. I renounced math once I got to college and managed to get through without sitting through a single math class (it involved bribery sneaky strategery to get those credits! lol.)

For a while now, I've experienced an incongruity between what I'm doing and a more fulfilling path. Part of the shift will involve a career change, and a large component of this career involves some straightforward math. This thought scared the bejesus out of me until I realized that nothing is set in stone. I was holding on to poor math skills as a part of my identity. I finally let it go, found a compassionate tutor, and am on my way to getting the skills needed for my new career.

I am thrilled beyond coherence at being free of this mental shackle. Believe me, if I can embrace the mathiness, you can embrace whatever it is that's holding you back.

Thanks for letting me spill.

[JustinPopovic]

Congrats! That's an awesome story.

I am a math major yet I was near the bottom of every university math class. It seemed like I was able to digest enough to just get by. It affected my personal self image with regards to my math skills.

Thankfully I also found a tutor and he helped me regain my confidence.

Its a great lesson about the power of asking for help and finding good mentorship

[ar81]

Do you want something to be even more fascinated about math?

Play
Orbiter - A free space flight simulator
When you want to make addons, you will understand why math is so great.

[CoolBee]

I have always believed that math is only hard because people keep telling you it is.

When you have a good use for it, there's a high chance you will actually be able to do it. It's when it's in unreal situations (If it takes 10 men take 4 days to fill a bath, how long does it take how many men to fill half a bath in 3 days type stuff) that it's meaningless to many people.

When I taught maths years ago - I was introducing algebra to 13 year olds. Let me tell you, 13 year olds can DO algebra using any letter you like EXCEPT X!!!! As soon as you put an X on the board - 99% of brains freeze solid- you could see this look of panic suddenly cross their faces. "Why did you have to suddenly make it hard Miss?"

So I used to spend a lot of time explaining that X is just another letter of the alphabet and getting them used to using any old letter at any old time but knowing that in an exam, they will see X used a lot.

I think this is because any movie or show which involves 'brainy' scientists or mathematicians usually throws a few math symbols and copious Xs around in to the background.

[AlwaysLearning]

You might find this article useful: How to Train your Mathematical Maturity

[Manomanman]

Math is a language, just like Spanish, English, and C++.

It is extremely difficult to understand, and poorly taught by those in charge of disseminating it. It is similar to Latin in this regard.

Your experiences are normal.

I rejected math a long time ago. Math adds very little to my reality.

[joelr]

Math is awesome, there is beauty and amazing coincidences to be found in the math world.
Set theory, real analysis, transfinite numbers, prime numbers and the zeta function, pi, e, i. To understand many of the amazing things you don't even need to learn the math. Like Euler's identity.

Math philosophy is also interesting. Does math exist independent of the human mind? Is it the language of God? Why is the Universe so mathematical?


Unfortunately being forced to constantly work through endless algebra and calculus equations usually ruins it for people.
I hated algebra. Blah.

[CoolBee]

I loved calculus when I first found it - I used to love doing Volumes of Revolution and filling page after page in my notebooks with it - I thought it was so beautiful to look at. Sad but true

[ar81]

Math is hard when you do not play with it, when you do not see it as a game.
If you fly the sim, the complex math is performed by the instruments, but the concepts of geometry of orbital mechanics need to be understood by you, so you have fun.

When you play basketball you are using math, because there is a trajectory involved.

When you play chess there is math too.

Math is useful for most of tasks we do, even if we do not realize. Our brains can conduct math integrations to process our daily physics and we do not even realize about it.

[lilsprocket]

So, so cool to hear everyone's take. I don't know that I'll ever get to the level of understanding math the way that I understand human languages, but if I can relate to it (eventually) as "play", I will consider that a rousing success.

To the Mathmobile!

[The Big D]

I'm an applied math natural and have some reasonable mental arithmetic ability to boot so I always have a hard time empathizing with people who are "bad at math". Welcome to the dark side!

Sometime when you're bored, memorize the powers and logs of base 2, 3 and 5 up to 7 or 8 digit inputs/outputs. You can do nearly any problem to within 10% in your head with those tables, the base 10 zeros rule, a knowledge of the graphs of the elementary functions, and a feel for which side the error's on.

[Gaz]

I love maths. sometimes, I don't think i'm very good at it, but generally all it takes is one A-Ha moment to turn that all around.

I have to agree that the biggest problem is generally the way it's taught. It's the same reason I hate geography and history (had teachers that didn't teach in a way I found useful, they weren't bad because I know people who loved the subjects with the same teachers.)

Also, Coolbee, if it takes 10 men to fill a bath in 4 days, it will take 7 men working 2 days and 6 men working the last day to fill half a bath in 3 days. (hehe)

[improver]

I definitely suck at math! I have actually FAILED math classes before, that's how bad I am. This is embarassing, but I'm just saying. I wish I was better at math. I heard Math is all about practice and repetition, but I'm just too lazy for that.

[ar81]

Originally Posted by improver

I definitely suck at math! I have actually FAILED math classes before, that's how bad I am. This is embarassing, but I'm just saying. I wish I was better at math. I heard Math is all about practice and repetition, but I'm just too lazy for that.

Try playing Orbiter - A free space flight simulator
Do not worry, computers onboard do the complex math for you.
You only need to understand the geometry of what you are doing when flying a craft to space.
Not only you will learn great many things, but also you will enjoy.
If you start to make addons you will understand that the ugly math suddenly becomes fun.

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by improver

I definitely suck at math! I have actually FAILED math classes before, that's how bad I am. This is embarassing, but I'm just saying. I wish I was better at math. I heard Math is all about practice and repetition, but I'm just too lazy for that.

Don't stress about that. Sometimes it just takes a while to click. I failed my second year maths course, but sailed through it the second time. There was a moment when suddenly it all fell into place. I wish those moments happened more often.

[ssandra]

I also sucked at math. Mainly when I had to do calculation in my head (without calculator). I never saw the point in that.

My teacher once asked me if I was willing to walk around with a calculator in my pocket all day every day, in a failed attempt to get me to see the point of learning how to calculate 525/56 in my head... I would have had no problem with that whatsoever!!! And now my phone has a calculator!!! to the teacher!

Another problem I have which is math related is statistics. I just don´t get it. I may learn the rules behind it, but for me if something happens or not is still 50%/50%. It either does or does not.
I gave up on that one after I failed 3 times the same test... I actually got so bored with it that evertime I would open my study book I would fall asleep within 1 page Even if I was sitting at the table in school Hows that for brain overload I took it as proof that I was simply not meant to know this stuff.

[ar81]

Unfortunately people think math is

x = -1/2gt**2 + Vot + xo

while indeed this formula is about a basketball game, how do you score...
or it could be about baseball...
it is about the logic to understand WHY and not HOW.

In my opinion that's the beauty of the space sim.
You do not care about the complex formulas, you care about solving a problem, about understanding what you are doing.

Math is more problem solving that just calculation.
Life is too.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by ar81

Unfortunately people think math is

x = -1/2gt**2 + Vot + xo

while indeed this formula is about a basketball game, how do you score...
or it could be about baseball...
it is about the logic to understand WHY and not HOW.

In my opinion that's the beauty of the space sim.
You do not care about the complex formulas, you care about solving a problem, about understanding what you are doing.

Math is more problem solving that just calculation.
Life is too.

You just proved to me that I still do not understand math.. as I did not understand anything that you said

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by ssandra

You just proved to me that I still do not understand math.. as I did not understand anything that you said

Heh. Try reading this:

http://www.maa.org/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf

Btw, for people who are interested in learning math but aren't good at it, I'm planning on checking out a series of books that Richard Feynman says he used to learn math himself: Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus for the Practical Man. I've found the Trigonometry one online for free (I think copyright has expired on it) in DJVU format.

[The Big D]

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

Heh. Try reading this:

http://www.maa.org/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf

Btw, for people who are interested in learning math but aren't good at it, I'm planning on checking out a series of books that Richard Feynman says he used to learn math himself: Arithmetic, Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus for the Practical Man. I've found the Trigonometry one online for free (I think copyright has expired on it) in DJVU format.

The calculus one is top notch.

[lilsprocket]

...and if Richard Feynman says it, whether he's telling the truth or not, it's probably alright. Srsly.