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Okay so heres the story. Iam in school and my teacher goes VERY FAST and she teaches us extremely high leveled math. i go to a tutor but i have no patience anymore to go!!! i hate math!!! any suggestions??
i hate math!!!
Not everyone is cut out for math (which many people, including myself, find difficult to follow). Perhaps your talents lay elsewhere. Focus not on getting an A, but on passing and knowing what you need to get by.
Good luck.
For those in college, here is a tip. MIT has a free site called OCW (Open Courseware) where there are online materials and even videos of many actual courses taught by real experts and explained well. Very good for review. Some courses have more online content than others.
Other colleges may have similar, but you often have to search for the particular subject. You can probably find HS level videos, as well.
GumBall, I’ve successfully tutored many people in math. If you post some of the issues here, I can try to help you out. I’m usually pretty good at explaining things.
Math is a fascinating subject. I find that math is the only thing in the world that’s always perfect. Everything has many angles that may lead to many theories; math, any way you do it, will always have one solution (you might have more than one solution set but it will still remain one answer to the problem). Although I always did well in math, I didn’t appreciate it until I grew older. Today, I really enjoy math.
Gumball,
What subject (Basic Math, Algebra, Calculus, Trig, …)?
Sometimes math can be looked as a riddle. The answers are sometimes just hidden in the question, or you just need to know the formula in order to figure out the answer so it is just a puzzle you have to solve. Try NOT to get overwhelmed. Just read it as many times as necessary and look for the clues. Or write out the formula on top of the problem so you can follow it in order to figure out the answer. AND don’t try to figure it out in your head because you might forget to carry over a number. If you do figure it out in your head then prove it on paper.
The truth is you sometimes have to look at yourself as a detective trying to solve a mystery in order to figure out the answer. It all makes sense in the end but until you figure it out it seems very confusing.
Gumball…
What you need is… My daughter-in-law!
She is the world’s BEST high school math tutor.
If you’d like to get in touch, ask the Moderator if that’s possible.
If this is HS, you need to ask yourself why you are in an advanced class when math is not your best subject. If you need a tutor in the subject and cannot keep up, you should ask to be transferred if possible to an easier-paced class. It is NO shame or crime to not be in the advanced class. In fact, you might enjoy math a lot better if you felt more confident in being able to keep up. Have you talked to the teacher about this, not to mention your parents (are THEY the ones who want you in the class)?
math sharpens the brain, kind like gemarah does however in real life most people will never need to know most of what they learn in high school unless for job related matters wich if you are weak in math you will most probebly not have that job anyways no matter how much tutoring you have, so maybe its time to let go on math and focus on the areas that you are good at.
show your teacher a study that math comes from the logical side of your brain as opposed to all the other subjects and your patur 🙂
lol it was supposed to be a shtuch (I was saying youre illogical) but seriously my wife can’t do math either and coincidently it was my favorite subject
I got this from a blog show it to your teacher
Bad at Math? Blame It on Your Parents
And if your kids aren’t good at math, blame yourself
This hogwash is brought to you courtesy of NBC – Connecticut.
I have no doubt that what the UCLA researchers found as to faster nerve impulses resulting in faster signaling and therefore, faster processing of information is true. Clearly, some people learn things at a faster rate than others. We all have our cognitive limits.
Nevertheless, these limits can be challenged. Intelligence is malleable. (See Daniel Willingham, Why Don’t Students Like School? )
We already have a problem in our country with accepting this view as part of our culture, we don’t need people going around making excuses for their lack of math ability. Our children, in particular, need us to be convincing them of quite the opposite.
“In China, Japan, and other Eastern countries, intelligence is more often viewed as malleable. If students fail a test or don’t understand a concept, it’s not they’re stupid– they just haven’t worked hard enough yet. This atrribution is helpful to students because it tells them that intelligence is under their control. If they are performing poorly, they can do something about it.” -Willingham, p. 131
Math ability is the result of deliberate practice, the kind of practice that makes perfect. Doing well in math requires effort and sometimes it’s not particurlarly fun. As Willingham so clearly points out, sometimes we do our best to avoid thinking altogether. That’s precisely why effort matters. “When children believe that their efforts to learn make them smarter, they show greater persistence with math.” (National Mathematics Advisory Panel) This is the message that we need to communicate to our children (and to ourselves as parents).
So am I saying the researchers at UCLA got it all wrong? Not at all. Science supports what they’ve discovered about genetics influencing intelligence. However, we must temper this view with caution. “Our genetic inheritance does impact our intelligence, but it seems to do so mostly through the environment. There is no doubt that intelligence can be changed,” states Daniel Willingham. Clearly, a child born to parents who are good at math or who communicate a passion for math, and who encourage this trait in their own children are going to alter the outcome.
The environment isn’t limited to home and to parenting either. This news story is irresponsible because it’s letting educators off the hook and blaming parents and children for a lack of math ability! Clearly, well qualified teachers of mathematics armed with a coherent and cumulative curricula can increase mathematics ability in children. They do so in Singapore and Finland and many, many other countries that outperform us on internationally benchmarked assessments. Our children are no less capable. Our children are underperforming.
You need to talk to your parents about this, teachers sometimes dont want to let go of math because its a strong subject but for someone who is not cut out for math its no ????? even if your tutoring is helping you to pass the test you wont remember it the next week. Focus on your strong subjects I’m sure there are many that you enjoy. Even Chaza”l said “??? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???”
I also did not do well in Math in school. Most of my siblings were also struggling in Algebra 1 & 2 and the like.
However, we did well in Geometry.
My family members are RIGHT BRAINERS…they are more geared
to History, Literature and the Arts = drama, song & dance
and very creative people. LEFT BRAINERS are usually highly academic and love Math and Sciences. Math was stressful as well for me… Maybe they should open a school for Right Brainers so students don’t have to struggle and instead have accounting and classes on how to be finacially savvy in ones life.
@mbachur; I’m very good at math, so are most of my kids who at age 3 showed a natural understanding for that subject however there is no need for most people to know more then elementry school level. For a high school kid to leave class and miss out on the topics that they are good at but not importent in the teachers eyes like spelling, writing, history, science, just to have math tutoring wich they will forget as soon as the test is over is a loose/loose situation.
I will let you in on a secret: those of us who are good at math — I have batchelors and masters degrees in applied math and a doctorate in biostatistics — have to work hard. Math requires concentration and attention to detail. The truth is, other disciplines do, too, but in math the consequemcies of inadequate prep are instantaneous and you can’t fake it if you didn’t do the work.
Life is about doing things that are difficult and require attention and concentration. You might get out of a math course, but you (hopefully) won’t escape a long and healthy life. Get yourself a tutor and prepare for hard work. The effort will produce reward. Good luck!
popcorn I cant agree more with you. some people can sing, some are good at sewing, others are good at math, in real life there is something called a calculator. we dont need to make each child fit in the same cookie shape, thats what they did in sdom!!
@mbachur; I’m very good at math, so are most of my kids who at age 3 showed a natural understanding for that subject however there is no need for most people to know more then elementry school level. For a high school kid to leave class and miss out on the topics that they are good at but not importent in the teachers eyes like spelling, writing, history, science, just to have math tutoring wich they will forget as soon as the test is over is a loose/loose situation.
Besides the spelling mistakes which eclipse should probably yell at you for I don’t really get what you’re getting at (I’m really tired been up since 4 a.m. with a 45 min nap in between) but no where do I see in the OP that he/she leaves class for the tutor
also I totally agree learning something shouldn’t take away from the time you do other subjects and get good grades in
Charlie, I pay amazing attention to detail(My husband can verify this because he can’t believe the extent to which i can be detail oriented at times) and I am a hard worker, but math and I do not get along. I am excellent at basic addition etc. but once you get to algebra just leave me home.
Gumball, whether you hate it or not, you are going to have to conquer it so get over it. The more you convince yourself that you hate it the harder it is going to be to accomplish the task. So try to calm down about it and really try to embrace it and make it your friend. Seriously. The more you convince yourself that you hate it and you “can’t” do it, the harder it will be to master it and accomplish it.
What is it that you find difficult? Is it the formula’s? Is it solving the equations or the word problems? Figure out what it is you are getting stuck on and what is not that difficult for you. There are many computer programs to help you with math as well. They are not boring and they can help you get the hang of it in a fun and easy way. Once you realize what the hurdle is and you get past it you will find that you don’t hate math at all but you hated being frustrated and stuck.
there used to be a barbie doll that when you pulled its stings it would say “math is hard”.
I flunked Algebra in school. A few years later, my sister was having a really hard time with it. So I opened the book, taught it to myself, taught it to her, and she aced the test. Since then I’ve helped half my neighborhood with their own Algebra.
I have no idea why it seemed so impossible back in school.
I was at a speech yesterday, and the speaker mentioned that when he was in law school, he took a Tax course, and never went to class or read the statute, but he got an A on the exam.
So maybe just try that and see how it works out.
i’ve seen that some people get it in their heads that it’s too difficult and that they just can’t do it. i’ve found that if they take it slowly, and/or have a good tutor or someone explain it to them in way they can understand, they can usually get it. i’ve found that most people can get math, just different people need different explanations.
good luck. if you’re good at all those others subjects, i’m sure you can do math. write down what you’re learning here – maybe feif on and others can help you figure it out. it’s worth a try.
Just hang in there a little longer- after u graduate ull never have to do it again!
gumball are you in 11th grade in masores?
I enjoy when the Algebra “clicks”, if you know what I mean. But I’m not too good at it. My teacher’s teaching at BREAKNECK speed, so you gotta concentrate! And it can get pretty confusing. If I’m not clear in an area, I review it at home. But really, it’s ok. I told myself that I don’t have to excel in Everything. I never liked math, and I don’t think I ever will. Focus on your other skills. I highly doubt your date will hand you an Algebra test;). Good Luck!
i need at least 2 valid reasons why we need to learn math
I don’t understand.
You don’t know why you are trying to learn it?
I certainly don’t.
For me, it was because I thought it would be good to graduate high school in case I ever wanted to go to college, and there was also a self esteem boost because I’m pretty good at it.
For you, it might be so that you aren’t embarrassed at not finishing high school, or so that your parents will be proud at graduation, or any of a million possible reasons.
(What I’m trying to say, is that you should stop putting the onus on other people to convince you, and just think about what benefit you might want which you can accomplish. Sorry for being harsh.)
no valid reason.
though i think any intelligent human should know math (but that’s just a feeling, not a logical reason).
i love math; but, i honestly never use algebra and geometry in my daily life.
sorry, that this doesn’t help you. 😉
Do you expect your teacher or turor to tell you that you dont realy use math in real life?
Shhhhhhhh……. there is no reason.
Math expands your ability to think logically.
It’s a great feeling when you understand why the theorems make sense rather than just memorizing them, e.g. I’ve found that students who didn’t enjoy math did much better when learning why it makes sense logically solving it a certain way rather than memorizing.
Math just follows a consistent pattern with no “yotzim min haklal,” just with plugging in different numbers. That makes it easier!
Math is also very objective, unlike English: an essay submitted to be graded is so subjective depending upon who is doing the grading!
Hope this helps!
Gumball, you didn’t make it clear what grade you are in or which math you are learning but I will bite. Yes you do need to know math in life but I will agree that you don’t really need to know trigonometry unless you become an engineer, architect or scientist. In other areas of your life other formulas in math will be helpful. Fractions of course, decimals, and even angles and equations will have a place somewhere and at some time in your life. Whether it is figuring out space in your home, medications for yourself or your children, the blueprints and furniture layouts, if your contractor is following your plans, how long it will take you to get somewhere, if you have enough gas in the car, planning a budget and your finances, just getting enough change at the store, any number of projects at work, etc. Math comes into play in various areas of every day life and in various jobs and careers. Higher degrees of math comes into play in different careers as I said such as engineering and the sciences but basic math is used in every day life.
If you are a decorator you have to figure out how much yardage of fabric or carpeting for instance you need to cover the upholstery, the floors, or the windows according to the design you are creating. That of course depends on the width of the fabric (which comes in various sizes) the repeat of the pattern, which of course varies as well and the height, width and depth of the items you are covering. You see you need math in decorating. Same goes for wallpaper, size of the furniture etc.
If you are in commercial design, how many tables and chairs can you fit into this restaurant? How many customers can you feed at one time? All this is math.
Choose another career or industry and I will show you how math plays a part in it. For instance if you are a sales person, how much commission you make, how much you can afford to discount how much to charge for delivery, how much tax to include, etc. Everything is math.
Say you bought a car. How much is the depreciation, how much is it worth if you want to sell it in a year? How much do you owe the bank? How do you know if they are cheating you? You have to be on top of it and know how to figure it out on your own. You can’t trust anyone but yourself.
GumBall-i agree with you. math stinks and theres nothing you can do about it. jsut cram beofre your regents and forget that whole thing!
Gumball, I will help.
Suppose you have a box of 8 Entenmann’s donuts. You eat 7 of them for the main course. How many are left for your dessert?
Now, that’s not too hard, is it? See, you can do it.
Gumball, don’t despair. There are two series of books for learning basic math. One is “(fill in algebra, geometry, etc.) Made Simple.” The “Made Simple” series is really good. Another resource is the Schaum’s Outline series. Go to an English (i.e. not a sefer-store) bookstore and ask the clerk for math study aids. There are lots of good books that explain things step by step with illustrations and practice problems. Could be your tutor isn’t in tune with how you think and you’re reacting by feeling hopeless.
I had to take the Graduate Record Exam over again eight years ago (think SAT wquared), and used these books. I actually brought my math score up 150 points. They work, and you can use them yourself and at your own speed.
BTW, do your tutor and math teacher make comments to you like, “How come you’re smart and can’t do this? What’s wrong with you?” That sort of stuff can turn you off pretty quickly.
There could also be a brain maturation factor involved. I hadn’t a clue what math was about when I took AP algebra in 11th grade. I just couldn’t see the point of it either. I also couldn’t see (hear) the point of Baroque music, which is very formal and a little “mathematical.” Three years later, suddenly I liked math and Bach too. Your brain doesn’t stop developing until you’re twenty or so – maybe you just need a little time to appreciate some things.
Pardon the error – “squared” not “wquared.” 🙂
gumball- i absolutely hate math too. even though ive flunked through my last 2 years of math,i passed both regents. i just tought it to myself and just barely got by. just dont stress over it. like i know im bad at math and i just accept it and dont go crazy trying to pass. happens to be this year im in an easier math class so im really doing good, bh. hopefully regents go well!
btw i think i know you gumball you sound reeeally familiar.. r u in 11th grde
Seriously, math is the language of science. All science comes from intricate mathematical relationships. Aside from that, there is inherent beauty in math, itself. There is nothing like proving a brand new theorem that nobody has seen before that links together many disparate pieces of data into one coherent picture.
It is very sad that in many yeshivos, math and science are taught just to be yotzei zayn, without motivating the students to appreciate or enjoy the tremendous chochmas haborei that goes into the laws of nature.
There is also nothing like developing a new insight or cure for a disease that can help someone. This is an entire world of chochma that is so deep, and many go through life without the slightest clue as to what they are missing. Instead of using one’s brains to unravel the mysteries of creation, we use it to unravel our neighbor’s private business, and waste our energies gossiping and frittering away valuable time because of our incessant boredom.
One who is involved in Torah learning and chochmas hateva can never ever be bored. There is no yetzer hara to gossip. Math is the gateway to chochmas hateva. It is like entering a palace.
Just a tiny example. All our cells contain numerous types of proteins. These are composed of chains of amino acids. The orders and types of amino acids give each protein a special shape. The shapes determine their reactivity. This determines their function. Some proteins are clear, like the lens of an eye. Some regulate the passage of small molecules through channels which causes charge differences between the inside and outside of the cell membrane. This is the method of nerve conduction of electrical impulses.
But scientists do not know how to predict the folding of the chains of amino acids. At each step in the folding process, there are 3-D forces pushing and pulling the protein from all sides because of chemical interactions between the atoms of the amino acids. This plays out like a movie, eventually getting the protein into the right shape for it to do its job. But at each millisecond, the forces must move the protein into a certain direction so at the next millisecond it will be in the proper position. However, the forces depend on the position of the atoms. (Think of a magnet.) But the positions of the atoms are changing because of the forces from the previous millisecond.
This leads to complex differential equations that govern this type of system. Nobody really knows how to set them up or solve them. If we could, we could probably cure cancer and many other diseases. Many hereditary diseases are caused by a mutation, which substitutes an incorrect amino acid in even a single position in the chain. This has drastic effects on the shape and function of the protein. In many cases we don’t know how to explain what is going wrong with the mutated protein, or how to fix it. Many people are working on complex computer programs in the field of molecular dynamics to simulate these types of systems. The goal is to cure diseases. Maybe we could cure Tay-Sachs and Cystic Fibrosis and Muscular Dystrophy if we better understood the mathematics of the chemistry of mutations.
This is just one example of the complex math found in nature. It is an entire world which most people do not even know exists. At least if the schools explained why we study all this math, it might motivate students to start working on research and doing some serious thinking. Instead, the students are told, you only need this for the regents, and you will never use it in life. Very sad. Literally training students to be airheads.
Gumball, the problems are like riddles the answers are in the “story”, you just have to keep reading it to figure it out. Write down the information so you can visualize it and then you will find the conclusion. As I said before, for the equations write out the formula and then plug in the problem. Most people make stupid mistakes and that is why they get the answer wrong. Such as they get it right on the scrap paper but then transpose it incorrectly on the answer sheet so watch out for that.
Aside for the good books there are also computer programs available and math on line help. So people learn differently and as the other poster said, some people need to be taught in a different way or some teachers don’t have the patience to teach it to every student. When my kids were in High School, most of the parents taught the algebra at home to their kids. Obviously the parents had more patience for their own kids than the teacher and WE all knew the old way which the kids learned easier from us than the new way the teacher was teaching. Each to their own.
Gumball, do you know multiplication and division inside out, upside down, backwards, and forwards?
Math is sequential- it’s like a staircase. Try to figure out at which step you got stuck, so you can fix it and continue climbing upwards.
Here is a website I found for you: http://www.algebrahelp.com/ very, very easy to use.
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