Math help!! Do I really have to take and pass math to graduate?

Question

Are there any exceptions to the math requirement. I have taken the stupid class twice and have signed up to take again. I am doing well in my other classes. There has to be an exception. or are there any no math majors out there.

Please help

Answer 1

"Stupid class"...yes, that's how many view math as a subject. I don't blame you. This is usually caused by insensitive math teachers who forget that they teach 'human' students. Most of my math teachers talked to the chalkboard rather than to students...and they made sure we felt like we are not CAPABLE.

Since you can't avoid math...I humbly suggest that you find a way to deal with your mathophobia (which starts from being disinterested in it). It's not your mistake...but the responsibility to reduce and eventually eliminate it is on your shoulders now. I know it's not fair.

Math isn't a hard subject. You say that you are doing well in all other subjects. I am very sure that you are an intelligent person. You can master math...if you give it a try. Don't let the treatment and opinion of insensitive math teachers affect your perception about your actual capability in the subject.

Once you master the subject, you might even want to do a college major in it. I won't be surprised at all.

Answer 2

Relax!
Are you in high school or college? You should relax and re-read your question. It is very confusing!

Seek out your adviser or guidance counselor to get information about your school's requirements. There may be some majors at your college that do not require math. Or perhaps a different math course could be substituted for the one you are failing.

However, math is a LIFE requirement. So you should be able to do math competently or you can be cheated easily.

REAL LIFE suggestion: I had a bright friend who failed required math(Calculus) repeatedly. Finally she took it at a community college. She aced it! Her explanation was that the teachers there were teachers---not professors! Who knows?

Math anxiety is a real psychologically issue and could be address with the campus counseling office.

I found that math, algebra, geometry, statistics or calculus takes an amazing amount of practice. Then knowing whether your practice is correct or wrong is time consuming. Ask your prof or teacher if the textbook a a companion solutions book. Solutions--not just answers---show you HOW to do the problems. Do every problem. Check each one as you do it. Compare the solution to your work. Always show every step, especially in the beginning. FIND your errors, if you can't get the prof or asst to work that problem with you. After you learn how to do the problem, close the solutions book and do the problem from the beginning working through each step.

When you get to a problem that you don't know how to start, check the solution book. Read the solution, look back through your text to find other similar examples. Try to understand the reasons for each step. If you can't figure out the 'why it is done that way', write down the specifics and ask(read) that question to your prof and ask him to explain it until you do understand. Thank him/her profusely for their patience. Then immediately go home and do the problems again from scratch on clean paper. Only refer to your notes or the solution book after you have tried really hard to remember how and why to do it.

Methodical, steady, persistent practice pays off!! It took over one year for you to form your first words as a baby but you did it!!!

If you are in High school you can do high school math. If you are in college, you can do college math.

Good luck
PAnoledge


Another source for help, check out stepbystepmath.aol.com
I haven't yet, but it sounds promising.

Answer 3

You didn't say what kind of math you are taking. But yes, I think math is important. You never know in life where it will show up. I'm not talking about the simple stuff like just addition, multiplication. I'm talking about things like geometry. For example, it was a simple geometry equation that helped us to win WW II. Geometry also figures in when you are doing things like fixing your house, buying carpeting, figuring out how much insulation to buy for your attic. You can save a pile of money over the years if you can do the math yourself and then shop at some discounted fix-it store. Or you can pay lots of money and have someone do the math for you.

Life is really loaded with real life word problems that are solved with algebra, geometry and yes, even calculus. So get a tutor. Most high schools have some kind of peer tutoring program available that's free. Also, your teacher would likely be very willing to help you after school. All you need do is ask.

Answer 4

You sound like me when I was trying to pass Algebra in highschool. YOU ARE NOT DUMB.
Math is for the left sided brain developed people, but that doesn't mean you can't develope your's too.
Find a friend who is good at math or any math teacher more willing to teach you. If you get stumped on a problem you can't get, go back to the easier ones until you have mastered them. You can't skip any steps either, and this probably goes for any math problem. Another thing I found was a book in the library called the "Basics of Algebr". (if this is what you are studying)
Find a place without music or TV, they will distract you. YOU can figure it out, you just have to be serioius about it and I believe me you are or you would not have written this letter.
I had a wall up about math, can't have that either. Tell yourself you can and will get it because you're smart.
I went back to college for nursing at the age of 32. I had to pass Algebra. I never passed it in Highschool. I finally found a teacher and another student who didn't mind giving me some help outside of class. I spent hours studying Algebra. And the people who math comes easy to don't understand where we are coming from either. Plus I would freeze up during test too, that didn't help even though I knew the material.
Math really has to be something you want badly enough to go after it.
Keep telliing yourself "I Will Pass Math". Don't be negative on yourself.
The Best of Luck

Answer 5

Yes...and I know how you feel.
I took Algebra twice in HS, got an A and still don't understand it.
Why do 2 negative make a positive?. Did not understand the concept at that time
Took it again in College, did well but still did not understand the concept.
Sooooo. I took accounting, did well and it made total sense to me. I stuck with that area of math...it is an exact science that I can comprehend. All checks and balances.
You can try statistics. I did not (yet) because there were just too many other class I wanted to take first.
See a guidance counsellor...there are options.

Answer 6

The issue isn't finding exceptions, but finding help to master the math course that you are failing. Unfortunately, you didn't tell me the "stupid [math] class" so I can give you specifics.

From my experience helping others including myself is to realize that math builds from one concept to the next. You are just missing a few concepts. Obviously the teachers of the "stupid class" are not helping. So you need to find help.

Go to the library or book store and look where the books for the math test books. In that section there are book that prepare you for the exam as well as tutorial books. Find a text that tutors you in math. Find one that you like. Starting with the first page, you will see concepts and then examples. Lot of examples with answers. Look as this book as a list of recipes for one huge meal. Memorize the concepts and work the examples. When you are finish the book, you are really to take the "stupid [math] class" again.

If that fails, you need to get outside help since the inside help of the school is not working.

In answer to your question: no. So suck it up and start working.

Answer 7

Math is easy just learn the keys for example anything x 11 like 14x11 1 + 4 is 5 answer is 145, just add the two together and place that number in the middle, or the key for 35 like 18 X 35 the key for 35 is 7 half of 18 is 9, 9x7 is 63 add a zero answer 630
don't fight it not that hard, you can do it, now algebra, uggahhhhhh

Answer 8

It depends upon your goals...the right person to ask is your school counselor. General Ed usually requires a minimum of math - I was able to get "around" the requirement by taking the easiest math classes allowed for my major. (Math Survey, I think it was a 401 class). It's almost like a basic math class that touches on all the basic principles of math, including statistics, calc and trig without having to actually Know how to use them!

Good luck!

Answer 9

That really depends on your school. Some will let you take a substitution, especially if you advisor approves it, but some schols hold fast to thier grad requirementgs, if you have a learning disability in math, you could also maybe get an exception. Also, one does not always have to go with the required math track, there are probably other coarses avalible. I would tell your concerns to your academic advisor. He/she can help you out best.

Answer 10

You have to take math for every degree pretty much except the music ones. I dont know what being a math major has ot do with it, but you need at least 2 math cocurses that arent remidial and you need to pass them, its like saying is there any exceptions to having to take history. of course not.