How to develop interest?

Question

I'm horrible at math,especially geometry and mensuration and just hate it.i always lose marks bcos of these two.i sincerely wanna develop interest in it and have better knowledge.(I'm a ninth grader and these marks are important for my future).Anyone interested to help me or rather can anyone help me get interested.like,any gud tips or sites?Your help will be highly appreciated.
Thank you

Answer 1

Very good to see that you sincerely want to develop interest in it and have better knowledge. Geometry at your level fortunately is very visual (since it is mostly 2-d). The following link has all the Euclid's Elements along with some cool interactive software. You only need to go through a small part of it..Just play with the software (drag red dots around etc) and develop a feel for geometry first. At first, skip all proofs; just try to understand the statements (postulates, propositions, etc). That might get you hooked on geometry. Once you get a good feel for geometry, mensuration falls into place easily.

http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/java/elements/elements.html

Also play with some simple ideas: always think of a parallelogram as two triangles joined. Likewise, any polygon as a bunch of triangles. Visualize a complex object in terms of simpler, more familiar "building blocks".

Play string 'games': take a piece of string, tie the ends together to form a loop. Lay it flat on a table. You can take a few match sticks and push out the string with the sticks tight so that the string looks like a straight line between any two sticks. You can make any number of polygons (triangles with 3 sticks, rectangles, squares, trapezoids, etc 4 sticks and so on, all having the same perimeter. Think of maximizing the area inside the string with 3 sticks: what do you notice about the angles, lengths of sides? How about with 4 sticks? And so on.

Remember, develop visual intuition first. But pictures are not proof! So, you have develop the ability to make precise argumens using axioms and previously proved statements as well. But that can come later. Understanding and discovering facts is much more important than proofs (do not take this as advice to skip proofs, though).

One more thing: after having read a proof, sometimes you feel that you followed every step, but yet you don't "get it". If that is the case, you have not really understood it. You have to get to a point where a proof is not ten impossible-to-memorize steps each of which you understand. And with practice, you can! Think of biking: A robot may need to 'perform many steps' such as holding the bike, lifting the left foot, resting on a pedal... Perhaps we learn the first time like that; but at some point it becomes so natural that we stop thinking about the individual steps and concentrate on higher goals. Same thing with math.

You learn math primarily by doing. Good teachers, books, and software provide an immense boost in the process -- but they are all secondary to your own involvement.

Hope that helps and stay with it!

Answer 2

It's nice to see a young person identify issues they have and want to do something about it! :)

Anyway - geometry and mensuration is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. The first thing you should always do is ask yourself what you're trying to find out. Drawing pictures of the situation is usually a good starting point, especially when dealing with shapes and volumes, etc.

Geometry and mensuration is just a lot of number-plugging into the same formulas again and again, so once you get comfortable with the formulas, you'll do fine :)

Try http://www.mathfun.com/NinthGradeMath.html

Good luck!

Answer 3

Aww, you poor thing, I know how you feel. In JrHI and HS, I was a real math whiz, in all the accerated classes, etc. Now I'm 49 and, 3 years ago, I decided I would take classes at the local college because I'd always wanted to learn formal calculus and physics (physics has alwya been an interest of mine, and professionally, I design and build electronic devices).

I don't know what happened to my brain between HS and now, but it sure doesn't seem to get math as easy as it used to. Now I'm constantly struggling, I have to spend ridiculous amounts of time studying and doing homework just to pull a "C" in calculus. But just because my talent for math isn't as good as it used to be, doesn't mean I can't learn it. I just have to work harder for it, and I know that once I'm through it, not only will I be able to do some very cool and useful things with it, but I'll also be very happy and proud of myself. Just gotta keep my eyes on the prize.

I had discussed my difficulty with calculus with my boss recently, he told me that what worked for him was something a professor had told him - 60 problems a week. Every week. Sounds like a lot, but it seems to work. Just got to buckle down and do it, knowing that sooner or later you'll get through it.

I admire your determination and the fact that you're thinking of you future, it's a sign of both maturity and intelligence. Keep at it, you'll get it if you put in the work. You may have to work a little harder than those curve-blowing brainiacs next to you, but so much sweeter the victory, right? 60 problems a week, and remember, keep your eyes on the prize.

Answer 4

I agree that math is a tough area to develop an interest in, but one way that I developed an interest in the area is by completing problems that i was successful at over and over. Once I was more confident about my math skills, I began to enjoy the area much more.

Answer 5

u just thing without math ur life is not possible. to know ur vital statistic u need math, when u r decorating ur house u need geometry & mesuration. when u r purchasing cloth for u u need math. So everywhere their is math. u r going some where u r calculating time. So thing on this line u will love it.

Answer 6

I'll help but you just said you had trouble with mensuration, I am not sure if you mean a femine problem.

Answer 7

asmidsk@v mensuration is calculating areas and volumes and is as much applicable to men as women

Answer 8

Your question should have been placed in Psychology category

Answer 9

drink coffee before solving