What can i do to make it easier for me to learn math?

Question

I hate math .I find it incredibly confusing but i have to learn it because i want to go to college.
I get very stressed while trying to learn and most of the time thinks i am too stupid to understand.
So what is the secret to learn math the easy way?

Answer 1

Like anything else you have to spend time doing it. People who hate math don't like to time spend studying, so they remain no-good at it. Start doing many problems until they are easy, then move on to the next set of problems. What I am talking about here is self study. For example, if you know that when summer is over you are going to take calculus then use your time to study ahead. When in College, after finishing your homework, study for the math class that you are going to take the following semester. And keep a half a chapter ahead in your current book. If you hate math it will be difficult to study continuously for an hour or two, but that is what you should do. Studying in six 10 minute intervals throughout the day to make your hour just won't do. Mathematics is like a pyramid. You cannot understand calculus unless you know algebra. You cannot understand algebra unless you know arithmetic. Be sure to give yourself a foundation in the most basic mathematics. Repeat and strengthen and become an expert at what you already know. When you move on to the next level it will be much easier for you.

Answer 2

You probably have every right to dislike math. In spite of the fact that teachers decry rote most of mathematics is taught by rote. The problem starts when we are children. We are taught our addition and multiplication "facts" by rote. What is needed are experiential referents for 3 x 2 = not just to learn to say "six." Such a referent can easily be shown as an array:

000
000

the child can then see two rows, three, columns and count the total six. In other countries children grow up with counting frames, not abacus, counting frames have ten rows of ten beads each. There they can find the answer to 7 x 6 = by creating an array of seven rows of six beads each, then counting. Your problem with math may have started back then. On this short response I would recommend a tutor and some one-to-one help.

Answer 3

I hate to say it, but I have the same problem. But I'm in college at a major university taking a calculus 3 course at the moment, and some things that have helped me:

Practice practice practice! I know it's cliche and the last thing you want to do when you hate the subject, find it boring and confusing and all that, but if you do it over and over until it becomes second nature, it won't feel so overwhelming or confusing.

Go to the library and check out books that explain the things that you're having a difficult time understanding. Sometimes it's not that the teacher is bad or that you're "stupid", sometimes you just need someone to explain in it a different way. Different people learn in different ways and maybe there is a book or someone in the world who can explain it in a way that you WILL understand. I have personally bought many many books that have thousands of solved problems and many different ways of explaining things in a way that I could understand better. Believe me, it helps.

Also, many libraries have videos on the subject that you can check out. My library (I'm in Michigan) has the "Standard Deviants" series that covers many math topics, including pre-calculus, algebra, algebra II, etc etc. It's like having a teacher there, with excellent visuals that you can pause and rewind and watch as many times as you need to.

Your teacher! That's one of the best resources you have. Don't be afraid to "look dumb" and ask questions. They are THERE to help you understand this material. Remember, if they don't know you're having a problem understanding it, they definitely can't help.

Just don't give up. If you do plan on going to college and pursue a field in anything in science or engineering, you need to be pretty comfortable with math, and believe me, as the years go on, it doesn't get easier. Math is a subject that builds upon itself continuously and if you don't do whatever you have to to understand the material now, later on will be even more difficult.

Lastly of course, there are tons of websites that can potentially help. I don't know what exactly you need help on, but one that comes to mind that seems to cover all topics is http://www.sosmath.com/

Just google whatever you're working on, and chances are that something will come up.

But you can do it! I promise! It's hard work and dedication, but it's well worth it. From one "math dummy" to another! :)

Answer 4

The answer is simple -- do the three P's.

Practice, practice, and then practice.

No matter what it is what you want to do in life, whether it's medicine, basketball, the piano, or math, if you want to get better you have to practice.

Unfortunately people think that if after a certain time they don't get it, they'll never get it, and give up. Guess what? Not everyone learns at the same rate so you have to give yourself the time to learn it and if that means it takes you 2- 3 times longer to do a homework assignment so that you understand it, then that's what you do.

Or you could find a tutor.

Answer 5

Social sciences in general require more memorization which is certainly not everyone's cup of tea. Meanwhile, physical sciences often involve concepts very difficult to master and intuit, again the stuff of nightmares for many people. I am a successful phycisist, but I could NEVER be a good biologist or psychologist. I've seen the thick thousand page paperbacks and would rather take my own wisdom teeth out without anestaesia than slog through THAT. BTW, I have close friends in psychology and there is a LOT of gunk in psychology that seriously needs to be taken care of. You guys really need to go back to being a real SCIENCE!

Answer 6

I'm glad you asked me that question, Neva. Mathematics used to be my worst subject when I first started going to school in my early years. I became so frustrated at one point, that I remember freezing up one day unable to answer any question one day. My father asked me what was wrong and I told him that I was unable to do math. Well, being the genuis that he is, he showed me a different way to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Eventually, I was able to get "A's" in mathematics. The most important thing he said was to come up with creative answers to problems. Albert Einstein is my posthumous mentor and he said that to memorize and recite things are an enemy of knowledge. Think about it. Everything in school is memorize and recite, memorize and recite. But once I learned how to creatively solve a math problem, then it became easy. What I learned is that there is more than one way to solve a math problem, which is why whenever I tutor students, I tell them to forget about what they learned in school and I show them that creativity is more important than knowledge. I hope this answer helps you and you can write me if you want me to give you an example. Good luck!

Answer 7

Math is easy...theres always an answer. Its organized. What kind of math are you having trouble with? Are you good at multiplication and division? Addition and Subtraction? You need to be perfect in those 4 functions before you go on further. Study study study! practice practice practice!

If you need help, you can always shoot me an email, I'd be glad to help.

Answer 8

The key to learning math is having a good teacher. Feel free to email me with questions, I'll be glad to help you.

Answer 9

I feel the same way what math level are you at and it depends what is your learning style are visual or something else I am visual and I need to hear it and repeat a lot to get it.

Answer 10

well i first thought that way too, but now i totally love math! i was first confused and was stressed that i was behind cause i didnt get it but i went to my mom to help me get cought up and she went through it step by step, well u can get a tudor or get ur mom or dad, or u can come in after school so u can have a 1 on 1 with ur teacher so they can go through it slowly--hope i helped!!