Mathematics can be a challenging subject for many students, and it can be a source of frustration and anxiety. However, it is also a subject that is essential for everyday life and many professions. As Will Rogers once said, “The difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.” Similarly, math is a constant in our lives, and we must deal with it regardless of our personal feelings.
Interesting facts about math:
- The number zero was invented in India in 500 A.D.
- The ancient Greeks considered the number 10 to be the most sacred number.
- The world’s largest math proof has over 10,000 pages, and it was recently completed in 2018.
- The Pythagorean theorem, which states that a²+b²=c², was named after the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras.
Personally, I used to struggle with math throughout high school and college. However, I began to appreciate the subject more when I started working in finance. As Albert Einstein once said, “Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” The logical nature of math can be applied in various fields, such as science, engineering, and finance.
It’s essential to think positively about the subject and seek help when needed. Math anxiety is a real issue that affects many people, but with practice and patience, it can be overcome. As American author Dan Brown said: “Mathematics expresses values that reflect the cosmos, including orderliness, balance, harmony, logic, and abstract beauty.”
Lastly, here is a table showing some famous mathematicians and their contributions to the subject:
| Mathematician | Contributions |
|---|---|
| Isaac Newton | Developed calculus and laws of motion |
| Albert Einstein | Developed the theory of relativity |
| Pythagoras | Developed the Pythagorean theorem |
| Ada Lovelace | Recognized as the world’s first computer programmer |
In conclusion, everyone struggles with math at some point, but it’s essential to recognize the importance of the subject and work towards improving our skills. As George Polya once said: “Mathematics is the science of what is clear by itself.”
See a video about the subject
The YouTube video titled “Why Do People Hate Math” explores the reasons behind people’s struggles with math and provides ways to overcome them. Math anxiety, negative early experiences with math, and the fear of being wrong are key factors contributing to difficulties with the subject. The video emphasizes the importance of overcoming these fears to make math less intimidating. It also discusses different math techniques that can make math easier and suggests practicing these techniques for mastery. The creator introduces Brilliant, an interactive learning platform that provides science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses for all levels. The video also features Kyne Santos, a mathematics communicator and drag queen who presents math in an interesting and relatable way. The aim of the video is to help people understand that math is an essential part of our daily lives and to encourage them to overcome their fear and anxiety towards it.
See more answers
Is it okay to struggle with math?While many children thrive at topics like problem-solving, geometry and numeracy, others find math so hard to learn that they feel overwhelmed, frustrated or anxious when doing anything math-related. If your child is struggling with math, they shouldn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed about it.
Some people struggle with math because of various reasons, such as concentration and attention difficulties, lack of understanding, learning difficulties or disabilities, lack of patience, not enough opportunity, being left-brained or right-brained, and math anxiety. These factors can affect how much time and energy they spend on learning math, and how well they grasp the concepts and skills. If they fall behind or have a shaky foundation, they may find math more challenging and frustrating.
So, if you’re out there wondering, "why do I struggle with math so much?" there may be a number of reasons – including attention difficulties, learning gaps from past math classes, or even just lack of practice! Take a look at common reasons students struggle with math, and what you can do to succeed.
7 Reasons why students struggle with math
- 1. Concentration and attention difficulties When your child is trying to solve a math problem, they need to concentrate and carefully follow each step.
- 2. Lack of understanding
We have established a few things when it comes to math and difficulty:
- Math seems difficult because it takes time and energy.
Prior to earning a math teaching credential, I was never particularly strong in math, even if I had great respect for the subject. The breakthrough came when I committed myself to mastering the basic fundamentals, much of which we must simply learn by rote.
How quickly can you identify the sum and product of 6 and 8? How well do you have memorized the properties of equality or the properties of parallel lines? I don’t mean to suggest that math is all about memorization; it most certainly is not. Math is about analysis. To analyze something, however, means to break it down into simpler parts and then draw some conclusion about the whole based on those parts. To do that effectively, you need to know what simpler parts to look for!
If I asked you to compare a square to a triangle, your answer would require analysis. It’s a very simple analysis, of course, but to perform it effectively you would need to know the parts of a polygon: angles, sides, vertices, etc. Similarly, if I asked you …
Furthermore, people ask
What to do when you struggle with math? 8 Strategies for Struggling Math Students
- Teach the ‘why’ Teaching students the underlying logic behind math formulas and processes is always important.
- Repeated review.
- Talk it out.
- Show, don’t tell.
- Positive reinforcement.
- Manipulatives.
- Peer guidance.
Also, Why is math hard for ADHD?
Students who are affected by ADHD often have a hard time with math because their memory is not very strong and blocking out external stimuli is a struggle. Memory, which is where information is stored for later use, is one of many executive functions.
Is math hard for everyone?
The reply will be: Maths is not as challenging as many students feel. The school-level Maths is the easiest, and the difficulty increases with the classes. Engineering Maths is the toughest yet the most interesting. Without Maths your day-to-day life cannot run.
What are the signs of dyscalculia?
Answer will be: Typical symptoms include:
- difficulty counting backwards.
- difficulty remembering ‘basic’ facts.
- slow to perform calculations.
- weak mental arithmetic skills.
- a poor sense of numbers & estimation.
- Difficulty in understanding place value.
- Addition is often the default operation.
- High levels of mathematics anxiety.
Why do students struggle with math? Many students who struggle with math struggle with memorizing all the rules and equations involved. In reality, memorization is only one part of learning math. Instead of simply memorizing, students should concentrate on understanding how and why these formulas work.
Beside above, Do kids need support if they have trouble with math? Answer: In fact, kids who have trouble with math are often trying their best. Some kids just need more time and practice to learn math skills, or better instruction. Others need additional support to get there. The type of support kids need often depends on what’s causing the challenge.
Hereof, How do you stop a child from learning math?
The response is: Take a break to calm down. Stress and anxiety over math can prevent kids (and adults) from doing their best. If kids are frustrated, pause and take a deep breath. When they’re calm, return to the math. Explain the math concept again. Some kids need to hear a math concept explained a few times before they get it.
Likewise, Do kids with dyscalculia struggle with math?
As an answer to this: Keep in mind that all kids have trouble with math from time to time. But kids with dyscalculia struggle a lot more than other kids the same age. Dyscalculia isn’t the same as math anxiety. But kids with dyscalculia often have strong emotions around math. They might get upset or frustrated when playing board games, for example.
One may also ask, Why do people struggle with math? Many people struggle with math, and they can struggle with it for different reasons. When it comes to kids, some simply need more time and practice to “catch up.” But trouble with math can also be a sign of common learning and thinking differences. Some learning and thinking differences can impact math in ways that look similar on the surface.
How do I know if my child is struggling with math?
Response will be: It can be tough to spot a child struggling with math. One of the more visible signs lies in what they say about the subject. When your child says things like “I hate math” or “I’m not good at math,” and tries to avoid math-related activities, it’s usually a sign that they are struggling with the subject. 2. Gets anxious around math
Additionally, Why do students find math hard?
Response: One of the biggest reasons why students find math hard is because they don’t understand its value in real life. This attitude becomes harder to shake off when students are about to start high school math, which is more theory-based. If your child is questioning the real-life value of math, explore why they think that is with them.
Accordingly, Is math too difficult for a child?
Answer to this: But, don’t worry because you’re not alone! One of the most common complaints among children who dislike math is it’s too difficult or that they’re not smart enough. Sadly, this belief is one that can severely impact any child’s success in mathematics.