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Is there anyone who used to suck at math but is now good at it?

J

jread

Senior member
Is there hope? I've avoided math courses ever since highschool (graduated 10 years ago) when they were almost the death of me. I BARELY passed my Algebra II course. I hated it so much. I'm wondering if maybe I just had a crappy teacher (very possible) and maybe I make math harder than it really is (even more possible).

Any advice on becoming better at mathematics or is it one of those things where you either "get it" or you don't? Calculus awaits..... I tremble in fear 🙁
 
I used to be pretty awful at math, in fact, I think I nearly failed most of my high school math courses.

I had just blown it out of proportion. I bought some math textbooks and have been working through them and I've found it all quite easy.

To go from doing poorly in math right into calculus probably isn't a wise idea, though. You'll need a few months to be well prepared for calculus.
 
Dude I managed to go from being awesome at math to sucking it up hard core. I just started second semester, and my last period is grade 11 math for the second time
 
A good teacher makes all of the difference in the world.

If you had a teacher that could only teach it after reading it from a textbook, you probably never even had a chance.

If you can think logically at all, and you have a decent teacher or professor, you shouldn't have any real big problems with math.

Just stop telling yourself you cannot do it. Because you can.
 
I used to suck. But after 4 semesters of calculus, 3 semesters of statistics, 2 semesters of ODE, and 2 semesters of linear algebra, I guess I'm OK.
 
Originally posted by: Rip the Jacker
Dude!!!!

I'm barely passing my Algebra II course right now.
Click to expand...

Ah... the good old days. I barely remember anything about highschool but I do remember the turning point for me in Algebra II: IMAGINARY NUMBERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the point where I said, "FAWK this!! I give up!" I completely gave up on math at that point. Hopefully it will give me another chance.
 
Originally posted by: MathMan
A good teacher makes all of the difference in the world.

If you had a teacher that could only teach it after reading it from a textbook, you probably never even had a chance.

If you can think logically at, and you have a decent teacher or professor, you shouldn't have any real big problems with math.

Just stop telling yourself you cannot do it. Because you can.
Click to expand...


I am very logical and love problem solving, so it seems that I should be good at math. I really do think I was never taught properly. Maybe in a college setting I'll have much more luck.
 
I can't believe what I'm reading here.

Listen. I used to SUCK at math. I ended up graduating collage with a minor in math and almost did a double major just because I was enjoying it so much. Here are the keys to remember:

1. If you think you suck at math, you will suck at math. If you tell yourself you cant do it, you can't do it. Get rid of that lousy attitude about it and yourself.

2. Learn your basics first. Need to learn algebra ? Make sure your basic arethmetic is solid. Think wax-on wax-off. Need to learn calc ? Make sure you algebra is solid. That may mean going back a little, but walking around a room with sharp edges with blinders on is not fun.

3. Take your time and slow down. People get so anxious about their answer that they rush things. They go though memorized steps without checking their work (or worse) not even understanding why there doing the things they're doing.

4. Don't be afraid to say that you don't know. Pleople get into all sorts of trouble because they don't know what they don't know. Ask for help. Embarassed in class ? Approach yoour instructor afterwards. Don't walk away not understanding.

After you ace a class or two, you'll be suprised at your confidence. You may catch yourself actually liking math.

Good luck.

 
Originally posted by: jread
Originally posted by: Rip the Jacker
Dude!!!!

I'm barely passing my Algebra II course right now.
Click to expand...

Ah... the good old days. I barely remember anything about highschool but I do remember the turning point for me in Algebra II: IMAGINARY NUMBERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is the point where I said, "FAWK this!! I give up!" I completely gave up on math at that point. Hopefully it will give me another chance.
Click to expand...

Alright,

i=imaginary, right?
so how come i^2=-1??? 😛 (two imaginary #'s equals a real one)

Anyway, I guess I'm ok at math. I'm in math honors classes at my HS, passing with a B(+).

P.S. But seriously, i^2=radical(-1)^2, thats how it equals -1. (I just had to put that...to show off.........um........yea, take that.....)

 
Originally posted by: necine
Yeah, I used to be horrible. Now i'm a math major. I'm not really sure why or how that came about.
Click to expand...

Ok, math major, tell this ahole that e^z=0 cannot exist. He keeps claiming that it does. (that is if you already havn't 😛, in that case, flame him more)
 
Originally posted by: jread
Originally posted by: wizboy11
i^2=radical(-1)^2, thats how it equals -1.
Click to expand...

That made me cough up blood.
Click to expand...

Actually it's quite simple. Once you get it.
Maby some people just plain are not good at math (not saying that about you...)

Just like I SUCK at English classes. I hate writing essays, research papers, etc.
 
Originally posted by: ironcrotch
I think some people are born with the ability and some aren't. Everyones brains work differently.
Click to expand...

BS IMO. One of my classmates in HS used to suck at math, I'm talking C-D average, his parents got him a private tutor and after a year he easily passed every math class with an A. It all comes down to how much free time you have and how much effort you are willing to put forth.
 
Originally posted by: Rip the Jacker
Dude!!!!

I'm barely passing my Algebra II course right now.
Click to expand...

I've got my partial diffe class by the short curlies, woot!

I think that it is hard to go from bad to good without a huge effort. It is entirely possible that you find you are more interested by higher level math and will therefore be good at it, but you'll need to make the effort to learn all the low and midlevel math that you hadn't before.
 
I whizzed through math in HS, lost interest and chugged through it in college, and now I just suck at higher math. Mainly because higher math has no place in everyday life.
 
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