Why can't I understand math?

Can you afford to get a personal tutor?.

If not, look for free on-line tuition facilities over the internet.

None of this will probably help but this is just what I've noticed in high school. Some people just don't do well in math. It seems like people are either a science/math person or a history/english person. With math the only way to get better is to study and do lots of practice problems. With math, it's not a class where someone can look over notes and do well, you need to work out the problems and really understand them. It's a pain but it's the only way to do well. Even then it might still not help. I'm in trigonometry now and no matter how much I study I still don't do well. Different things are difficult for different people. Just keep trying :] Try asking for more help from the teacher, siblings, or friends who understand it.

I sub teach. I taught a summer school. I was not such a great teacher.

I had two populations in class: first timers and repeats.

The repeats would not listen, would not learn anything new, would not do homework,

would not care. If I deviated from what they knew they said that they did not want to learn that way.

If I gave them a way to check their work, they shrugged it off,

And if I did the same old same old well they thought they knew that even if they had repeatedly failed it.

yeah, they were 'bad at math' but they were worse at an attitude that would allow them to do anything about being 'bad at math'

And most had some failures in their background.

Counting on your fingers is not a sign of stupidity, but of no training in basic math.

Not knowing fractions well seriously hinders any math beyond 6th grade, and is likely to hinder that.

Ok rant mostly over.

What could anyone tell these kids if they were willing to listen?

How about get some tutoring? Fill in the gaps in their math, those gaps that we are counting on to be there when we try to build on them? The HS will not go back and teach one student or even half an non-listening class basic math. If you can not add or multiply with out your fingers, get flash cards. If you don't know fractions, find a tutor. Most schools have at least one teacher who would do this, and most teachers will donate time to a willing student after school or on some schedule.

Well, if you are so determined, the problem is with what is taught, or how it is taught. It starts very young. If people get maths at a young age, they like it forever. If they don't, they despise it for weird reasons. I think you are stuck in between.. Not to worry or go into blaming things. You can still learn mathematics yourself if you have much time and if you still enjoy it.

I didn't even know how to add fractions until I was 14. I am 18 now and I do maths better than most people. I like it more than anything else.

Find better ways to do things. Question why things are the way they are. Try to get the concepts. hahaha...

if you don't get something in maths, don't let the teacher be in peace...until you get it. It will be fun to do that.

best of luck.

It's ok.. like you i'm not very good at math and i try as hard as I can. Some people just don't get it. Just like some people don't get Language or science. I suggest you get your parents to get you a tutor or stay for after school help if it's available. Just be proud of the subject you excel in because odds are- someone finds it really hard to do. You could find someone in your school to help you with math that isn't so good at language or another subject or something you are good at and you can tutor each other. That's What I did when I was in the eighth grade and I met my best friend that way. Just try hard and most importantly don't cheat because you want to understand it not be worse off than you already were. I hope i helped. :3 Good luck! <3

Dear Joe,

I can understand the pain you're in. This year at university was particularly hard for me because I was dealing with so many issues while trying to do my best in school. To be sincere with you to love something you have to be dedicated from top to bottom. You seem to be at odds with Math, and when you're at odds with something you cannot expect to master it any time soon. Same thing as getting a job. If you get a job that doesn't suit your preference you wont perform your best despite the incredible amount of effort you put into it. Perhaps Math is not where your passion lies, maybe literature?

I suggest you put an end to all bad grades and this can be done quite quickly if its in your will to do so. You and only you can change your current condition. So my advice is to be steadfast when it comes to doing assignments and revising notes that you take in class. Effort is really all it takes.

-Awliya

Stop feeling down on yourself! Remember, you're doing well in your other subjects. Math is important, but not THAT much.

I would say you should try to understand WHY you are doing the things you do. Why are you adding an x, why are you dividing here? What is your goal? Think through things carefully. There is also a lot of memorization in math.

Listen to your teacher while they do problems and ask questions if you don't get anything. Do your homework slowly and actually think about what you're doing.

Hope I helped! Good luck :)

There's a variety of reasons: 1. The teacher might not be available, eg, a weekend or holiday. 2. The teacher might have already explained and the student failed to understand them - a different perspective can be helpful. 3. Hate to dash any idealistic dreams, but not all teachers are supportive of students. Some just call you an idiot for not understanding.

well i was talking to a lady at my bar

and said she was a math teacher that teaches other teachers from other schools

and she told me that if you have 2 bad maths teachers in a row its basically over for you and you will have a harder time learning math in the future.

i would recommend getting back to basics

actually, its not your problem. the problem is, the approach done by your teacher is not good. they just follow the books which teaches only the shortcuts. they should teach the concept. that's how my teacher taught us. that's why we get the lesson easier. if you can afford to study in Singapore, you should try to study there. they teach how to get the formula because they are the ones who can understand the concept. well, good luck...

You are stressing yourself too much so every now and then when you are studying do something else that takes like 5 minutes and then go back through it