Why am I complete crap at math?

Question

16 in December. Junior in high school. Already been to summer school twice, 2nd time taking Algebra, and I have an F. Got a test back: 47%.
My tutor last year basically quit on me after nothing he tried helped me understand what we were doing and if I did, literally, I'd forget it the next day and we'd have to start over.
I just don't understand what we're doing. I don't understand how you can do something like A over D divided by something and get an answer? Or "two trains leave here at 15 mph" as those, I srsly CAN'T do those.
My parents don't know what to do. They're running out of tutors. If I don't pass now ill be held back. My other subjects are fine but since forever I have sucked at math. My parents tested my sister for dyslexia after one year of struggling in reading (she doesn't even try!) and haven't even thought about dyscalculia for me after years of struggling. 
What can I do? Who can help? Who could I talk to or my parents talk to? It's really hurting my confidence.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hi Jayy: 

first off the bat you need to understand what math is 

Mathematics is the study of numbers and there relationship with the world, it is the step by by step process in which you solve problems involving numbers or the relationship of numbers to the real world be it real or imaginary provided they follow exact rules.  Since you asked for it so nicely : 

my tips and check those websites list in the below 

1) read the problem through; until you understand it.

2) look for clue words like: sum, more than,less than, greater,multiplied,divided by..etc for all word problems 

3) look for given equation, variables, etc 

4) find out what the problem is asking you to solve for .

5) write "Given: " , than what is given, than write what your solving for 

6) if you have to rearrange the equation in order to solve it, than write out step by step what math operation your using on it to solve it, if you have to rearrange it otherwise to 7

7) Write step by step what Math operation your using to solve for it . This will make it 
easier for you to backtrack it and see what you did wrong; if you made error in your math - if your proof for it, doesn't check and equal 

8) While doing number 6 and 7: Pay Attention To the Signs . This the one number 
reason why people make a errors in Math answers when solving there math problem 

9) Do a Proof to prove your answer is correct. By writing "Proof:" - The reason for this : Sometimes you might think you have the right answer when your really got the wrong one but this will tell you right away. do the following: 

10) write your original equation down ,plug in your numbers, than write step by step 
what Math operation your using to solve for it . If this does not check and equal than 
back track for your answer in the first part. If they check out than check the Proof and see if you made a error . As soon as you find your error . Correct it, than solve it again and redo the proof again until it check and equals 

11) If your not sure of how to do a problem , ask a good friend or a good teacher who is good in math to help you, okay. 

12) Sometime ask the web for help, you want to find the surface area of a cone; just type in "Surface area of a cone" in one of the search engine boxes press enter and see what pops up click a few of them and see if you can find the equation 

Wikpika - is a good source for math, help so is yahoo, bing is a hit and miss but they can be a big help. 

Once you find a new equation - Than write it down along with what is with a few example; in a notebook and you will have it at side ready to aid in your time of confession or doubt, okay. Just be sure to add any other equations you encounter in math and they always be ready to assist you like a flaming sword makes a enemy stop in his track so will this aid you. 

13) Make sure you put the units on the end of the final answer. Some teacher will mark it wrong if it not there. Here a example of of a math problem so you get a idea of how to do one : 

example: 

Given : 

(0,7) (5, 32)
m = (y1-y)/ (x1-x) - slope formula 
y = mx+b - y intercept formula

Make a Linear model using the two points?

Step 1 - the linear model : 

m = (y1-y)/ (x1-x) - slope formula 

m = (32- 7)/ (5-0) - replacing x1,x,y1,and y with 5,0,32,and 7 

m = 25/ 5 - Subtraction 

m = 5 -Division 

Step 2 : 

y = mx+b - y intercept formula

7 = 5(0)+b - replacing m,x,and y with 5,0,and 7

7= 0 +b -multiplication of 5 and 0 

7 = b - Addition 

so y = 5x + 7 is your Linear model for the points (0,7) (5, 32)

Step 3 : 

Proof or Check : 

y = 5x + 7 - Derived equation from the above 

32 = 5(5) + 7 - Plugging x and y with 5, and 32 

32 = 25 + 7 - Multiplication 

32 = 32 - Addition 

It checks and equals 

Here are some Math help websites for you I got off Yahoo: 

www. math.com
www.webmath.com 
www.sosmath.com 
www.sosmath.com
www.coolmath.com 
www.purplemath.com 
www.mathpower.com 
www.analyzemath.com.html
www.AAAmath,com
www. figurethis.com 
www.mathcats.com 
www.easymaths.com
www.homeworkspot.com/high/math 
www. parentingteens.about.com/od/math/Math_Fr…
www.themathhomeworkhelp.com
www.aplusmath.com 
www.homeworkhelp4u.com/math_homework_h…
www.nutshellmath.com 
www.mathhomeworkhelp.com
www.freemathhelp.com

for video learning :

http://www.khanacademy.org/
http://www.mathtv.com/videos_by_topic
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_qu…
www.videomathtutor.com/
www.math-videos-online.com/
http://www.visualmathlearning.com/

If you Have any questions in Math. Post them here in the Mathematics section and we Nine Million Yahoo answerer will come to your aid and help with it

Good luck and my best wishes to you 

I hope this helps

Judith · Answer

Hi Jayy,

A lot of very intelligent people are bad at math. Sometimes this is because of a condition called dyscalculia. Most people with dyscalculia go through their entire life not knowing they have it. This is because it is not commonly known. Schools don’t test for it. So students often just get frustrated and give up. When it’s really not their fault

Having dyscalculia can dramatically affect a person’s quality of life. Problems in math just seem to pop up everywhere. Even in simple things like telling time or figuring out a tip. Unfortunately for most people with this problem it has gone undiagnosed. There just hasn’t been enough education about it and people just get told they are “bad at math” when really there is an underlying problem.

There is a free dyscalculia test you can download at http://www.learningsuccessblog.com/dyscalculia-testing

It will help you find where the underlying problems are and get on the right path to a solution. Most of the time the public education system is not equipped to diagnose a dyscalculia problem. One of the reasons it goes undiagnosed so often and so many kids just slip through the cracks and end up in remedial classes when they really are quite intelligent. The test will help you avoid that and understand the problem so you don’t have to worry about being “bad at math”.

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Why am I complete crap at math?

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