NationStates Jolt Archive

I've never done worst in school, i can't understan why is math so difficult for me, i learn how to make the problems in one day, and the next day i don't remember how to do it. . .

Plz someone help me, give me some advise...

I failed math because I didn't give two shits about it. My advice? Deal with it. When you get into college math becomes not only easier (thanks to more free time and smarter teachers), but also more fun because it's not mindless crap. I've got a B in math and I don't even do my homework. It's great.

Can you be more specific? What branch of math are studying right now?

Can you be more specific? What branch of math are studying right now?

i'm studying analitic geometry and trigonometry

i was a C student in math. i didnt care enought to try harder. i didnt even study...

i dont have much advice. if you really want to learn you have to study it all the time. keep going over your problems and formulas and youll remember them...

I've never done worst in school, i can't understan why is math so difficult for me, i learn how to make the problems in one day, and the next day i don't remember how to do it. . .

Plz someone help me, give me some advise...Holy shit, is that Math 12? :eek:

felt sorry for you

Yup, and don't do like i did (that is, don't do maths by shooting from the hip and hope you get lucky).
My advice? Practice. A lot.

And then some.

i'm studying analitic geometry and trigonometry
Sorry, I failed the exact same thing, twice! :p
And the same thing happened to me, during class and homework I could work through the problems, but during the exam I always did some step wrong.

Don't feel rushed, I guess would be my advice. And verify your answers.

I've never done worst in school, i can't understan why is math so difficult for me, i learn how to make the problems in one day, and the next day i don't remember how to do it. . .

Plz someone help me, give me some advise...
practice, practice, practice. Do all the problems you are assigned and get some supplemental problems, if the topic isn't sinking in.

Memorize the easy proofs so you can apply them to more complex ones.

Sorry, but there's no way to learn it without doing the work.

I've never done worst in school, i can't understan why is math so difficult for me, i learn how to make the problems in one day, and the next day i don't remember how to do it. . .

Plz someone help me, give me some advise...
sounds a lot like me. i can understand and "learn" something one day but try it again a few hours later and have not a clue. the only way for me to learn maths is to do it myself - can't be shown how. also don't get patterns and still don't know my times-tables :(

you might want to look into dyslexia and dyscalculia (http://www.dyscalculia.org/calc.html)- could be a reason here (alternatively it could simply be crappy teaching)

Worst of all is that i want to study economics. . .

Not to be mean, but I think he gets that he's supposed to practice. Let's try some ACTUAL advice. You know, private tutoring and positive reinforcement, etc etc.

Worst of all is that i want to study economics. . .
don't do it at university. i tried :(

and yes, practice is the obvious answer, but if you do practice all day for x many hours and still it doesn't sink in, then thats not good...

The best way to remember things is to simply practice. Lots. Do lots of questions and practice the methods you need to remember.

If you don't actually understand what you're doing, ask for help.

One way I find helps me is to be able to explain something to someone else. If I can do that, it generally stays stuck in my head 'cause I truly understand it.

Not to be mean, but I think he gets that he's supposed to practice. Let's try some ACTUAL advice. You know, private tutoring and positive reinforcement, etc etc.
Then, how about forming a study group?

There's not time for a study group:headbang: :headbang:

There's not time for a study group:headbang: :headbang:

That's a flawed excuse. You can MAKE time for a study group. Oh sure, you're supposed to meet with some buddies or whatever, but then you fail math. You have to make sacrifices.

That's a flawed excuse. You can MAKE time for a study group. Oh sure, you're supposed to meet with some buddies or whatever, but then you fail math. You have to make sacrifices.

it's not that it's just that i have a huge problem my mind is in like a 1000 places at once, can't concentrate in one thing.

Not to be mean, but I think he gets that he's supposed to practice. Let's try some ACTUAL advice. You know, private tutoring and positive reinforcement, etc etc.
It is "ACTUAL advice". The only way you can remember things in maths is to use them. You need to be able to think "mathematically" to a large extent and that only comes with practice.

If (s)he can understand what (s)he's doing at the time, as it would seem form the OP, it doesn't seem like a lack of understanding or good education. Practicing is the obvious solution, yes, but it's so often used.

It is "ACTUAL advice". The only way you can remember things in maths is to use them. You need to be able to think "mathematically" to a large extent and that only comes with practice.

If (s)he can understand what (s)he's doing at the time, as it would seem form the OP, it doesn't seem like a lack of understanding or good education. Practicing is the obvious solution, yes, but it's so often used.

It's not advice if everybody knows it. You would literally have to be dead to not know the saying "practice makes perfect". That and, like he said, he IS practicing. He just forgets the next day.

@Kue - That's called ADHD. Get pills for it. I used to. I still have it, I just ignore it because I don't care any more.

I've never done worst in school, i can't understan why is math so difficult for me, i learn how to make the problems in one day, and the next day i don't remember how to do it. . .

Plz someone help me, give me some advise...

Which math are you in? If you are in anything below calculus, you have no excuse for failing except for being stupid. WHich might be a possibility seeing you use "plz" instead of "please"

it's not that it's just that i have a huge problem my mind is in like a 1000 places at once, can't concentrate in one thing.

Bullshit. Tell me your daily schedule, you can find time I guarantee.

I'm guessing you failed some kind of exam? Could you get the paper back and have a smart friend/teacher/both go through it with you so you know where you went wrong? That would be my first step.

Also, it's important to be completely and totally honest with yourself, about how well you should be doing and why you didn't. Some people just aren't A grade students.

Which math are you in? If you are in anything below calculus, you have no excuse for failing except for being stupid. WHich might be a possibility seeing you use "plz" instead of "please"

A tad harsh, don't you think?

Which math are you in? If you are in anything below calculus, you have no excuse for failing except for being stupid. WHich might be a possibility seeing you use "plz" instead of "please"

look if i want to use plz, instead of please is my problem, if you don't want to give some advise, that's ok, but please SHUT THE FUCK UP about my writting problems, or style.

it's not that it's just that i have a huge problem my mind is in like a 1000 places at once, can't concentrate in one thing.

That is so true for me too. I need to watch TV, listen to music and be on the computer at the same time not to be bored.
And, usually, i still wander off in a few minutes anyway.

:headbang:

A tad harsh, don't you think?

Yeah. I'm sorry. I mean that in all honestly. It's just that here in America many of the kids here (being a student myself) don't give a shit about school "SKOOL IS 4 FAGS LOLOLOLOL"

Sorry I stereotyped you. If you really want help, I respect you. But seriously, what is your schedule after school

It's not advice if everybody knows it. You would literally have to be dead to not know the saying "practice makes perfect". That and, like he said, he IS practicing. He just forgets the next day.

@Kue - That's called ADHD. Get pills for it. I used to. I still have it, I just ignore it because I don't care any more.
Memorization of basic facts is a pretty good technique, too. In my first algebra class, we had to recite the quadratic equation in less than X seconds. I don't remember how many seconds were allotted for the exercise, but after 35 years, I can still remember the quadratic equation.

Kue needs to figure out which things are basic and memorize them. For example, learn to recite a proof for why triangles interior angles add up to 180, then earn to apply that to a more complex proof.

Make flash cards for easy to write down facts.

None of this is going to work immediately, but there isn't anyone that can't get themselves through geometry/trig.

Memorization of basic facts is a pretty good technique, too. In my first algebra class, we had to recite the quadratic equation in less than X seconds. I don't remember how many seconds were allotted for the exercise, but after 35 years, I can still remember the quadratic equation.

Kue needs to figure out which things are basic and memorize them. For example, learn to recite a proof for why triangles interior angles add up to 180, then earn to apply that to a more complex proof.

Make flash cards for easy to write down facts.

None of this is going to work immediately, but there isn't anyone that can't get themselves through geometry/trig.

Geometry is easy for me. I got a 101% overall

Yeah. I'm sorry. I mean that in all honestly. It's just that here in America many of the kids here (being a student myself) don't give a shit about school "SKOOL IS 4 FAGS LOLOLOLOL"

Sorry I stereotyped you. If you really want help, I respect you. But seriously, what is your schedule after school

Go and get drunk at the nearest bar

look if i want to use plz, instead of please is my problem, if you don't want to give some advise, that's ok, but please SHUT THE FUCK UP about my writting problems, or style.

It's not a problem or a style. Just write out "please", it's just a matter of being lazy in my opinion

it's not that it's just that i have a huge problem my mind is in like a 1000 places at once, can't concentrate in one thing.
Meditate. When I have a tough problem, I like to sit peacefully and think it over. Without the distractions of stereo, tv, neighbors, and friends.

look if i want to use plz, instead of please is my problem, if you don't want to give some advise, that's ok, but please SHUT THE FUCK UP about my writting problems, or style.

Yes, that's going to help.

Go and get drunk at the nearest bar

Well that's why you're failing.

@OP: Instead of moping about how much you suck at math on an internet forum, change your attitude, study, do the homework, be active as that genius kid that's five years younger than you in, and do lots of problems. Much easier said than done. Anyhow, good luck, or wish to do something else. Economics isn't all math, and its bloody simple for the most part. Then again, I only took a semester of macro.

Geometry is easy for me. I got a 101% overall

How does that work? Extra credit, I'd assume, but we don't have that really in the UK (or at the very least, we didn't at my school)

Yes, that's going to help.

It will help. I honestly believe that some of the problems would be solved if the American youth didn't sit around and use fucking slang all the time and watch MTV. If they actually stimulated themselves, it would help...kind of like the idea that listening to classical music will make you smarter.

It will help. I honestly believe that some of the problems would be solved if the American youth didn't sit around and use fucking slang all the time and watch MTV.

Actually, I was being sarcastic about the whole "SHUT THE FUCK UP" thing that Kuehenberg was doing. As in, that helps nobody, ever.

i can't understan why is math so difficult for me ..
Plz someone help me, give me some advise...


Firstly, you have my sympathy. I have always found maths to be, at best, tedious.

For dealing with maths, or study generally, there are various techniques, many of which have been listed above by other posters.

I'm worried about a couple of comments you made. Firstly you say you cannot seem to keep your mind on your studies of mathematics. Is that a problem you find with all studies? If so, you may need specialist help. But, I suspect, you find it difficult to keep your attention focused because it does not interest you. And so it becomes difficult.

Secondly, if you find maths difficult/uninteresting, then you will likely fail at economics too.

What I am worried about is this: if your heart is not in what you are doing then you will set yourself up to fail.

Assuming you have no special learning needs, you should consider what it is that you really want. Consider if maths is part of that. If so, persevere, use the various learning techiniques and you will succeed. If not, then you will likely fail no matter how you study.

My advice: check you don't have any special learning requirements. If not, check with your school counsellor what apptitude and other such tests are that you can do. You may find that maths just does not fit your personality. Your school, or other, counsellor will know more and will be able to advise you

Think of maths as a toolkit. Learn the methods, the discrete 'tools' and their applications. Eventually you will be able to comvine them to solve problems.

You also have my sympathy as mathematics education in the Western world sucks.