I suck at math and don't know what to do anymore?

Question

I am a sophomore in High School. Ever since 8th grade I've sucked in math. No matter what I do. I tell you a couple of stories. I would stay after school for some Math help before a text the next day, understand the material completely and do the homework with no problems and BOMB the test still. My current math teacher keeps asking me to come in for help. I honestly see it pointless because other people I know can have no problems with and comes naturally to them with every lesson. I can learn a lesson an hour ago and forget it all the next because I just cant remember steps to do math. I remember turning in blank tests in 8th grade. (which I do not do now). Currently, I just failed my Geometry the first quarter. Last year I would come in for help at least 3 times a school week and still bomb test this was me trying to actually get at least a C. I can't even do that so my goal would be at least a D. Anyways I would go in for help 3 times a week and the next day forget everything. Sometimes I would feel really confident on test that I would get a C then I would fail it. I can't remember math specifically because I don't have problems memorizing other things like History which is my favorite class. (want to become a Historian.) About a couple of days before a quiz or test I am thinking to myself or telling people around "Yeah I am going to fail this" and when I would get it back and would say things like "I told you." Last year my highest score on a test/quiz was 75% and I barely passed Algebra with a D- about 1% from failing which I honestly think my teacher took pity on me and kept it from going to a F. Every time I walk into my math class I am instantly bored either writing a story or writing lyrics.(I love writing stories.) My Geometry teacher said how I could do better if I tried, but when I actually tried last year to get a C; going in after school for help I still almost failed the class. I honestly do not know what do anymore.

Answer 1

I think you should ask to talk to your math teacher in private. Explain to the teacher what you just explained to us. Perhaps if the teacher see that you totally understand it, but then cannot do the test - they might recognize what is going on. I am also wondering - do you do better on math problems that are a scenario instead of just an equation? Teachers are also trained in recognizing how a student learns - not all of us learn in the same way. Also, if the teacher sees you are really trying etc, they will be more inclined to encourage you and assist you, rather than just think you don't care. Good Luck and don't give up - it really sounds like you just have to identify how to get your brain to memorize this sort of thing. The fact you can understand the material and do the homework tells me it is something to do with the testing - or perhaps a problem with a memory issue. It might even be as simple as the teacher allowing you to take the test alone - so you can focus and treat it as homework not a test - Good Luck with everything!



I am adding this because i just remembered it - I had a friend who understood things awesome in our law class, however in study group she couldn't answer questions from us - she was really smart etc, but for some reason she was getting low test scores etc - so I got the idea to have her teach me whatever we were studying for the test, it helped her ALOT, I theorized it was kind of like if you are the one driving the car somewhere new - you remember how you got there better than the person who was the passenger. It really worked for her and she got a B after that!

Answer 2

"My current math teacher keeps asking me to come in for help. I honestly see it pointless because other people I know can have no problems with and comes naturally to them with every lesson."



That will happen. Mathematics comes naturally to people varying amount of ease. Unfortunately, it sounds like you've drawn the short end of the stick, and you're going to have to work harder at it than other people.



However, regardless of how other people are doing, you should definitely do what the teacher says and come see him/her in some spare time. I do a lot of tutoring professionally, and in my experience working with students who struggle with a topic for whatever reason, one-on-one attention is simply the best way to break the mental blocks holding them back.



If your teacher can't help you, consider getting a private tutor. See if you can find one with a passion for mathematics, someone who can help you gain a bit of understanding of what happens behind the scenes (see if you can find a university mathematics student). I think you'd find that a little bit of understanding will make it more interesting and help your memory heaps!

Answer 3

Everyone struggles with something, I struggle with history, there are just too many important dates and events that they want us to memorize which doesn't work out to good for me.



I'd probably suggest getting a tutor that can help you with your math skills and help you enjoy it.



-or- if your school has different math teachers that teach that subject, swap to the other math teacher. Our school had subjects that multiple math teachers handled. One was better than the other and I struggled in the one, I still enjoy math though.

Answer 4

Hi :



here are my tips:



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-o…



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

Answer 5

Studies have shown that the ability to understand math is actually genetic, so maybe math just isn't your niche. Just keep trying, with math its all practice makes perfect. and even if you still can't make things click in your head, it's not the end of the world--just pass what you need to graduate.