Why am I so bad at math/how can I improve?

Question

I've always had at least a little bit trouble with it. Even in first grade. o_O (I just got stuff wrong and didn't always understand everything) I've never had trouble with any other subject. I love science, english, history/cultural stuff, arts, language, etc.

In 4th grade, I was put into an "advanced class" that pretty much meant that I skipped a grade of math and went straight to "5th grade math". Among other things. And... I was behind.

In middle school, I had the same math teacher all 3 years. He was tough, I didn't like him, and I didn't learn very well. In 6th grade I took pre-algebra, and I struggled a LOT. In 7th grade, I did a bit better (algebra 1). In 8th grade, I had -some- trouble in math (geometry), but I felt like I understood most of the material. I got a B every quarter in 8th grade in math.

Now I'm in 9th grade and taking Algebra 2 honors. I signed up for honors because... um... I guess I just thought that I should because everyone else I knew was. It REALLY isn't a hard class- our teacher is sort of lazy and doesn't really teach very well (or, at least, I'm not learning a lot). She makes a little powerpoint most classes, and it's material related to the textbook. The problem is, the powerpoint material is a little bit different/extra, so I can't follow along by looking at the textbook. Also, I get so bored in her class BECAUSE I -THINK- I ALREADY GET WHAT SHE'S GOING OVER (I try the problem at moment and I can do it) and just end up drawing or staring into space. It's the last class of the day, too. >.< I do my homework, but I don't always understand the worksheets she gives out. I can always understand the work from the textbook, though, because I can just look at the lesson. If I don't understand the homework, we go over it in class and then I understand how to do it. Or at least I think I do. o_O

Last quarter I got a B in the class, this progress report I got a D. u_u I've never. ever. gotten a D before. I study before every quiz/test (by looking/reading/doing problems from that chapter in the textbook), but I've failed probably 5/10 (an F is 69% or lower at my school, btw).

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I study, I think I understand stuff, and then I fail the tests. wtf. I have a 75 (D) in the class right now, and I have half a quarter to raise my grade. Problem is, I don't know how.. My parents don't know yet. But they're going to kill me.

TT_TT

Answer 1

Read the chapters before class

Pay attention in class -- you never know as much as you think you do

do all the assigned homework plus stuff that wasn't assigned

talk to the instructor; they want to help

form a study group. This is maybe the key. sometimes others see things differently than you do and can explain it it in a different way. There is always more than one way to solve a problem. also, it requires you to explain it to someone else, and if you can't do that then you don't understand the material.



Realize that you have to get out of the mode of thinking that your teacher sucks; that is an excuse. And very quickly it becomes an obstacle. It becomes an excuse as to why you don't understand something...it can't be something you're doing, it has to be the instructor, right? understand that math, unlike most subjects you are likely to take, requires an extra amount of effort on your part. And realize that the instructor is not an obstacle, they are there to help, but only if you ask.



Just remember that math is repetition, the more you do, the more you understand.

Answer 2

No-one is born bad at math, people only study incorrectly. To be successful at math you have to 1) memorize all formulas and 2) do hundreds of problems over and over and over until you are dreaming about math.

Answer 3

Maths require a strong base.



Learn by heart tables upto 20(Minimum 10)



Try to get some junior math books, and solve them in your spare time.



This will help in boosting confidence in maths.

Answer 4

Nothing is wrong...just study harder

Answer 5

Mathematics is based on simple rules. They don't seem simple. That is the catch. You can't just accept the rules and move on. You have to understand why the rules are used. Changing both sides of an equation does not change the equation if both sides are changed the same way. Distributing a value to items in parentheses does not change their value. It only removes their grouping. Any closed polygon will have a line traveling through 360 degrees on its outside angles. The inside angles will be a complement of the 180 degrees of the change to a straight line. Math shouldn't ever be difficult. Finding the rules is the hard part, so get your teacher to explain them to you. Postulates and theorems are all there is. Always be sure to get an explanation and an understanding of any rule you are given. They are considered self-evident, but that requires that you are thinking logically, which may not be your priority at any given moment. Insist on understanding before moving along or you will get lost. The next blocks will rest on present knowledge, so the base needs to be firm.

Answer 6

There is nothing wrong with you. In my opinion it is more than likely the way you are being taught. I am an ex-teacher and in my opinion most math teachers can not identify with students who have problems with math because most all math teachers teach math because they love it and it comes easy to them. First of all, you are not doing yourself any favors by taking honors math if you are not ready for it. One of the years when I was teaching, I taught an honors Algebra 2 class just like the one you are in and there was a young lady in there that confided in me that she could not do long division. She went on to say that she had to take honors classes because she was going to college. The bottom line is the system had failed her. We would like to think that someone like her could be filtered out but the system misses students like her all the time and does them a disservice by placing them in a class they do not belong. Last, if your parents are a part of this, placing you in a class that you do not belong in, then they have no business killing anyone. However, they do need to know of your troubles in math and you must face them and tell them.



Getting D's is not going to help your college chances and therefore you need to talk to a school counselor and ask him/her to put you in a math class that you know in your heart that you belong. Next get a tutor to help you with your problem areas and once you feel the time is right then take your honors math class. Math is doable for anybody but some just have to work a little harder at it but you can do it. Good luck.

Answer 7

Ok the problem here is YOU, believe me i had an xperience like this once. First your negativity has to change to positivity, picture a vibrant teacher, see the good in her, 2 BE INDEPENDENT do things not bcos others do them but bcos you know it to be right and good and you are led to do it. 3. Most importantly ADD POSIBLE AND MINUS 'IMP' it is possible only if you believe it is. I HOPE YOU GET THIS

Answer 8

ok so trouble in math but love science, english, history/cultural stuff, arts, language, etc. ok so math and science are left brain subjects and the rest of the list is right brain subjects. It seems to me that as you are maturing your leaning toward right brained subjects and it is really difficult to highly develop both halves of the brain unless you are an absolute genius who can do everything ambidextrously (left and right handed) Take Einstein for example he was a math and science wizard, but he could not debate his way out of a wet paper sack. Then look at Shakespeare, a literal literary genius that couldn't do calculus to save his life or knew it even existed for that matter. It may be a hard thing to do but you may need to drop back from advanced math, sadly your science will suffer too, but you will be free to pursue right brain subjects more avidly if this is your wish.

Answer 9

pracetice

study

ask questions

get tudor

study more

practice more

get help from friends

or from parents

or whoever thats good at math

good luck kid

hopefully you find an answer to help you improve at math