Student: I stink at math.
Frazz: Do you like being right? If you do the proper steps to solve a math problem, you're guaranteed to be right.
Student: But I really truly believe I stink.
Frazz: That's another way to be right.
I prefer the intuitive method. Going through all the steps to arrive at the “right” answer is too much work. I should just know the right answer, like a calculator does, based on my personal belief systems. Yeah. That’s how it should be.
I never really had much interest in math until a lecture on way- over- my head-super -high math. Could ‘feel’ it (which was strange) but unfortunately am really poor at arithmetic so was also very lost.
Interestingly enough, that’s probably true. That is, if your “real world” doesn’t involve a technical job where math is required to function on a day-to-day basis. For most of the world, in fact, they can get by without geometry, trig and calc. But those that DO have these basics down are primarily responsible for the technological marvels we use every day.
Huh! Discalculia is a new one to me. Looked it up, wikipedia, I hit a lot of the list but not all. But have definitely been slow with numbers all my life. I prefer analog clocks because it was so hard to learn all those years ago. I particularly liked the one; ‘Might have a well-developed sense of imagination due to this (possibly as cognitive compensation to mathematical–numeric deficits.’
A lot of math isn’t tough at all if someone teaches in a way that makes sense. The tough part is finding someone who can teach it understandably. When I was in college, I took 2 semesters of calculus. The 2 different teachers would spend an hour each class explaining the theory. The book was not exactly helpful. What was helpful was going to the mathematics lab where other students who had taken the class before would explain how to do to the problems.
One of these students could explain how to solve the problems in about 5 minutes, and they made the problems actually seem pretty eay.
Varnes almost 11 years ago
That’s a good way to look at it, I guess….But I’m still crappy at math higher than the 8th grade level…..
Brass Orchid Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I prefer the intuitive method. Going through all the steps to arrive at the “right” answer is too much work. I should just know the right answer, like a calculator does, based on my personal belief systems. Yeah. That’s how it should be.
archipelago Premium Member almost 11 years ago
That is a wonderful thing about math! It is nice to be right once in a while, even if it is just adding 2+2.
sbchamp almost 11 years ago
Moriarty! That you?
Thehag almost 11 years ago
I never really had much interest in math until a lecture on way- over- my head-super -high math. Could ‘feel’ it (which was strange) but unfortunately am really poor at arithmetic so was also very lost.
RetiredArmySFC Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Interestingly enough, that’s probably true. That is, if your “real world” doesn’t involve a technical job where math is required to function on a day-to-day basis. For most of the world, in fact, they can get by without geometry, trig and calc. But those that DO have these basics down are primarily responsible for the technological marvels we use every day.
Thehag over 10 years ago
Huh! Discalculia is a new one to me. Looked it up, wikipedia, I hit a lot of the list but not all. But have definitely been slow with numbers all my life. I prefer analog clocks because it was so hard to learn all those years ago. I particularly liked the one; ‘Might have a well-developed sense of imagination due to this (possibly as cognitive compensation to mathematical–numeric deficits.’
krisl73 over 10 years ago
A lot of math isn’t tough at all if someone teaches in a way that makes sense. The tough part is finding someone who can teach it understandably. When I was in college, I took 2 semesters of calculus. The 2 different teachers would spend an hour each class explaining the theory. The book was not exactly helpful. What was helpful was going to the mathematics lab where other students who had taken the class before would explain how to do to the problems.
One of these students could explain how to solve the problems in about 5 minutes, and they made the problems actually seem pretty eay.