I need help just understanding math in general

Question

I dont get the general aspect of math and i want to be able to understand it so what can i do 

Answer 1

The thing I love about math is that every question has an answer. It might be a challenge to find the answer, but when you do, it feels great! 

 

A big part of understanding math is REPETITION! It can seem boring, but answering the same types of questions over and over and over and over can really make a difference. You are, in essence, training your brain to remember how to get the answer. Even if you don't quite understand Why at first, doing the problems over and over will really cement the information into your brain so that, eventually, the Why will make sense.

 

Another tip for succeeding in math is to pay close attention to what you are doing. It can be so easy to accidentally add something wrong in one place and end up with an entirely wrong answer, even if you did everything else right. Be patient and take the time to think about your answers to the easy stuff, because that can make a huge difference when you get to the harder stuff.

 

I live in Knoxville and would be glad to tutor you in person if you like. Contact me through Wyzant, let me know your schedule and we can try to set something up.

 

Thanks and good luck!

Answer 2

You've asked an important question.  Now, seek diligently for an answer.

 

Here is what I often cut-and-paste into WyzAnt tutoring applications (note: other tutors are free to copy/modify any or all of this):

 

Many math courses fail to answer that very important question. "Why do I need to learn this stuff?" But the applications of math are everywhere -- sports, driving, healthcare, business, engineering, technology, ... real-world experience can provide wonderful motivation for learning (it's that "teachable moment").

You should realize that each course is unique. With math courses, problems often occur in interaction with the teacher, difficulty understanding the book, difficulty keeping the schedule, etc., etc. These things have little to do with the subject of the course, but they may determine the grade. So, do everything possible to limit the effect of problems and to find things you like about the course (happy students, like happy employees, are far more productive).

In math there are a limited set of things to learn: abstractions, theorems, formulas, … and proper procedures. Most people learn to do many of these without thinking.

 

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Applications, applications, applications -- that's the key motivator for learning math.  Word (story) problems give many students trouble, but they provide some situations that are close to real life.

 

However, if you don't use money, don't care about grades, don't want to check gas mileage for your car, are happy when people trick and cheat you, never want to use a computer or cell phone or other gadget, ... (need I say more?), then don't learn math.

Answer 3

 Find some area in math you can do, and don't forget that area as it builds. Go back to that when it gets hardgoing. 

 

Math is very rewarding once you've developed a skill in it, but is not when it is hard to understand. So see it like developing a way of thinking with exercises and good teaching or tutoring.