Math? "Oops, I can’t do it. I'm just too dumb for this." If this is what you think about math, this article is a pot of gold for you. According to Bhanu Prakash, who is the world’s fastest human calculator and is pursuing honors in mathematics from St. Stephens College, every 1 in 4 has a fear of math. Have you ever wondered why is it so that some people in our class are exceptional at doing math and some are not, even after the same thing is taught to all of them? There are a number of reasons for the same.
Let us have a look at the reasons -
1. Brain Style
According to many researchers, it is suggested that the brain-style of an individual also plays a key role in determining his/her hold on math. It has been observed that left-brain thinkers understand things at a faster pace than right-brainers. Left-brained kids grasp concepts quickly whereas right-brainers don’t. So, left-brainers are found to be exceptionally good at math.
2. Cumulative in Nature
As we all know, mathematics is cumulative in nature. Generally, what students do is that they read and learn a particular syllabus and after examination, they forget it. If this is what you do, then it is certain that you must have faced problems dealing with math. Math requires previous knowledge to understand new concepts. If a student will not remember how to find square root, then it will be very difficult for him/her to deal with applications that use this concept.
3. Either Right or Wrong
There are only two options to any solution of a mathematics problem, either it will be right or wrong. Unlike other subjects in which a person can lie somewhere between right and wrong, math believes only in perfection. In a language paper-like English, a person can answer a problem subjectively even if he/she has not studied the topic. But in math, either you will score full marks in a particular question or zero. This is the essence of mathematics.
4. Rote Learning Doesn’t Work
Students simply mug up things that are in the syllabus. But this doesn’t apply in mathematics. If a person wants to do good at math, then it is mandatory for him/her to understand the concepts well and practice many questions to thoroughly understand the concept. So, it is recommended that instead of reading math like subjects, one should understand it and enjoy its flavor.
5. Requires Hard Work
Math is not something that can be easily done or readily done. It requires too much labor and effort to excel in it. It is difficult for many people because it requires persistence as well as patience. This is the only reason why many students go for tuitions only for mathematics and not for other subjects.
I am sure all the text that you read above has not provided you the solution to the problem, instead, it highlighted the problem.
So, let us look at some ways to make math more interesting and enjoyable -
1. Connect It to the Real World
It is suggested that to have a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, one should connect it to the real world and applications. As we all are aware math has a large number of applications ranging from its use in economics, accounts, statistics, engineering, and many other disciplines. Connecting it with things like the distance traveled by your car at some speed or the monthly bill paid by you for a certain number of units will help a person a lot.
2. Math With Music
According to research, it has been found that many people are able to do math in a better way while listening to music. However, it should be noted that the music should be light and soft so that it does not distract any person from studying. So, for people who find maths difficult, this can be a great option to work on.
3. Prefer Online Videos
Many students do not understand mathematical things easily because it is not taught in a way it should be. While teaching math, a greater emphasis should be laid upon the practical applications of the mathematical concepts instead of just teaching them theories and questions. Students can refer to online platforms like YouTube, Byju's, etc as they have quality content for every grade and class. This will help them understand the pragmatic side of concepts.
Math is a great subject and has its use in many fields. Even if a person wants to crack any government services exam, he/she will have to study maths up to class 10th. So, it can be said that it is indeed very difficult to stay away from math for a long period of time. Even if you are a student of political science, you might need to calculate the special majority of the houses that is two-thirds of all the member who are present in the house to be an effective member of the Parliament. This will also require the use of math.
So, it is highly recommended that a person should not fear it and try to enjoy its essence and flavor. However, even if you do not get this subject, the world is not over for you. There are many more opportunities lying for you which really won't see Math as a criterion. The only thing to remember is to never stop trying because endurance is sometimes even better than the results!
Written by - Vaibhav Sharma
Edited by - Kashish Chadha
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