How do you feel towards Math?
By cessybear
@cessybear (223)
Philippines
December 1, 2012 4:33am CST
I am a Mass Communication College Students and most of the students here avoid Math as much as possible. Actually, it is one of the many reasons why I chose this one, just the same as them. Now, we are asked to make an essay about how we feel towards Math. I thought this is such an interesting question for you guys who enjoy discussing things.
I want to know if people who are good in things like these--answering questions, making essays, and communication--naturally feel a loath against Math. Thank you.
1 person likes this
18 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
•
1 Dec 12
Do you mean mathematics? The correct English abbreviation is 'maths.'
all the best, urban
@urbandekay (18278)
•
1 Dec 12
Well, lets abandon all logic then; why abbreviate a plural to a singular? It is our language, after all, and you can choose to use it or abuse it!
all the best, urban
@StLouisMetroTutoring (678)
• St. Peters, Missouri
1 Dec 12
Actually, the correct abbreviation depends on where you're from.
In North America, like the United States, it's abbreviated as math. To say hear someone in high-school say, "I have maths third hour" would just be wrong.
British English uses the abbreviation maths.
Not gonna get into why each uses their respective abbreviation or the validity of either. Generally speaking, American English evolved one way, British English another. Neither is "right" or "wrong".
http://www.dailywritingtip.com/math-or-maths
http://www.grammarist.com/spelling/math-maths
@StLouisMetroTutoring (678)
• St. Peters, Missouri
1 Dec 12
Really Urban? Please calm down.
First of all English isn't your language. It's a West Germanic Language. It was brought to Britain by Germanic invaders and settlers. Should we ask a German to settle this for us? Or does that make any sense at all? I don't think so. The language has evolved considerably since then. Including British English and American English. Technically, what you're speaking is nothing more than a dialect of that original language. American English is another.
Wanna talk some more about where the language comes from? You got major influences from the Scandinavian branch of Germanic languages when they conquered and settled Britain in the 8th and 9th centuries. And then there was the huge influx on Normans in the 11th century and something called Anglo-Norman developed. I could go on and on - but the point is, English is a conglomeration of many languages. English didn't start in Britain. It's an evolving language with many outside influences. That's one of the great things about our language. We're always adding new words from other languages to improve our language. But the words aren't ours.
@SuperShames (780)
• India
1 Dec 12
Hi cessybear.
Well I am a management student. But I love mathematics. There is a lot of statistics and maths involved when it comes to management. The best part about maths is its relevant with the real world It is one of the most practical subject ever taught in any education program's curriculum. Though you do not like maths, but unknowingly you use it the most in your daily life. Anyways have a nice day ...
+SuperShames+
@SouthernMiss (23)
•
1 Dec 12
It seems like the people who like math don't like literature classes, & the people who are good at literature aren't a fan of mathematics; even though, like you said, it's something we use the most in our everyday lives.
I added literature to that because reading, writing, & general speech kind of goes hand in hand with our daily math skills.
@SuperShames (780)
• India
1 Dec 12
Hi southernmiss.
Well when you said literature, did you mean the literature related to William Shakespeare and such. If that is what you meant then I do agree with you. I love reading novels and spend enough time over internet reading blogs and other interesting articles. Anyways have a nice day ...
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
1 Dec 12
Really? You like literature? That is quite rare you know. A person who loves Math, and loves Literature at the same time. Thanks, now I don't feel so hopeless anymore. :D
@asliah (11137)
• Philippines
10 Dec 12
hi,
ever since i didn't love math subject especially when i was in college,it because math is really hard for me,there was a time that i need to take another exam just to pass that subject,that was an algebra,and aside from that,why do we need to study of it if our course is all about culinary and computers,i think math is applicable only to business management,Engineering and Architecture course.
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
10 Dec 12
That is one of the reasons why I don't like Math that much when I was in Junior and Senior College. I think I am not going to use it all my life. But because it is necessary, I learned to learn it the hard way but without willingness and the heart. I am better at English though. :D
@ungu89 (1999)
• Malaysia
1 Dec 12
i really don't like math, but i already choose science as my pathways for future.
so, i don't think by hate it and don't learn it i will survive in this science world.
so, what can i just do, learn it slowly even i hate them.
i'm not so sure why i always take subject that i hate most
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
1 Dec 12
Hey, science has a lot of Maths too! I studied Physics during Senior High and it requires a lot of computations. I hardly survived. I guess you are good in Math. :)
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
1 Dec 12
Survive. That's it. :D Thank you! I also try to survive Math occurrences in my life,but I learned that "life has to be lived, rather than to be survived."
@shubh2541 (29)
• India
1 Dec 12
i love maths.. its my best subject
but when it comes to literature i hate it its like dreaming or sleeping pill.
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
1 Dec 12
See guys! This one proved that Math and English geeks are like oil and water.. they don't ever mix up. :D Haha thank you for your response dude.
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
1 Dec 12
Lol! We're the same! hahaha! History book is really... boring. No information ever made its way to my brain. :D It refused to accept those things...
@habibti320 (925)
• United States
2 Dec 12
I am very much an English and Linguistics person, but I have come to respect some aspects of math.
I think that with your major especially, you should try to take Statistics. Subjects like calculus are not useful for most people, but everyone interacts with statistics in some way. Also, the knowledge of Statistics will help you become more marketable in the Communication field.
All the best to you!
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
3 Dec 12
Wow. Do you really think Statistics will help me? That's kind of my criteria in having an interest on a subject. Thanks a lot! But I heard Statistics is so hard, but God will do impossible things to me, I know. :D
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
10 Dec 12
Oh I now see how useful Statistics is. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
I am thankful I don't have Calculus yet. I heard many things about it, and I don't ever want to try it. I am actually afraid of it. I definitely cannot bear to have a red mark on my grades. :(
@habibti320 (925)
• United States
5 Dec 12
Statistics is the main type of math required for most professions and also making everyday decisions at home. Learning to recognize statistics, correlations, and what makes a good study can help you analyze information about political policies, medical treatments, stock options, etc.
Also, a knowledge of statistics is useful for people who work in the public sector, business, journalism, etc. It can teach you how to effectively read data and also present your data to others. I have used it in writing grants at the local non-profit I work for. I use it to look at trends in my spending habits and food prices in my area. I have also used it to figure out when someone is skewing data to meet their own objectives. I'm not big on math, but I do wish that our curriculum went towards having Statistics as a general high school course instead of trying to lead everyone up towards Calculus. I tried Calculus, and it just gave me a headache. More importantly, I have never used it since. I get why some people need it, but the average person will never need that information. It's more of a mental exercise.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
2 Dec 12
Mathematics was always my favourite subject and I find it strange that so many people tend to dislike the subject. It is also a subject that cannot be avoided because it plays a major role in everyday life.
You need at least a decent knowledge of basic mathematics in order to calculate whether a bill is correct or budget your expenditure. There is also a need for mathematics in most jobs. The two most important subjects for anyone to learn are mathematics and your own native language, without these you will struggle throughout all aspects of life.
@Cutie18f (9546)
• Philippines
1 Dec 12
Math is my enemy. I abhor it and I don't want to have anything to do with it. Unfortunately, we can't escape it because we do numbers in our everyday lives, we compute, we add, subtract etc. It's the lessons in school that really makes me hate Math.
@chiwasaki (4694)
• Philippines
2 Dec 12
There are a lot of branches of Mathematics. For me, some are interesting and some are freaking difficult. I love geometry as you it is more on shapes and figures. I do not like Differential Algebra as for me, it is very complex. Statistics is cool I guess.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2 Dec 12
I like it because it is Truth---in that it stays the same no matter how the multitude of people feel about it.
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
3 Dec 12
Hm, kind of like a wall that stays strong no matter how many disasters came to it huh? Nice! Math is just that hard, I guess. :D
@kokomo (1867)
• Philippines
2 Dec 12
Actually, it is not exactly that I do not want Math as subject. When I was in elementary and high school, Math as subject was the lowest grade I've got but I do not consider it as my most hate subject. It depends on the teacher of that subject. I love Math when the teacher is very good in teaching and I seldom have that kind of teacher during my studies days.Math is so very interesting and challenging with me.
@acoustic67scouser (220)
• India
1 Dec 12
Hi there,
Maths is a kind of subject which I've always tried to just pass whether it was in schools or now in college.
I'm doing Electrical Engineering in and there is Engineering Maths which was up to the third semester. But our course is basically having subjects which needs lots of maths and numericals even though there is a particular maths subject which I mentioned. So, its quite hard.
Personally, I think that if you can catch up the basics in math, you will always want to solve new and many other problems because you will find interest.
Now a days I'm Tutoring a few school kids, and the most important thing I find is that I'm able to solve like 98% problems by myself, may be because my thinking level have become more matured and I'm enjoying this because I kind of jumped and do partially many things on this subject in the school levels.
But now by Tutoring I think I have the chance of gaining more experience as well as know things better which I partially did on the school levels.
@cessybear (223)
• Philippines
1 Dec 12
Thank you for your answer. Yes, Engineering courses do require many Maths. I cant ever imagine myself surviving that course. I hate Math, but it doesn't mean I'm not good at it, just like what the comment said above, I also find it complicated.
@FRANKOBA (34)
• Nigeria
1 Dec 12
i actually, i never liked maths but i do understand it but don't just liked it and thats why i didn't go for computer science as my discipline.
@Badkid (235)
• Philippines
2 Dec 12
I'm avoiding Math,I dont like the subject Math..when I'm on school and when our math teacher entered our classroom,I get sleepy..I don't want to listen to her discussion.
when I have nothing to do,I'm just pretending that I'm listening..I really Hate math..I actually thinking why other people loves Math.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
1 Dec 12
I think it was that polymath, Jonathan Miller who once said he wish he had stuck with science instead of opting to pursue the easy option of arts and language for which he became famous.
The reason people avoid maths is purely that it is hard and art and language study is easy
all the best, urban
@SouthernMiss (23)
•
1 Dec 12
If it's just finances & straight number mathematics, I'm fine with it. But math courses like geometry...I don't fancy that so much...
@StLouisMetroTutoring (678)
• St. Peters, Missouri
1 Dec 12
Great observation!
The way we feel about math definitely includes factors like how we're taught, but the bottom line is personality theory tells us that we all have something called "multiple intelligences". While it might not be important to understand what "multiple intelligences" means unless you happen to be an educator, it's important to understand a little for your question. Multiple Intelligences deals with parts of who we are and what we're naturally inclined to be good at. One of the intelligences is mathematical and logical. Another is linguistic and using words. But there are 6 others that have been defined. What's important to realize is that since these intelligences describe things we're naturally good at, it would make sense that they would also describe things we naturally like. Some people are strong equally in many areas. However, this isn't the standard. Most people are really strong in one or two intelligences and just have a little of the others. This would mean some people are really strong in using words. So they would be strong in literature, writing, reading, speaking. Some people are really strong at logical things like math. They are the ones that think math is easy. Some of us even do math things for fun - different math games. They're probably good at science. Some people are really strong at creative things. These are your musicians and artists. Some people are really strong in being able to use their body - like in P.E. These are all intelligences (there are 4 more). But only some people are really strong in 4, 5, or more of these areas.
@Winston12321 (21)
• Singapore
1 Dec 12
To me, maths is a subject to fret for 20 minutes just to complete 1 question. Despite doing fine at primary school, secondary and polytechnic maths are a big trouble for me. Failing occasionally and trying to keep up is everyday life for me. It is used almost everyday to solve basic questions like price checking and savings. Hence, I can't help but be grateful to it despite the fact that I hate doing maths homework,etc. not only do I have mixed feelings about mathematics, I am really confused for years why we must learn hard questions when we don't really use them in daily life. Now, I know the answer. Marketing and calculations in the office would be really complicated and constant brainwork is needed to be done.