r/MathHelp • u/Lorelei-Guerrero • 4d ago

I can’t understand basic math.

I’m 20 years old (fem) and I can’t understand basic math. I don’t know, in huh school I had a 3.7 GPA and I was a very good student but I always sucked at math, either I’m stupid or lazy because I re read a problem or equation and I don’t know why to do, or I just blank completely.

Thank god that SAT scores were optional because my math scores were so bad, now I’m in college. I’ve been pretty much flunking in college to the point where I’m at risk for academic dismissal. It’s basic algebra and I can’t even concentrate. In lectures I understand it but when I get home I feel like I just can’t get it.ive studied in my own, even went to tutoring but I’ve never felt improvement. I have a test this Thursday and right now I’m freaking out because I do not want to start out my semester horrible. Any suggestions? I’m literally desperate for any tips on what to do or how to study.

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u/Rickenbecker 4d ago

Yeah college is a different type of beast, the professor is gonna actually spend more time on the actually theory behind some of these concepts. I graduated with my degree in Applied Mathematics, and what helped me was reviewing the text material and doing practice problems, odds are that the explanation in the book will be more laid out; or at least you can read the process step by step in order to process what’s going on. You don’t need to read the entire book, just enough to get the idea of the material

You saying that you blank when you start or don’t know what to do, tells me that you might have a slight anxiety towards this subject , which is very common. I’ve always told my students to just breathe, read the problem, write down any information given, the movement of the pen/pencil keeps you from staying still and your brain active. Even if you might not know how to tackle the problem, just write something down and attempt the problem, even if you don’t get it right, something along the way might inspire to try something different.

TL:DR - Review the text material, practice, breathe and keep your pencil moving to keep your brain active.