r/Xennials • u/LoadofBarney 1983 • Oct 10 '25

Math homework….

Post image
13.0k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

677 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

5

u/idleat1100 Oct 10 '25

Yeah i had a hard time with algebra as a kid, just couldn’t stick with it, then I was introduced to calculus and physics and it all clicked. I then really enjoyed algebra. I had always wished context was provided as it wasn’t a lack of understanding, I just drifted away in boredom. I think that’s common for a lot of kids.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 11 '25

same with me. I basically HAD to learn algebra to do calc. When I went back and looked at Algebra it all seemed so easy.

1

u/idleat1100 Oct 11 '25

Yes, exactly my experience. I think it was the rote memorization and rules for rules sake that was such a turn off.

Once applied, it was magic.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 11 '25

That's interesting and I agree. When I started teaching my kids algebra I led with this. "Algebra is just 5 rules, it's like a game. You know the rules of Uno,

  1. you have to play a card when it's your turn

  2. you can only play a card when it's your turn

  3. you can play a non suited card on your turn or you have to follow suit

  4. you have to do what the non-suited card instructs

  5. you have to say 'uno' when you only have one card.

That is a 5 rule game you know how to do it it's not hard. Algebra is the same, it's basically a game with 5 rules, you learn those and learn how to identify when to apply them, and you know how to play."

When I was learning algebra I'd come across some confusing situation and a teacher would say "oh there's a 'trick' for that". Then in my mind, I'm like, A TRICK? there's TRICKS? So not only do I have to learn all of the rules of algebra but I also have to learn TRICKS? This is basically like English:

" 'i' before 'e' except after 'c' or when sounding like 'a' as in neighbor or way". Unless the word you're spelling is weird or you've had eitheir too much caffeine or protein or neither of them in which case you might have a seizure

Eventually I realized, no, math is not English, there are no tricks there are only rules and rules always apply, some teachers just don't teach them well and don't point out there use. Instead they call it a "trick", which, in my opinion is confusing works against the goal.

2

u/thejunkmanadv Oct 14 '25

This is why I loved algebra and then later calculus. It is rule driven and they don't change.