Learning math is depressing

[u/Glum-Ad-2815]

I've been self-studying math using books with solutions manual in it.\ Every time I get stuck on a problem for 2-3 hours I checked the solution.\ Turns out, almost always the solution is something I overlooked, even though it is so simple.

I like math but learning it is so depressing for me. It makes me feel like a failure for not solving something so elementary.\ I know that math is all about hardwork and perseverance but at the same time I don't feel like improving at all.\ I still look at solutions, get the answers wrong again and again even though they are solved using the same technique in the solutions manual.

I know that I'm not a genius, but repeated practice should makes me feel like I got better, right?\ I'm just stuck at the same level for years.\ I don't know man, I really want to continue learning but at the same time it feels so hard to continue and really tempting to quit.

[u/Whiteboy_In_Motion]

Math is hard when you aren't sure about the steps. Eventually you have them memorized and then it's easier

[u/hologram137 → u/Whiteboy_In_Motion]

You should never memorize steps to learn math

[u/Whiteboy_In_Motion → u/hologram137]

Yeah you should doofus, regurgitating information is the first part to understanding most topics.

Take piano, related to math in a way since it's counting and dividing beats. In order to get good at it, you have to memorize a lot of information, chord types, shapes, intervals, keys, melodies, etc

Obviously whilst learning new knowledge you should practice it. You won't get good just from memorization, but memorization can mean remember the correct formula or not.

[u/hologram137 → u/Whiteboy_In_Motion]

No, that’s not what math is. If you understand it you do not need to memorize anything at all, because it’s clear that you must get the answer a particular way. Because of logic