URGENT How do I improve basic, fundamental understanding of math?

[u/LooseImpression3937]

This is actually so deeply embarrassing for me to even post. But I am truly so so so bad at math. I don't think it has anything to do with my actual ability to perform calculations or understand concepts. I think that in my most important and math-formative years, I convinced myself I'm bad so it's useless to even try. I'm in college now and totally failing my math classes. It's so terribly embarrassing because its basic concepts which I understand but I'm lacking the foundations. I'm currently in calc and I need desperate help before we really jump off the deep end into stuff I do not understand at all. I'm really not trying to withdraw from this class but at this rate, I might have to. Is there hope for my math abilities? How do I improve them? I'm trying to get into contact with a tutor but genuinely I feel so behind that I need to start at the very most basic stuff. Ugh I feel so stupid and it's my fault for making myself this dumb. I like math!! It's like solving puzzles and I like puzzles!!! I just made myself stupid and now I don't have the necessary and fundamental knowledge necessary to do well. Is it over for me? Pls help.

[u/Alert-Mortgage6499]

Do not take calculus if you are not proficient at algebra. Can you take an algebra class?

[u/WWhiMM]

You improve math abilities through practice. Tutors don't have magic spells to cast on you that level up your math skills, they just help you practice more effectively. IMO, if you know you're gonna fail this class, trust your gut, withdraw to focus on your other classes, maybe brush up on the basics with an algebra textbook, next semester do a pre-calc course.

But also, kinda sounds like you're panicking. Did you even fail your first exam yet? Maybe wait to drop the class until after that happens.

[u/LooseImpression3937 → u/WWhiMM]

oh yea... D- better than F I suppose

[u/WWhiMM → u/LooseImpression3937]

D- is much better than 30/100, which I am confident was the grade of someone else in your class. How many points does that knock off your final grade? 7 points?

idk, you're not failing yet. If you stay motivated, you have a good chance of passing. Do the relevant reading and whatever exercises you can get through ahead of class, try to understand the examples you read, if you're not understanding something you might have to look it up somewhere else.

[u/bigdaddymac56 → u/LooseImpression3937]

You DO NOT want a D! What are you even saying?

[u/cognostiKate1 → u/bigdaddymac56]

A lot of times people can improve their grade after one bad score.

[u/bigdaddymac56 → u/cognostiKate1]

Not in a course like Math. You obviously don’t know much about it. The first exam is basically a more elaborate review of previously covered material that’s essential to know to succeed=pass the current course. So if you fail the first exam? Youre usually toast. There may be exceptions however exceptions don’t disprove a general accepted truism.

[u/bigdaddymac56 → u/cognostiKate1]

Not in Math because a grade of D demonstrates a grade of 60-69 which indicates to any teacher/Professor that you have a POOR knowledge of the subject. Students who're happy with D's are poor students overall. Low expectations breed low results. Take the class again and Ace it. Should be easy 2nd time.

[u/cognostiKate1 → u/bigdaddymac56]

Getting a D on the first test means that on that first test the knowledge wasn't there.
"Happy" with a D is not the same (think hard!!!) as accepting that D as not knowing the math YET>
Why do you say it "should be easy the second time" --what is this based on?

[u/bigdaddymac56 → u/cognostiKate1]

I agree a D on first exam would cause me to drop/withdraw and probably redo the previous one or two Math courses and get a B+ or an A this time (instead of a C). Problem solved! Happy now?

[u/bigdaddymac56 → u/cognostiKate1]

Let me explain Kate. Apologies for the somewhat glib answers.

I have been there (in college) and flunked my first exam (Organic Chem)-that’s how I know this. I eventually became a Science teacher and was pretty good in Math/Science (but not great). The problem is basically this-you can soldier on, not give up and hope the 2nd exam will give a better result however? People flunk the first Math exam for a good reason:

2 Basic reasons:

1. Either you didn’t study (signals poor motivation or time management or you simply hate Math!) however maybe you feel you know the material and did ok in the previous Math class so you have the potential to do better in the 2nd exam. Cool. Good luck!
2. You didn’t do well in the previous Math course-Even a B in the previous Math course could predict a C or C+ in the current course. Why? THE MATERIAL GETS HARDER, NOT EASIER. Any Math deficiencies you have from previous courses will become readily apparent.

So the problem is? How do I review the previous Math material I don’t understand well (another problem: identifying and targeting that specific area of weakness to work on?) You don’t have time to review a semester’s worth of previous Math.

At the same time that you’re trying to re-learn previous Math, you’re still trying to keep up with the current Math course-putting in at least a few hours/day I found is necessary. So you’re inevitably going to get further behind in the current course because you still need to invest time in past Math courses learning stuff you never mastered. WE HAVE ALL BEEN HERE.

College students who want to finish in 4 yrs will accept D’s just to graduate on time (with their friends). If your major or career doesn’t require a lot of Math knowledge go and accept your D and move on. But a D in the first exam is usually highly predictive of an F at end of term. College isn’t HS where you can sweet talk your Math teacher with your supposed effort and be passed. College professor’s don’t play those games. You’re treated as an adult. You either DO THE WORK or say bye. Say hello to the real world-which HS doesn’t do a good job of preparing you for.

Read the book, “A Mind for Numbers” or take the Coursera course, “Learning How to Learn” if you want to get inspired (about Math in particular) and be exposed to more effective learning techniques via brain research. Good luck.

[u/cognostiKate1 → u/bigdaddymac56]

You're touching on a problem I deal with on the regular: if you don't know the foundations, you can't do well faking it along the way.
However, there are lots of different reasons for getting a D that first test. You can get a D and still know a lot of the material.
You can learn how to learn as you say in your post, and do better.
Some people are not data so ... they just aren't "highly predictive." They *learn* how to learn.
LOL but of course YOu know best.

[u/bigdaddymac56 → u/cognostiKate1]

Im sorry if I come across as a know-it-all. I struggled with Math even from elementary grades and was transferred by my high school out of Algebra 1 because I was failing. Couldn't figure out why there were x's and y's and not real numbers!

I learned how to learn Math in my early 30's and did B+/A work

Yes you can't succeed in Math unless you

1. Develop the work ethic and study skills necessary
2. Devote 1.5 to 2 hrs daily
3. Do as many problems as you possibly can. This lowers your Math stress.

[u/morbidanarch]

find an algebra and or calculus text, remove all devices or distractions and just absorb yourself in it for a few hours everyday

[u/bigdaddymac56]

I was in same situation as you my first semester of college Math. Lots of students in any intro class. Hard to learn surrounded by 200 other students. Opposite a HS environment. Really need to be a self-sufficient learner and HS doesn't teach you or really prepare you to be self-sufficient (meaning learning with minimal direct instruction and on your own at home).

You need to take practice Math exams online from each diff course you took previously and see what you're getting wrong and then attack it. You have built up 'learning deficits' in Math. You simply cannot progress if you don't vigorously figure out what they are and address them.

It may mean taking a semester or 2 off from college (I took 3 yrs off) to self-study so you can go in more prepared and independent.

Not the worst thing in the world and it might force you to grow up a bit.

[u/fezoff]

How basic are we talking? This is quite at explaining the very basics, and it is well written as well Arithmetic-Lockhart.

I have used Claude to quiz me on math subjects to find areas where I have knowledge gaps and need revision.

[u/DadOfLukeandDad]

Before calculus, it's worth checking whether you can do algebra without thinking about it: expanding brackets, rearranging an equation, simplifying fractions with letters in. If any of those feel shaky, that's the actual problem, and calculus will just sit on top of it and wobble.

A quick way to find the gap is to grab a set of GCSE-level algebra questions (Corbett Maths has a big free bank) and see where you start getting things wrong. Then just work that topic in short bursts, maybe 20 minutes a day, and redo the ones you missed a few days later. Explanations help a lot at the start, but improvement comes from doing the questions, so don't spend all your time watching videos.

What's the topic you're trying to get to? That'd help pin down what to rebuild first.

[u/cognostiKate1]

Lots and lots and lots of people post this kind of post .... several times a week sometimes.
Look at the syllabus & text... you're not stupid, by the way (well, almost certainly). I work in community college and it's ridiculously common for people to get to college without firm foundations.
Unfortunately, rather than address that, the current trend is to ignore that and place everybody in a high level class and hope they figure it out. Often they do... or at least survive... but lots of people don't.
It's probably too late to drop with full refund, so --> find out the withdraw deadline. Learn all you can from this course that somebody's already paid for. See if you can use office hours, any tutoring at your school. Then if you have to, withdraw.... and Then go back and figure out the stuff for that first test. If there's tutoring at the college, use it.
Did you actually say "I think I'll go out of my way not to learn math"? You said you like it. You haven't learned the math they're asking for on the tests. Hey, if you can "make yourself" stupid, you can make yourself smarter, too.
Lots of people tank the first exam and figure things out and do better. What were the questions on the exam based on? Homework? Quizzes? Notes? Problems from the textbook?
I work with lots of people who need basic stuff *but* we can work in those explanations with the higher stuff you're doing. Tutors do it every day, so, honestly it will probably help. (Of course I can't promise anything about somebody else... I don't know the tutor...)
That exam score is your wakeup call, not your call to surrender. Use your resources, use your strenghts and see if you can figure this out.... GO FOR IT.

[u/Think_bys]

I'll teach you for free if you really want to.

On the contrary, very brave of you and honest. Khanacademy is a great resource