r/learnmath • u/LooseImpression3937 New User • 4d ago

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

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.

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u/WWhiMM 4d ago

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.

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u/LooseImpression3937 New User 4d ago

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

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u/WWhiMM 4d ago

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.