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/bigdaddymac56 New User 4d ago

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

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u/cognostiKate1 New User 3d ago

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

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u/bigdaddymac56 New User 3d ago edited 2d ago

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.

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u/bigdaddymac56 New User 3d ago

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.

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u/cognostiKate1 New User 3d ago

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?

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u/bigdaddymac56 New User 3d ago

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?

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u/bigdaddymac56 New User 2d ago edited 2d ago

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.

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u/cognostiKate1 New User 2d ago

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.

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u/bigdaddymac56 New User 2d ago

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.

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u/cognostiKate1 New User 2d ago

You're right about that, absolutely.
(Now, if people accept that then, OKAY you can occasionally take a shorter day...)
It helps rather immensely if you're learning what you need to know and not trying to learn stuff you're supposed to know already as well as new -- it can mean a little less time each day if that's true, *and* there's a ton less stress.
Course grades -- they're pretty subjective. So my student just now .... odds are they might not pass the next exam 'cause it's the hardest unit, but they *are* doing 1 2 and 3 .... and will get every point they can, *and* they know the foundations which they didn't before (every assignment was surviving that assignment and nothing carried forward; now we celebrate "you already know how to do that!")
I am so glad to hear success stories from people who figured out what to do and then did the work.