Math: most unpopular school subject


Recommended Posts

Hahaha, oh man, after reading that, then seeing that last line about starting college tomorrow... I was rolling laughing. Man you're in for a rude awakening if that's how you feel about just high school math.

While some math may be less useful for some people, the majority will be helpful now and then in your life. No calculator sections? They have a reason. Sure SOME professionals can use a calculator, but consider when you have to do something more complex than a simple calculation that a calculator can't do, or you have are at work, don't have a calculator, and suddenly you can't do simple algebra, or how about a job like computer programming where you have to tell the computer how to to the work. You have to know it yourself first.

I don't particularly enjoy math (at least not anymore now that I'm in college), however I have never found it to be overly difficult. It's just a matter of paying attention and doing homework and you're fine, however without that practice, you'll fall behind VERY quickly on higher level math. Homework is of utmost importance in college math. It moves fast and you don't have time to not remember how to do something because you didn't practice.

I too find math tedious at times, and seemingly useless, but then again, in programming, I have done some absolutely insane mathmatical equations for the simplest of programs. Being able to use a calculator is of course nice, and I'd never complain, but you're much better off knowning and being able to do this kind of thing in your head. Then even if you have to use a calculator to double check or something, you can at least know that you knew how to do it yourself.

586399354[/snapback]

The industry I am in requires no math at all. The basics are all I need, and even then, I have a calculator to help me for more complex calculations. So ... for some professions, you don't need math. Just some. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Math is much more interesting when you can see that it is describing actual physical properties or structures, like in quantum mechanics. When you can see that what you are working on actually describes a process that exists, and why things like imaginary numbers exist in space time calculatations, you realize why it's important to have come up with it all in the first place.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hahaha, oh man, after reading that, then seeing that last line about starting college tomorrow... I was rolling laughing. Man you're in for a rude awakening if that's how you feel about just high school math.

While some math may be less useful for some people, the majority will be helpful now and then in your life. No calculator sections? They have a reason. Sure SOME professionals can use a calculator, but consider when you have to do something more complex than a simple calculation that a calculator can't do, or you have are at work, don't have a calculator, and suddenly you can't do simple algebra, or how about a job like computer programming where you have to tell the computer how to to the work. You have to know it yourself first.

I don't particularly enjoy math (at least not anymore now that I'm in college), however I have never found it to be overly difficult. It's just a matter of paying attention and doing homework and you're fine, however without that practice, you'll fall behind VERY quickly on higher level math. Homework is of utmost importance in college math. It moves fast and you don't have time to not remember how to do something because you didn't practice.

I too find math tedious at times, and seemingly useless, but then again, in programming, I have done some absolutely insane mathmatical equations for the simplest of programs. Being able to use a calculator is of course nice, and I'd never complain, but you're much better off knowning and being able to do this kind of thing in your head. Then even if you have to use a calculator to double check or something, you can at least know that you knew how to do it yourself.

586399354[/snapback]

Yeah, I know, I'd be laughing at myself as well. Regardless, I guess that's partially why I'm nervous. Also, you said "now and then in your life." That's the point I was trying to make. If someone needs a quick formula "now and then in their life," they could just check the internet. I do, however, see how math is relevant to people that use it daily, ie. programmers. I meant no offense by my pseudo-rant, I just think it's a bit of a waste of time to learn something like that if you never have to use it in life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

However consider cases even outside of your profession when some of those old equations become useful. You need to build something that requires calculations of sizes, you need to extend something like a recipie, or any other the other countless times where randomly, you just think "Hey... I can do that with a simple math formula I learned in school". Those times to arise on occasion for everyone.

Anyway, yeah, some professions don't use a lot of math, but life does throw it in there sometimes when you don't expect it. In my opinion (in grade school at least), Math was one of the few subjects that actually WAS worthwhile. The 4 main subjects in school are always Math, Science, History, and English. The kind of math you learn in high school is the kind of math you will see again in life. English is obviously a very valuable skill, however the way it's taught in high schools now days is absolutely pitiful, thus making what they teach you somewhat useless. Science quickly gets to a point where you will use it much less than you will use math in life (however personally I loved science, especially once it got harder like chemistry and Physics). And history in high school? Ehh, it's good to know, but in high school it's too focused on strictly remembering information than actually learning from the past, which is much more important.

It all comes down to the kind of teachers you get in high schools, and those usually end up being the people who will work for as little money as they get paid. It makes perfect sense to me that math is the favorite, and most hated subject at the same time. The people who value what they learn like that you actually learn something from math, whereas people who didn't want to do any work, hated it because it was the class that made you do more work than any other.

Anyway, just my take :)

Yeah, I know, I'd be laughing at myself as well. Regardless, I guess that's partially why I'm nervous. Also, you said "now and then in your life." That's the point I was trying to make. If someone needs a quick formula "now and then in their life," they could just check the internet. I do, however, see how math is relevant to people that use it daily, ie. programmers. I meant no offense by my pseudo-rant, I just think it's a bit of a waste of time to learn something like that if you never have to use it in life.

586399383[/snapback]

Haha, as I mean nothing against anyone with my quite obvious, and rather large "rant" of sorts. I shouldn't laugh, I just know what's in store for you, and if you already are giving up on math in high school, then college is going to be rather difficult for you. Checking the internet is normally not a possibility when the need pops up in the middle of no where.

Anyway, just giving advice from someone in college, so someone starting college. If you want to pass college math, I promise it will be much easier if you learn how to do everything, and do it by hand, at least for half the problems. Also, don't skip on your homework, even if your teacher doesn't take up the homework (Chemistry was like that for me for example). In college your teachers aren't going to slow down for you when you don't know how to do something quickly, so you have to know it all from your head, not from your calculator. In the end, knowing how to do it without the calculator will actually end up saving you a lot of time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You sir seem to be an extremely intelligent individual, and for this I applaud you. Thanks for the quick college tips, I'm still semi paranoid though! With that I go to sleep. Goodnight, mathematics thread.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

high school (junior&senior year) math shouldn't be rote learning, but an exploration of how it can be applied to various fields. at my high school, calculus (1&2) is considered to be a regular course (in the sense everyone takes it). there are a lot of neat applications and it is absolutely essential if you want to do anything with science/engineering/computer science. yes, even basic computer science. people who aren't good at discrete math are most likely inept with computer software/hardware design.

it's unfortunate that high school students already abhor math. higher level math is not about memorizing formulas or crunching through algebra/calculus/diff eqn problems. its about understanding how the formulas you use came about and what it really means. it is more abstract since you're trying to understand/solve a class of problems, not just a single equation. but it is far more interesting than working with a bunch of numbers/eqns that doesn't mean anything to you.

from my experience in electrical engineering program thus far, most students are not proficient enough with math and it also affects their performance in EE classes. for example, circuit analysis require diff eq/linear alg/some fourier but a lot of students haven't really learned it yet (or they don't understand a lot of it even after taking those classes). electrodynamics require basic understanding of multivariable vector calculus but a lot of students get confused due to lack of math discipline when working with vector/scalar fields. without a strong foundation in math (k-12), it is harder to succeed in engr/science fields in college.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

high school (junior&senior year) math shouldn't be rote learning, but an exploration of how it can be applied to various fields. at my high school, calculus (1&2) is considered to be a regular course (in the sense everyone takes it). there are a lot of neat applications and it is absolutely essential if you want to do anything with science/engineering/computer science. yes, even basic computer science. people who aren't good at discrete math are most likely inept with computer software/hardware design.

it's unfortunate that high school students already abhor math. higher level math is not about memorizing formulas or crunching through algebra/calculus/diff eqn problems. its about understanding how the formulas you use came about and what it really means. it is more abstract since you're trying to understand/solve a class of problems, not just a single equation. but it is far more interesting than working with a bunch of numbers/eqns that doesn't mean anything to you.

from my experience in electrical engineering program thus far, most students are not proficient enough with math and it also affects their performance in EE classes. for example, circuit analysis require diff eq/linear alg/some fourier but a lot of students haven't really learned it yet (or they don't understand a lot of it even after taking those classes). electrodynamics require basic understanding of multivariable vector calculus but a lot of students get confused due to lack of math discipline when working with vector/scalar fields. without a strong foundation in math (k-12), it is harder to succeed in engr/science fields in college.

586399536[/snapback]

Dude.. you will never need advanced triginometry to photograph a beautiful girl. =) (what i do) .. lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

After 8 years out of high school and 10 years of working, I have yet to use any math outside of what was tought to me in the 7th grade or maybe earlier it all blurs together.

That's right never once have I needed a square root, needed to plot a line, do any kind of algebraic equations nothing. Only thing that came in remotely handy was simple geometry in land navigation and even then I wasn't supposed to use it, just walk x meters at y degrees.

It's all worthless unless you're going into a job that explicitly requires it, in which case you'll have to take it again in college anyways, hence I consider it a giant waste of time for high school. Plus if you tell your teacher you won't need it later in life you're probably right.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its a little sad to hear actually, maths and physics are and have always been my favourite subjects (aside from computers). Things like algebra can get boring at times, but if you talk about things like functions, sets, probability, permutations, calculus ... they can be really interesting if you understand their physical significance. Its not as if higher level mathematics like calculus and trigonometry are useless for people interested in unrelated careers. True, you don't actually use them in your day to day life, but hey these are not fixed or specialised topics, they are just abouting thinking logically and clearly, and maths helps you do that ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

maths is one of those subjects which will never be used in life. My maths teacher once said "We learn maths so we wouldn't have to use it in the future"

As if, baseballers use trigonometry to calculate the trajectory of the ball and the angle in which to hit it.

The Australian NSW Maths Extension 2 HSC paper is considered to be the world hardest maths paper, and I'm doing it next year. It's a three hour paper and no one has completed it. The last question on the test last year took a teacher 2 hours to do...2 hours to do ONE question in a three hour test is a bit too extreme.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.