Why do People Think Math is Hard?

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Why do so many people think that math is hard? It may be just the people I've talked to, but the majority of people I've conversed with seem to find trig and algebra difficult. This is odd because those aren't even "real math," in the sense that they aren't really what constitutes the deep inner "soul" of mathematics. They are just introductory courses. For that matter, so is calculus. Do most people find mathematics hard, and if so, why?

[Trippoli]

Some people can learn a lot easier than others. Some people have their strong points, apparently yours is math.

[Sdaeriji]

Why do people think averaging 35 points per game in the NBA is hard? All you have to do is shoot the basketball into the basket.

You possess a skill that others do not. Others possess skills you do not. I'm sure Michael Jordan was baffled by people's insistence that basketball is hard, too.

[Dyakovo]

Why do so many people think that math is hard? It may be just the people I've talked to, but the majority of people I've conversed with seem to find trig and algebra difficult. This is odd because those aren't even "real math," in the sense that they aren't really what constitutes the deep inner "soul" of mathematics. They are just introductory courses. For that matter, so is calculus. Do most people find mathematics hard, and if so, why?

Because for some people it is.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Why do people think averaging 35 points per game in the NBA is hard? All you have to do is shoot the basketball into the basket.

You possess a skill that others do not. Others possess skills you do not. I'm sure Michael Jordan was baffled by people's insistence that basketball is hard, too.

But the proportion of people that find mathematics difficult seems especially large, correct me if I'm wrong.

[Tunizcha]

We are a certain breed that values logic higher than most.

[Trippoli]

Why do people think averaging 35 points per game in the NBA is hard? All you have to do is shoot the basketball into the basket.

You possess a skill that others do not. Others possess skills you do not. I'm sure Michael Jordan was baffled by people's insistence that basketball is hard, too.

But the proportion of people that find mathematics difficult seems especially large, correct me if I'm wrong.

because big numbers make me

[Soheran]

This is a pretty obnoxious thread.

Do you often enjoy trying to get people to tell you how smart you are?

[Hedbox]

some people have a head for numbers others dont.

its like some people are creative and others arent.

everyones different

[Barringtonia]

Blackadder: Right Baldrick, let's try again shall we? This is called adding. If I have two beans, and then I add two more beans, what do I have?
Baldrick: Some beans.
Blackadder: Yes... and no. Let's try again shall we? I have two beans, then I add two more beans. What does that make?
Baldrick: A very small casserole.
Blackadder: Baldrick, the ape creatures of the Indus have mastered this. Now try again. One, two, three, four. So how many are there?
Baldrick: Three.
Blackadder: What?
Baldrick: ...and that one.
Blackadder: Three and that one. So if I add that one to the three what will I have?
Baldrick: Oh. Some beans

[Sdaeriji]

Why do people think averaging 35 points per game in the NBA is hard? All you have to do is shoot the basketball into the basket.

You possess a skill that others do not. Others possess skills you do not. I'm sure Michael Jordan was baffled by people's insistence that basketball is hard, too.

But the proportion of people that find mathematics difficult seems especially large, correct me if I'm wrong.

You described calculus as an introductory mathemathics course in your original post. Clearly your opinion on mathematics is highly biased. By your definition, I'm sure that the proportion of people who find mathematics difficult is especially large, much like according to Michael Jordan's definition of what it means to play basketball, the proportion of people who find basketball difficult would be especially large as well.

[Dakini]

Real math can be difficult...

...the math most people stop at is not.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

You described calculus as an introductory mathemathics course in your original post. Clearly your opinion on mathematics is highly biased. By your definition, I'm sure that the proportion of people who find mathematics difficult is especially large, much like according to Michael Jordan's definition of what it means to play basketball, the proportion of people who find basketball difficult would be especially large as well.

Calculus IS introductory mathematics. In most colleges, it is first semester first year material.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

This is a pretty obnoxious thread.

Do you often enjoy trying to get people to tell you how smart you are?

More a lamentation of innumeracy.

[Sdaeriji]

You described calculus as an introductory mathemathics course in your original post. Clearly your opinion on mathematics is highly biased. By your definition, I'm sure that the proportion of people who find mathematics difficult is especially large, much like according to Michael Jordan's definition of what it means to play basketball, the proportion of people who find basketball difficult would be especially large as well.

Calculus IS introductory mathematics. In most colleges, it is first semester first year material.

This is futile. Is the point of this thread to masturbate to how amazing you are at mathematics? Do you desire a trophy or some sort of commemorative plaque?

[Ryadn]

"I'm very smart. I'm good at something others find difficult. I continually bring this up in discussions, but not enough people pay attention, so I'm going to make a whole thread devoted to it. Acknowledge how special I am, random internet people!!"

[Barringtonia]

Real math can be difficult...

...the math most people stop at is not.

I think you'll shortly be told that arithmetic is not, in fact, mathematics,

To be honest, math is much like a language, with its own symbols representing stuff - and, much like a language, if you don't need it or use it much, you're not going to remember or bother to learn it,

Is it hard? Possibly since at some point it becomes rather abstract, making it harder than a language for example,

[Dakini]

This is a pretty obnoxious thread.

Do you often enjoy trying to get people to tell you how smart you are?

To be fair, having a certain level of mathematical ability should be as expected as having a certain level of literacy.

[Tunizcha]

You described calculus as an introductory mathemathics course in your original post. Clearly your opinion on mathematics is highly biased. By your definition, I'm sure that the proportion of people who find mathematics difficult is especially large, much like according to Michael Jordan's definition of what it means to play basketball, the proportion of people who find basketball difficult would be especially large as well.

Calculus IS introductory mathematics. In most colleges, it is first semester first year material.

This is futile. Is the point of this thread to masturbate to how amazing you are at mathematics? Do you desire a trophy or some sort of commemorative plaque?

The primary function of this topic is to ascertain the cause the illogical thesis stating that mathematics is difficult.

[Trippoli]

You described calculus as an introductory mathemathics course in your original post. Clearly your opinion on mathematics is highly biased. By your definition, I'm sure that the proportion of people who find mathematics difficult is especially large, much like according to Michael Jordan's definition of what it means to play basketball, the proportion of people who find basketball difficult would be especially large as well.

Calculus IS introductory mathematics. In most colleges, it is first semester first year material.

Well, I am not interested in that kind of career that requires calculus and such.

so you can take yer' fancy long numburs and leave me be!

[Sdaeriji]

This is a pretty obnoxious thread.

Do you often enjoy trying to get people to tell you how smart you are?

To be fair, having a certain level of mathematical ability should be as expected as having a certain level of literacy.

And the level of mathematical ability necessary to consider calculus "introductory" is not.

[Ryadn]

This is a pretty obnoxious thread.

Do you often enjoy trying to get people to tell you how smart you are?

To be fair, having a certain level of mathematical ability should be as expected as having a certain level of literacy.

Agreed. I think calculus exceeds that level.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

This is futile. Is the point of this thread to masturbate to how amazing you are at mathematics? Do you desire a trophy or some sort of commemorative plaque?

The point is why so many seem to find mathematics hard in comparison to any other subject. What is it about mathematics that more people find difficult than other subjects? Why is it overrepresented in the perceived difficulty category?

[Dakini]

Real math can be difficult...

...the math most people stop at is not.

I think you'll shortly be told that arithmetic is not, in fact, mathematics,

To be honest, math is much like a language, with its own symbols representing stuff - and, much like a language, if you don't need it or use it much, you're not going to remember or bother to learn it,

Is it hard? Possibly since at some point it becomes rather abstract, making it harder than a language for example,

By real math I meant like when you start getting into very complicated things. But I realize that I worded this poorly because simple math is still math.


Basically, it's when tensors get involved that things get really screwy.

[Sdaeriji]

The primary function of this topic is to ascertain the cause the illogical thesis stating that mathematics is difficult.

In what illusionary discussion is "math is hard" a thesis?