I am for certain more right-brain than left, though I find numbers and math a hauntingly seductive field of study.
I took a quiz once, and I am far more left-brained that right it seems (19:11).
Anyways, onwards.
Math is a finicky subject, and while in my line of study there are many collegues and classmates who have an innate understanding and instant grasp of new mathematical concepts, I at least however, do not. As such, perhaps, if I may be as so bold as to say so, I am in a better position than most to offer advice, instead of an admitted genius who perhaps doesn't understand what is so difficult to fathom about the subject (I say this because I have had the experience of a mathematically brilliant classmate who did comment unthinkly/offhandedly to me once about the ease of higher mathematics and why some would possibly do physics if they weren't good at it, to which point I was not happy about).
A lot of the problem is mentality a well as the need for approaching maths from a different direction. Even as a child I detected that there was a pattern in mathematics, and not a rational pattern. The general consensus - or lament - of various schoolchildren around the globe is, "I hate maths". As children, even if we find maths interesting, we do begin to "hate" it and not look forward to it during timetabled classes because of that group/peer mentality. The opinions are not without reason though, and yes, math is difficult with when looking with the wrong coordinate set (that was a mathematical metaphor, which you might not get, but tell me if you want me to explain it! :D), but can be made easier with the right set.
I have an extraordinary memory, but sitting in math class in college (a course I HAD to take to get my certificate in health office administration), even with excellent teachers, my mind would start to blank and fret and fall behind. It was despairing.
Sometimes, some people can be geniuses at mathematics, but make the worst teachers ever. "Good and knowledgable at subject" does not necessarily translate to "good at passing on said knowledge in an effective way". People who aren't intrinsically understanding at mathematics require a different approach.
If there is one thing that I love about mathematics, it is this - black and white answers. As opposed to secondary school English or something of the sort, where an answer may have right and wrong points and may be argued, one of mathematics' strong points is its certainty. I learned to love it. :D You do a question/problem and your numerical answer is one of two things - right or wrong, no three ways about it. That does NOT mean to say that if you get an answer wrong they give you 0 marks - in mathematics they will give you "method marks" if you show your reasoning.
For me, just the knowledge that there is a purely 100% correct answer out there makes me smile. Even more than Physics, which is close to Mechanical Mathematics except with much more theory of the way the natural/physical world work, to me mathematics is the purest thing we humans can come close to understanding - Calculus especially, which fractions would be a part of. The rules of mathematics will not change. Theories may change, but the underlying math will not. *shrug* I had to learn and let myself love it.
That does not mean to say it isn't difficult, but at least then I had the right point of view.
Comment continued below due to LJ character limit.
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momijizukamori
Re: also...:^)
Date: 2009-09-01 09:02 am (UTC)I am for certain more right-brain than left, though I find numbers and math a hauntingly seductive field of study.
I took a quiz once, and I am far more left-brained that right it seems (19:11).
Anyways, onwards.
Math is a finicky subject, and while in my line of study there are many collegues and classmates who have an innate understanding and instant grasp of new mathematical concepts, I at least however, do not. As such, perhaps, if I may be as so bold as to say so, I am in a better position than most to offer advice, instead of an admitted genius who perhaps doesn't understand what is so difficult to fathom about the subject (I say this because I have had the experience of a mathematically brilliant classmate who did comment unthinkly/offhandedly to me once about the ease of higher mathematics and why some would possibly do physics if they weren't good at it, to which point I was not happy about).
A lot of the problem is mentality a well as the need for approaching maths from a different direction. Even as a child I detected that there was a pattern in mathematics, and not a rational pattern. The general consensus - or lament - of various schoolchildren around the globe is, "I hate maths". As children, even if we find maths interesting, we do begin to "hate" it and not look forward to it during timetabled classes because of that group/peer mentality. The opinions are not without reason though, and yes, math is difficult with when looking with the wrong coordinate set (that was a mathematical metaphor, which you might not get, but tell me if you want me to explain it! :D), but can be made easier with the right set.
I have an extraordinary memory, but sitting in math class in college (a course I HAD to take to get my certificate in health office administration), even with excellent teachers, my mind would start to blank and fret and fall behind. It was despairing.
Sometimes, some people can be geniuses at mathematics, but make the worst teachers ever. "Good and knowledgable at subject" does not necessarily translate to "good at passing on said knowledge in an effective way". People who aren't intrinsically understanding at mathematics require a different approach.
If there is one thing that I love about mathematics, it is this - black and white answers. As opposed to secondary school English or something of the sort, where an answer may have right and wrong points and may be argued, one of mathematics' strong points is its certainty. I learned to love it. :D You do a question/problem and your numerical answer is one of two things - right or wrong, no three ways about it. That does NOT mean to say that if you get an answer wrong they give you 0 marks - in mathematics they will give you "method marks" if you show your reasoning.
For me, just the knowledge that there is a purely 100% correct answer out there makes me smile. Even more than Physics, which is close to Mechanical Mathematics except with much more theory of the way the natural/physical world work, to me mathematics is the purest thing we humans can come close to understanding - Calculus especially, which fractions would be a part of. The rules of mathematics will not change. Theories may change, but the underlying math will not. *shrug* I had to learn and let myself love it.
That does not mean to say it isn't difficult, but at least then I had the right point of view.
Comment continued below due to LJ character limit.