Why People Hate Math? Featuring Professor Edward Frenkel

[Scott]

I think this is a great video featuring Professor Edward Frenkel, author of a New York Times bestseller.

I saw the video last night, and I'm adding his book to my to-read list, very close to the top (which you can see on my bookshelf).

Wow! Enlightening, right? What do you think?

View Love and Math on Bookshelves ~ Add it to your to-read list, free to do!

View Love and Math on Amazon

[khudecek]

What I would like to know is if some people have more of an aptitude for math than others. I can't grasp even the rudiments of it. It confuses me and it's overwhelming.

I recently applied for a job where I had to take a test. Part of the test was math. There were 100 problems to do. I had to get as many done as I could in ten minutes. I got five problems done and I ended up guessing at every one, after I struggled to find an answer. I was so frustrated, I was almost in tears. Needless to say, I didn't get the job.

I keep hoping for a light to suddenly come on and show me the error or my ways; to give me some understanding of it. But that hasn't happened and it is extremely difficult for me.

Maybe this book would help.

[bookowlie]

I have always been very good in math - Statistics, percentages, algebra. Calculus was a whole 'nother story....who invented that anyway?!

I do think some people have an aptitude for math and some don't. Same with science and spelling!

[khudecek]

I have always been very good in math - Statistics, percentages, algebra. Calculus was a whole 'nother story....who invented that anyway?!

I do think some people have an aptitude for math and some don't. Same with science and spelling!

Do you find that the people who are not as gifted in math have stronger language and writing skills?

You're one of the few who are gifted at both.

[Scott]

@khudecek it's definitely the case that some people have more of a aptitude for math. In fact, on the extreme there is a condition called dyscalculia which is basically the dyslexia of math. I even heard of people being arrested for shoplifting because of the condition; they are too stressed to go to the checkout at the store because they cannot figure out the payments, money, etc. That's of course the extreme, but I'm sure there is a vast spectrum between that extreme and the other.

@bookowlie Newton invented calculus, right?


What I really love about what Professor Frenkel said in the video is that he made mathematics seem more like an art. I really liked the analogy about painting fences. Some of us might be better with the basic mechanics of using a paint brush in our hand to draw simple things precisely, but we can all still appreciate and even potentially make great painting art.

[bookowlie]

That was a good analogy about painting fences. I know I can color within the lines in a coloring book.

[khudecek]

I've always colored outside the lines. Imagine that.

I have to confess that I did panic when I saw the math problems on the test. I knew I was hosed. I didn't understand any of the problems. I didn't know what they were looking for. My answers were so far off from what was on the list...it was just frustrating. I don't think I have dyscalculia but I have a serious problem.

I started failing math in 5th grade and I've never recovered. My kids know a heck of a lot more about it than I do. So, when I have a problem with my checkbook, which isn't often, I have my son help me. On the rare occasions that we go out to restaurants, I have my husband figure out the tip to leave the server. I wouldn't have the first idea how to figure out 20% of anything.

I'm a mathematical mess. People like me (or am I the only one like this?) are the people who the nefarious ones target. I can't fight my way out of wet paper bag.

[Way]

I love math, and I studied math too.
The picture on the cover of the book is my favorite painting!!!

[rssllue]

Sounds like a cool book. I love math!

[stoppoppingtheP]

I want to confess that I still don't know my times tables.

I think there are two different parts of maths. There is the rote learning, like the times tables, addition, percentages and equations that you have to memorise. I was never too good at those sort of things. Then there is the other part. The part where you play with numbers. Algebra, calculus and geometry, you just need to know a few rules, then you can apply this to all the sums and play around with the equations. This is the part of maths that I really enjoyed, and it is the important part. This is the maths that can be described as art.

[LivreAmour217]

Very insightful and thought-provoking! I have dyscalculia, and for many years I absolutely hated math! Most likely it was because I wasn't officially diagnosed with my learning disability until adulthood, and so many of my teachers lacked the patience to get through to me. I've now learned to respect math, and I often assist students with basic mathematics as a teacher's aide. Math might be painfully difficult for some of us, but it is very important to our everyday lives. I'm very interested in reading Professor Frenkel's book and have added it to my reading list.