In school, I can finish my Math howeworks and review all the lessons but only because everything is graded. i'm out of school now and I'm  trying to review Mathematics to get better ASVAB and SAT scores but i easily get tired of relearning everything. I'm the type of person who needs to be rewarded to be more motivated and reviewing Math doesn't reward me at all, I learn more but there's no fun. Is there a way to make Calculus more fun and interesting?
214609
In order for math to be interesting to you, you should make it part of you, and part of your life. you would have to use it in your every day life basis. don't use it like when you have to do your homework or practice for SAT, but use it like when you are eating, look for what is the percentage of each category of food you are eating, make equation about it, and you will practice even without knowing. like if you playing cards or marbles, or dices, whatever you are doing, just make it mathematically, and once you do that, math is going to be part of your basic life and it is going to be fun for you, you understand it more and more, cause sometimes this is what i usually do.
347164
Yeah yeah, Ok Lu - Good for you - but back to the subject - not you using this thread to glorify yourself and your problem solving abilities. :-&#92;\n\nBack to the subject.......\n\nI totally agree with you Phil C - It's like when I was at school and Encarta just came out. All the kids with computers used to just cut and paste HUGE chunks of it into thier homework. \n\nIt's the same as all this coursework B*llsh*t. Kids racking up a grade without even sitting an exam - It should be all down to the tests, not studying and putting together studies that equate to 60% of your final grade.\n\nLife is stressful and in the working world it all comes donw to the crunch - They should be educated to deal with pressure from a younger age - then we wouldn;t get so many flakey Grads in jobs that have no idea about thinking on thier feet.\n\nKids are lazy as hell - we are just helping that.\n\nLu - There is a trait called modesty I believe you should look into developing. But I guess you are only a kid so brag. brag, brag away my smug little one. :-|
616491
I'm a student, but my favorite way to learn math involved making it a more tangible subject.  I want to see what I'm learning.  Can you think of any hands on activities that relate to the subject?  For instance, when learning vectors, have students make a square jello mold and put skewers in as the x, y, and z axis.  Then add more skewers to represent vectors.  You can also hold up a sheet of extra wide graph paper behind the cube or put Nerd candy balls in it before it completely sets to represent points. \n\nI'm not sure what concepts you are teaching so I can't give relevant examples but some other off the wall ones that I've heard are: \n\n- creating jingles for statistics\n\n- getting students to use their arms to show equations of lines (x=y, parabola, etc...personally I hated this one, but I did learn it if only to make the teacher stop making me do it!)\n\n- game shows with groups battling each other -- set up groups of at least 4 and display the problem on an overhead projector. Give each team a piece of paper and tell them to write the answer on the board when they think they have it.  Give bonus points to the team who gets the most questions correct in the shortest period of time.  Also, try to choose the groups yourself and match higher performing students with lower performing ones, but don't let the same student put up all the answers.  A spinoff is a Jeopardy game for concepts (What is the name of the horizontal axis?)\n\nThere are several articles on this subject:\nHelping Teachers to Encourage Talented Girls in Mathematics.\nM. Katherine Gavin; Sally M. Reis; Teaching and Counseling Gifted Girls.; 2005;  p. 147-167 \n\nTurner, Julianne C; Meyer, Debra K; Cox, Kathleen E; Logan, Candice; DiCintio, Matthew; Thomas, Cynthia T. Creating contexts for involvement in mathematics. [References]. [Journal; Peer Reviewed Journal] Journal of Educational Psychology. Vol 90(4) Dec 1998, 730-745. \n\nIf you are interested in acquiring a copy of the Turner article, email me through the link in my Answers' profile, and I will send it to you.
306729
"just need to memorize all the formulas and keep practicing maths even if u dont get it... it helps in long run.."\n\nThat is terrible advice. Do not listen to that. That may be a way to pass math classes, but it is not a way of understanding math. (I refuse, to this day to memorize the quadratic formula) I guess it depends on what exactly you are struggling with. Algebra is probably the one that gets a lot of people, and once you don't understand that, you're kinda screwed on calculus & all others that follow.
77750
If you find school difficult that means you are challenging your mind which is a great thing!  Fine tuning your critical thinking skills (along with social skills, responsibility, etc.) in school preps you for higher education and ultimately an independent life.  You'll need the intelligence and experience, trust me. :)\n\nI used to detest Algebra.  I can't believe it... I use it nearly everyday for common tasks (shopping/price comparison/home projects).\n\nIf it was that easy it wouldn't be worth it. :)  It'd have no value.  When it's all said and done you will look back and really be proud. :)  \n\nPeople don't usually value things that haven't challenged them that much.  \n\nDo you really want to look back at your accomplishments and say, "Meh." ?\n\n;)  Hang in there, it's worth it. :)
169368
I got a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics which is hard to narrow down to one subject, but I guess I must've liked Calculus in High School...\n\nMy favorite Subject to teach is Local- and Wide-Area Networking along with Advanced Cisco Router Configuration...\n\nMy favorite thing is Graduate School in Clinical Psychology... the next easier thing was Computer Science and Mathematics was the hardest...\n\nIn higher Mathematics, Calculus is called "the calculus" because it's only 1 of many tools that are used to write a proof...Analytic Geometry might fill a page or 2 of your proof, Pre-Calculus Algebra might be what's needed to solve part of a proof\n\nRemember the problems at the back of the book with an asterisk (*)?  "For extra credit, prove..."\n\n\nOnce you study "higher(?)" Math, \n\n(a) everything below it becomes Arithmetic, not "Do the Math"\n\n(b) instead of proving something, like continuity, you hafta prove that Continuity should be allowed as a operation on the Real Number System\n\n(c) instead of proving the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, you gotta prove that derivatives should be allowed as an operation on the Real Number Line\n\n(d) there are no pictures, there are no equations, there are no variables...just paragraphs crashing around in the air...\n\n(1) theorems\n\n(2) definitions\n\n(3) proofs\n\nGood luck in your studies
37972
pbs has courses on all the time. teaches math reading all of it. Good luck and its nice to see you wanting to better yourself
583715
Well first off, certain subjects will never be thought or analyzed ever in your futur career. Take math for instance. Basic math is important, but is learned in elementary school.Calculus is for what? I took it and it has never helped me with anything at all.It's only there to pick out some people from the others. Let's say you want to get in medical school and it's a requirement. There's another student who wants in and has exactly the same notes as you, but has a higher note in math. He'll get in first. It doesn't mean he would be a better doctor than you.Maybe he just simply understood it easier, even while spending less time on it than you.But as I stated before, you could still be 1000 times better than him at your job.Hope I somehow helped you,\n-Sarah-
309241
Give yourself an incentive. For example, if I get all of my homework done, I will treat myself by doing this or that. For instance, go treat yourself to a movie you have always wanted to see or buy yourself a new CD or a DVD. Or go buy yourself a nice outfit. Treat yourself in some way as a reward for getting your homework done. Use this as an incentive to motivate yourself to complete your homework.
666830
A first-grader probably thinks of math as just boring workbooks with numbers in them.  I'd suggest the best way to get her interested in math would be to subvert her.\n\nAsk her to help out with things while shopping or cooking.  How much money does it take to buy these two things?  Do we have enough?  How much change should we get back?  If this meal takes 35 minutes to prepare, what time will it be done?  How many cups make a quart?  How many glasses of milk can we get from a half-gallon?\n\nYou might also try introducing math through arts and crafts... sorting, counting, and adding beads... symmetry and shapes in painting or coloring... and while you're sitting at your computer, there are plenty of games online, such as the Math Arcade at Funbrain.  http://www.funbrain.com/brain/MathBrain\n\nSee if you can't slip in some math regarding whatever other interests she has.  If she likes horses, you could help her convert hands to feet and inches.  If she likes music, you could show how math is involved in rhythms... beats per measure or eighth-notes per quarter-note.  If you looked into it, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything in which math isn't involved.\n\nOnce she sees the usefulness of math and starts to have fun with it, you both should be in good shape for her future learning.
501387
Those books will help, but study your Pre-Calculus/Calculus books. They'll help too.
299282
Maybe you are in a class that is too tough.( if your in high school that is)\nTry getting some extra help from teacher or another student.\nStay current on your math, dont get behind. If you dont understand something new in class make sure you get it explained.It is harder when you have to play "catch-up"\nMost teachers/ schools would be glad to help you learn if  you show interest.\nAlways do your math homework first,get it done and out of the way before you get too tired.\nAlso review and learn your basic multiplications and division if you dont know them ( thats what it sounded like in your question)\nDont give up.Not everyone is good at math sometimes its just learning the "rule" or "trick" and following it step by step.\nGood luck
502442
I never liked math when I was in school, either.  Now that I am in college, it is getting more and more difficult.  I try to make a bit of a game out of it.  Allow yourself to be proud when you get the correct answer.  Math is a challenge and it is supposed to be challenging.  If you get a good grade on a test, do something great for you.  Talk to your parents about rewards to can get for doing well.  If you can't enjoy the process, at least you can enjoy the sweet reward of success!  (I always do a little happy dance when I get the correct answer.  But I am a little crazy)
17575
I think its good for you, but not always that much fun. School should teach a love for learning, which would make it more worthwhile. This means, to learn more, they should make it fun!
107489
No, chances are you will not use any advanced math in your life, ever.\n\nHowever, math does help teach logical thinking, which is something you can use every day of your life, regardless of what job you eventually get or what you do.  If you can do logic, you can solve almost any problem, work your way out of any difficulty, and understand the flow of the world.\n\nDon't think of it as useless math.  Think of it as doing brain push-ups.
388185
Ask your math teacher if he/she can recommend some students to you that are doing well in the class.  Maybe they can help me with what you miss.  If they live close to you, they could help you out after school.  Also ask the teacher if you can tape record the class.  That way at least you can hear what is going on and maybe that will help you with the lesson.  You can also ask if the teacher would mind staying late on day a week to help you with the parts that you don't understand.  If you are willing try the teacher is more likely willing to help you.  I can't say that everything will work, but you can try.
594854
Success in math comes from paying attention in class and doing ALL of the assignments.  My daughter took algebra during 8th grade and got an A. She diligently did every assignment and most nights she had an hour's worth of math to do.\n\nAlgebra can be a lot of fun. I remember taking it in middle school and finding it a strange but interesting kind of math. Algebra can also be confusing and difficult, and many kids struggle with it. Do NOT try to understand it, just learn how it works and learn the formulas.  Math builds on itself. You need to do all assignments so you put the knowledge in your brain It's by doing problems over and over and over that you gain understanding. \n\nDo the assignments. Hopefully the text book your class uses will have good directions and example problems in it.  Read and actually write down the example problems too, especially when you encounter difficulties.\n\nAnd never tell yourself that math is stupid. So many kids complain about math, yet I find I use  many algebraic methods in my daily life, it is amazing.  Learning algebra will make solving math word problems much easier. \n\nDo NOT be scared or apprehensive of Algebra. You will take a school year to work your way through the concepts and slowly your brain will learn how to do the math. Your teacher will explain concepts, and often teachers are available after school if you need extra help.\n\nIf you are the kind of kid who is absent from school a lot, be advised that higher math is not something you can miss. You need to be in class every day. Absences can mean you miss crucial lessons and then you will struggle. A few absences during the school year are ok, but very many and you will find yourself having difficulty with the math.  Good luck and enjoy.