For many people they enjoyed math when they were young. Then they hit a point in high school usually, where it no longer made sense. I’m not exactly sure where that is for most people, probably somewhere where it started getting more involved and less arithmetic based. I actually found the arithmetic very hard. Multiplying, fractions etc. But for many it’s later on, when you start looking at functions, those first algebraic expressions, trigonometry etc.
The truth is, there is a bit of jump when you start getting into the topics that aren’t just all numbers. A lot of math isn’t numbers. The skills you learn with the numbers are the fundamentals, almost like the letters of the alphabet. Once you start getting into the topics that don’t use numbers only, now you start learning more how to use the skills you learn during the fundamental stage. Almost like you’re learning to speak and create words with the letters.
When things become a bit more “abstract” and your start considering ideas like functions, the relationships between values etc. then the numbers and everything you learnt before are used to illustrate “ideas” rather than just learning to perform “actions” like adding, multiplying, dividing, subtraction. An example would be trigonometry is the idea of looking at certain functions, how they work, where they work and what actions you can do with them.
When the math starts to become something you’re not enjoying anymore, instead of deciding you don’t like math anymore, consider
- approaching math as now teaching you about ideas, tools, how they work, what you can do with them and where.
- If you’re still having trouble with the material, see if a friend in class can explain things to you,
- approach your teacher for help,
- tell your parents and/or family members at home. Maybe someone there can shed some light on what is causing you to get stuck.
- If you’re still not getting it and not liking math, go out and inquire about some external support and help.
Math, especially the ideas and ways it teaches you to think and problem solve are very important and moreso with the world becoming more digital and data driven.
