<p>Well, I have this friend who does algebraic number theory no problem, can answer my analysis questions off the top of his head, eats, lives, and breathes algebra books,</p>
<p>...and he thinks he's bad at math.</p>
<p>What is this world coming to?</p>
<p>Ploys for attention. Gotta love 'em.</p>
<p>I think he actually thinks he is bad at math, in his own twisted way.</p>
<p>KITTY WHY CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU’RE REALLY SMART AND YOU’RE GOING TO GET INTO EVERY SCHOOL YOU APPL’ORHK;LK’GGR’HHK’RRLK</p>
<p>I feel like I am one of those math persons, and I think it is because I set high expectations for myself. On the other hand, I am sure there are people who are way better writers than me who would say they are bad writers.</p>
<p>Oh, I forgot to mention, sleeping on a math textbook allows us math people to absorb the information directly. That’s why we’re so good at math. :D</p>
<p>Oh, is that the secret? Maybe I’ll start doing that then. At least you didn’t tell me to sleep with a math textbook.</p>
<p>Math really feels like one of those subjects where if you aren’t top 1%, then it isn’t applicable in the real world. Just my feeling, though.</p>
<p>It’s the other way around: if you are top 1%, then your math isn’t applicable.</p>
<p>I set really high expectations of myself for math, so when I do poorly (at least for me) even though it might be a good grade for others, i get frustrated</p>
<p>Clearly, you can be bad at math and better than lots of other people. If you feel insulted when somebody says that, get over yourself.</p>
<p>I got a 740 on the math (and a 720 on critical reading, which I generally consider my strong point) part of the SAT but I definitely think math/science are my weak areas. I mean, i do well in those classes, but it just takes SO MUCH EFFORT. Languages and history come to me, on the other hand, are much less painful.</p>
<p>It’s all relative. Sometimes I feel like I’m bad at math because I participate in math competition and don’t do well relative to others I know. And I still feel that way even if I know those who participate in math competitions are the best students. Even though I’m technically considered very good at math given my standardized testing, etc. I still feel like I’m not good because I compare myself to those who are math pros.</p>
<p>^ I understand that viewpoint, and I myself feel that way sometimes. However, I feel like it’s not right to call yourself ‘bad at math’ because you aren’t one of the best in the region/state/country. That’s like saying you’re a bad entrepreneur if you started a multimillion dollar business (“It’s not even close to as successful as Facebook, Google, Apple, etc.”). Point being, you don’t have to be the absolute best at something to be ‘good’ at it. Someone who goes to Emory can’t (or, at least, shouldn’t) call themself stupid because they don’t go to Harvard. The act of comparison can be an effective method of finding unhappiness.</p>
<p>Can’t answer question: too surprised that fizix2 is back</p>
<p>High expectations for yourself, plus comparison to other people. (basically what other people said)</p>
<p>This is why I feel like I’m terrible at math, despite 800s, 5s, taking multivariable calculus, doing a math summer program, and possibly majoring in math. I just don’t do as well as I want to. I realize that most people are far worse at math than me, but a large part of my identity is based on being in math club, doing math competitions, and that sort of thing, so if I don’t do well, then I feel pretty bad about myself. (Not that this is reasonable.) Not to mention that a lot of my friends do math competitions etc. and perform better than I do, so there is sort of an ongoing comparison in my head.</p>
<p>Somehow I’ve managed to not feel bad at math even though I got only a 780 on the math SAT.</p>
<p>^ Are you a ■■■■■?</p>
<p>Not really. The math on the SAT is fairly basic, and the question I missed involved single digit addition, but I don’t really care because my score was good enough to get into the university I applied to early decision. There is however something satisfying about an 800, because even Einstein would not get more than an 800. That’s why I have the 800 on the physics subject SAT :D</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>So how does that reflect how good you are at math?</p>
<p>It doesn’t, nor do any of the other problems of which I all got right. The abstract algebra course I am taking now after merely taking ab calculus reflects how good I am at math. I was working so intently on abstract algebra today that even when I got accepted ED to Cal Poly, I forgot to get excited and tell people. I merely kept working.
It is interesting however, how you can ask a math major or an engineer to help you with basic algebra or geometry, and they won’t be able to because they forget the basic with all the advanced stuff they learn.</p>