<p>Because most people are worthless p.o.s. who will end up on welfare.</p>
<p>That was harsh.</p>
<p>man i just love cc</p>
<p>For those that find high school math unchallenging, boring, and uncreative, I would recommend looking into (good) math competitions. Those tend to have interesting problems that promote creative thinking (and are much more challenging!)</p>
<p>I first got interested in math in middle school by doing the Mathcounts competitions, from which I found AoPS in 8th grade, then doing the AMCs in high school. Though proofs aren't <em>particularly</em> interesting to me (why do USAMO problems have to be so hard!), they've led me to appreciate math a lot more - had I not participated in those competitions, I would have just been another student making A+'s in all my math classes but being extremely bored with it.</p>
<p>MATH IS THE GREATEST SUBJECT EVER!!!!!!!!!!lol</p>
<p>Math is taught incorrectly in elementary and HS in the USA. It should be taught as tool to develop analytical skills. Then, it is not scary, since there is not much to remember, but rather undestand the relationships and it is not boring, since if you undertand rather than memorize than you are ready to be taught at the higher (much harder) level. That is why some immigrants (Japanese, Russian,...) organize their own schools where they primarily teach math and science the way they are taught in their countries of origin.</p>
<p>Yep, I have learned the Quadratic formula proof. I am one that enjoys math. The teachers at the school I attend do an excellent job.</p>
<p>Here's a theory, for girls at least. Lots of girls (esp. middle school aged, when they're trying the hardest to fit in) try to look ditsy and stupid because that's what's cool and sexy; being good at math is far from cool or sexy. So even if they are good at math, they don't ever let it show. Those habits stay with them through their high school and college careers.</p>
<p>Also, we're trained from a young age (thing cartoon plotlines) to think that school, and especially math, is boring.</p>
<p>Math can be very very difficult...</p>
<p>to some .</p>
<p>Well the problem about Maths is that few teachers know how to teach the subject. I used to have problems with maths but i decided to read it myself one and since then I have not looked back . It just takes patience to love the subject(even if ur a girl)</p>
<p>maybe some people are bad with logical things.</p>
<p>i hated proofs. they are supposed to make perfect sense but I failed that part of geometry.. badly.</p>
<p>Logical thinking is not a talent to be born with. It should be taught in elementary school as one of the most important and basic skills. Math is a tool to teach it. </p>
<p>By far, not all schools have this student body notion of math being "boring' and 'not cool". At the top schools, it is very cool to be able not only understand math very wel but also to explain it to others. Girls seem to be better at it, since on avarage they are more studious. Go girls, be proud!!</p>
<p>here's the thing about math. math is HARD. if it hasn't already kicked your butt, it's going to kick your butt sometime. but, to many people, math is some abstract weird thing without too many applications. The other day, i was talking to someone (couple years younger than me) about logarithms and they were like "*** who wants to learn logarithms. when will i ever use it?" I believe you'll agree with me that logarithms are quite useful. Sadly, however, most people can't see the beauty/uses of mathematical modeling and applied math until they take a physics course. The thing is, until one takes physics c or something, the math isn't too difficult, but it's still more math intensive than most other subjects. Also, most people will never see the beauty of pure math. To most, math is scary (you have to admit that set notation is quite scary when you don't know any). Most people don't care about the homotopy of two spheres; it won't affect their life in any way. The only people who would truly learn to appreciate math (for the most part) are science, math, and engineering majors. Most people who do only undergrad in many science majors will only get an inkling of math. Most won't be exposed to topology, algebra, etc. That's where math truly gets beautiful and very interesting (it's quite interesting to do pure research and applied research in these areas). And, not to be insulting or anything, but most people are not smart enough or even have a reason to pursue math beyond the basics. ya.I also want to add that most math taught in high school and before is quite superficial. Also, many teens aren't really interested in school. And there are those who are interested in school, but not interested in an education. (yes, there is a difference).</p>
<p>
[quote]
here's the thing about math. math is HARD. if it hasn't already kicked your butt, it's going to kick your butt sometime. but, to many people, math is some abstract weird thing without too many applications. The other day, i was talking to someone (couple years younger than me) about logarithms and they were like "*** who wants to learn logarithms. when will i ever use it?" I believe you'll agree with me that logarithms are quite useful. Sadly, however, most people can't see the beauty/uses of mathematical modeling and applied math until they take a physics course. The thing is, until one takes physics c or something, the math isn't too difficult, but it's still more math intensive than most other subjects. Also, most people will never see the beauty of pure math. To most, math is scary (you have to admit that set notation is quite scary when you don't know any). Most people don't care about the homotopy of two spheres; it won't affect their life in any way. The only people who would truly learn to appreciate math (for the most part) are science, math, and engineering majors. Most people who do only undergrad in many science majors will only get an inkling of math. Most won't be exposed to topology, algebra, etc. That's where math truly gets beautiful and very interesting (it's quite interesting to do pure research and applied research in these areas). And, not to be insulting or anything, but most people are not smart enough or even have a reason to pursue math beyond the basics. ya.I also want to add that most math taught in high school and before is quite superficial. Also, many teens aren't really interested in school. And there are those who are interested in school, but not interested in an education. (yes, there is a difference).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Eh. Pure math pwnz. Math is not meant to be applied. It's beautiful in itself. ;)</p>
<p>well applied math has it's beauty as well. who would have thought that group theory could be used in quantum mechanics for example. perhaps beauty/elegance is not the right word. something like e^(pi*i) + 1 = 0 would be considered beautiful/elegant. but applied math has its own awesomeness (for lack of a better word lol). btw math IS supposed to be applied. that's how it started out. it's pretty much the destiny of math to be applied. pure math and applied math address different issues. pure math basically broadens the knowledge base of math, and after that it gets applied.</p>
<p>I suppose. </p>
<p>
[quote]
who would have thought that group theory could be used in quantum mechanics for example.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>A lot of people? :D</p>
<p>Theoretical physics is the only exception.</p>
<p>well i don't think that sophus lie started investigating lie groups in order for them to be applied to quantum mechanics. lie did it in order to broaden the knowledge base of mathematics. do you think he predicted the applications of lie groups in quantum mechanics? i doubt it. that's what's so cool about applied math. one can take some seemingly archaic topic and apply, model, and describe physical phenomena.</p>
<p>i hate math becuase i am very dyslexic and unlike words numbers make sense in any order</p>
<p>Coolphreak, your: "I also want to add that most math taught in high school and before is quite superficial" pointing to one of the major problem with teaching math in US. IT STARTED WAY TOO LATE. What kids start here in 9th grade, kids in other countries start in 6th. 12 years old brain absorbs it easier. They also liked to be challenged and not so cynical about school yet. Another huge benefit is that they can start physics and chemistry much earlier also because they will have math background for these sciences.</p>