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Everyone is capable of, and can benefit from, mathematical thinking

(www.quantamagazine.org)
155 points sonabinu | 2 comments | 21 Nov 24 01:45 UTC | HN request time: 0.43s | source
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gsabo ◴[21 Nov 24 05:19 UTC] No.42201370[source]▶
I agree with the sentiment of this. I think our obsession with innate mathematical skill and genius is so detrimental to the growth mindset that you need to have in order to learn things.

I've been working a lot on my math skills lately (as an adult). A mindset I've had in the past is that "if it's hard, then that means you've hit your ceiling and you're wasting your time." But really, the opposite is true. If it's easy, then it means you already know this material, and you're wasting your time.

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1. globalnode ◴[21 Nov 24 07:39 UTC] No.42202008[source]▶
As a kid I was also terrible at maths, then later became obsessed with it as an adult because I didn't understand it, just like OP. It was the (second) best thing I've ever done! The world becomes a lot more interesting.
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2. doublerabbit ◴[21 Nov 24 09:25 UTC] No.42202520[source]▶
I haven't been able to grasp maths as a kid nor as an adult.

I've tried night classes, tutors, activities. Nothing sticks.

Even the standard 12x tables, I struggle at. I want to understand it but my brain just can't understand the non-practicality side of thungs.