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/sci/ - Science & Math

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8505371 No.8505371 [Reply] [Original]

youngishfag here

is it possible to literally not be able to understand certain topics in mathematics? i'm reading through my notes on group theory and it's just a wall of text i can hardly make sense of and i can't retain any of the definitions so i keep having to re-read everything. the same is true for most algebra, but particularly the more abstract topics

am i just not intelligent enough for this? i used to enjoy mathematics because it was easy and intuitive but now neither of those things are true and i'm not really sure what to do. obviously i could be putting in more effort than i am to understand some of this stuff but it literally takes me hours to complete a handful of problems and i have the attention span of a goldfish

are/were any of you in a similar position? are there certain textbooks i should be seeking out? please help

>> No.8505373

>>8505371
I usually don't understand concepts until years after I'm done with the course.

>> No.8505381

>>8505373
well this is both reassuring and not, considering i also have no idea what i'll do when/if i finish this course

>> No.8505391
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8505391

>>8505371
>is it possible to literally not be able to understand certain topics in mathematics?
i've probably thought this at least once every school year, but the concepts always seem to stick eventually somewhere down the line

>> No.8505393

>>8505381
> be me
> take calculus 1,2,3 (semester courses) getting an A,B,C
> wtf is going on
> Ordinary Differential Equations
> D
> Drop out, join navy
> one random day on watch
> "ohhhhh fuck thats what calculus was about"

tl;dr: stay in school

>> No.8505397

>>8505371
You lack mathematical maturity. Also, learn to capitalize you faggot.

>> No.8505400

>>8505371
http://4chan-science.wikia.com/wiki/Mathematics#Group_Theory_Teaser

>> No.8505406

>>8505397
>mathematical maturity
whatever that means

>omits comma
haha

>> No.8505417

>>8505371
>i used to enjoy mathematics because it was easy and intuitive but now neither of those things are true and i'm not really sure what to do

the problem with higher maths is on two fronts: first, some topics (most topics) are just not intuitive (past the axioms/fundamental theorems, at least), so if you're someone who only considers a subject as learnt after having an intuition about it, you're in for a rough time. second, most professors don't even try to make things intuitive, and just pump and dump you full of mathematical definitions.

in short, this sentiment is common and is partially due to shitty professors who should just be locked in their offices doing research instead of polluting young minds

>> No.8505419

>>8505391
>>8505393
i feel like if i continue studying without properly grasping the current topics then i'm essentially building on top of nothing, whether i pass or fail

>> No.8505447

>>8505406
>whatever that means
You'll learn what it means when you've done enough real mathematics.

>> No.8505459

>>8505447
>you'll learn what is preventing you from understanding real mathematics when you've done enough real mathematics
i see

>> No.8505494

>>8505459
Hey this is a good example of recursion.

>> No.8505495

>>8505419
It might help to organize your thoughts by making a compressed "cheat sheet" of notes. Try and summarize different stuff as succinctly as possible.

>> No.8505500

>>8505459
Yeh, crazy idea. You actually have to practise some things for a while before you get good at them.

>> No.8507241

>>8505371
your just a brainlet desu

>> No.8507265

>>8505371
math major here

just stick with it, it takes a lot of effort and hours to get this shit down especially the more abstract theories. utilize your prof's office hours, most of them are actually pretty friendly even the super autistic ones. and stay positive man, don't get discouraged, and always move forward

>tl;dr stay in school

>> No.8507871

>>8505495
This. Im not really one for revising but I found this is my method