 |
Further
Reading ...
|
|
Don't Let Your Skin Go Dry
Water makes up 60% of the human body. Not only blood and other body fluids have water as their main ingredient, water is stored in all body tissues. Cytoplasm, cells and cell walls contain lots of water. Skin is a large water storage, yet it...
35 And Single
It doesn’t matter how you got to be single in your mid-thirties. What does matter, however, is that you have certain priorities in order so that you can protect yourself and those you date from getting hurt. There are too many reasons to list on why...
Five Tips for Successful Grandparenting
1. Boundaries are necessary for control and safety. All children need and must learn to respect boundaries. Being clear about expectations before an activity begins frees you and the child to enjoy the event and ensures the safety of...
To Dye or not to Dye?
"To dye or not to dye?" ... that is the question. At least that was the question I began asking myself a decade ago as I grew weary of dyeing my grey-streaked hair. Back then, upon presenting my dilemma to my hairdresser I chose to follow his...
|
|
|
An Easy Cure For "Math Phobia"
|
 |
Written By:
Kenneth Williams
|
|
|
Why is it that one person enjoys math, while another person hates it?
Why does one child happily and quickly calculate a simple sum, while another won’t even attempt it because they’re convinced they’re simply "no good with numbers"?
The problem certainly isn't caused by lack of intelligence.
In fact there are many examples throughout history of seemingly "stupid" people who could do amazing things with numbers.
Take the case of Jedediah Buxton (1702-1772), an illiterate laborer who became famous for his number skills. His employer once asked him:
"In a body whose 3 sides are 23,145,789 yards, 5,642,732 yards, and 54,965 yards, how many cubical eighths of an inch are there?"
Before giving the answer, Buxton asked "which end" of the 28-digit answer he should start at, as he could recite it just as easily forwards or backwards!
Of course, mathematical prodigies are born, not made. But it does beg the question:
"If somebody who can’t even read or write is able to perform these kinds of breathtaking calculations, what stops other people from doing even simple sums?"
Clearly, something went wrong along the way.
Young children naturally enjoy numbers. And even people who now have an intense dislike for math often say they once enjoyed it.
What has happened to them is generally an unfortunate event in their past.
Perhaps they were ridiculed for a mistake they made with numbers, in front of the entire class.
Maybe they missed some crucial math lessons and never really caught up.
Or perhaps they were taught to handle numbers mechanically - when what they really needed was some explanation of why the numbers work the way they do.
Whatever the specific reason, bad experiences with numbers left an emotional scar, which developed into a phobia to keep the - continued below ...
|
|
|
continued ...
sufferer safe from further harm.
The point here is that if you have "math phobia" or "math block", it isn’t a permanent state of mind.
As a perfectly normal, healthy human being, you can do math and enjoy it as much as anyone.
You can make this change yourself, anytime you want. You just need to ignore the disliking attitude and actually try manipulating a few numbers from time to time.
Start with something easy, like adding small numbers in your head, or on paper if you prefer.
Next time you get some change in the shop, check it’s correct. Or better still, reckon up the change you expect while you are waiting to pay.
Avoid perfectionism, especially in the early stages. Realize there are two ways of working with numbers: approximate and exact. Often, an approximate answer is all you need.
For example, when you pick up a grocery item priced at $3.98, just call it "four dollars". The next thing you pick up in the shop is priced at $7.95, so call that "eight dollars". Add them together and you now expect to pay "nearly twelve dollars".
Try it and you’ll see how easy it is.
The cure for math phobia is to allow a few numbers back into your life. Don’t make a big thing of them, just do whatever you feel comfortable with.
To summarize:
1. Recognize you have an aversion to math, whether it’s full-blown math phobia or just a few math blocks here and there.
2. Make a conscious decision to do something about it.
3. Give yourself a regular math workout, however small to start with.
You’ll find it all gets easier, and you’ll soon enjoy math once again.
About the Author
Kenneth Williams is author of "Fun With Figures", which shows you a completely different and much easier method of doing numbers in your head. Check it out here:
http://FunWithFigures.com
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| _Additional Resources ... |
|
Luscious Lips Scream Kiss Me
Big beautiful lips have always been a symbol of sexiness! Full lips scream "kiss me" and guys go crazy over them. Full lips are a sign of youthfulness and health. Great but not all of us were lucky enough to be born with those sexy full lips. Look...
How to buy jewelry
It's hard to find a woman who doesn't love jewelry of some sort. Jewelry helps to create an image, a personal style, and the type of jewelry a woman wears says a lot about her personal taste. Some women prefer classic jewelry, gems, traditional...
Parental Internet Control Software and Tips
The Internet is one of the greatest inventions of all time. Parental Internet Control will protect our loved ones from internet filth like pornography and hate material just a click away. The fact that every stranger in the world has access to your...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
