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Failing Maths

Posted 05-20-2012 at 10:43 PM by Mudokon_Master

My whole life I've considered maths easy. Never before have I failed, let alone got below a B.
But now I'm starting to struggle with trigonometry, one of the core units in grade 10 maths.
The test was today and I don't think I went too well. I mean, the theory side of it was a breeze, but applying the rules to real life problem solving was my issue. There were also a few questions in there I've never seen before even though I studied for almost a week straight (that's why I haven't been here).

I've been wondering if I should keep studying and try to get it right with a maths website? Maybe knowing this information will help me with further units in grades 11 and 12. Maybe if I don't get trigonometry right, I will fail maths in grades 11 and 12!
I'm a bit stressed out because maths is very important to me and I don't want to fail it.

Will failing grade 10 maths have a big influence on my life? Will it affect future grades? I need your input.

Comments 27

Total Comments 27

Comments

Unless you aim to become a teacher or a scientist or do some difficult college or Uni courses where such advanced mathematical skills are required, then you'll only need a basic understanding of maths to get by in life. Most of the stuff they teach you in school about math isn't actually practical to most people even though it's interesting. Have you ever been taught to fill in a spreadsheet and do your own accounting for example?

I think you answered your own question though - Studying will help you if you feel rusty on a subject, but be careful not to get too stressed about it if, after studying harder, you find you're not as capable of understanding advanced math as you think you should be - It's not your fault, and as long as you try your best then it's fine.

Posted 05-21-2012 at 12:14 AM by DarkHoodness

	Failing a maths topic in year 10 shouldn't be a big deal. If you have a good teacher next year they will catch you up. The odds are that you will probably understand better than most people in the class, even if you do awfully. Trig takes a while to get used to. Other than that, walk around the house chanting SOH, CAH, TOA.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 12:23 AM by Phylum

This is my main problem because my dream career is to be a computer programmer. I'm also worried about what having a D for maths will look like on my resume/report card. This is the moment of life where I will be seeking my first job.

Failing a maths topic in year 10 shouldn't be a big deal. If you have a good teacher next year they will catch you up.

That's reassuring. I plan to be in a maths class next year and I know the teacher is a good one. I'll now try to get in the routine of studying for 15 minutes every night to familiarise myself with all the work.
Oh, and

Other than that, walk around the house chanting SOH, CAH, TOA.

that made me laugh:P

Posted 05-21-2012 at 12:36 AM by Mudokon_Master

	Oh, and probably the most important thing is to sleep well, eat well, go for walks and do things socially. You probably hear people crap on about that kind of thing lots, but it makes a bigger difference than you think.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 01:12 AM by Phylum

	I failed maths in school, but it's no worry because I made up for it in other subjects, maybe you'll get the same luck to But I hope you pass maths, there's nothing wrong with having the advantage of a good grade.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 02:16 AM by JennyGenesis

Maths is my first love, and the field of study I'll always excel the most at. Aside from some wonderful statistics in my uni course, I haven't touched it in years. I'd love to pick it up again, maybe as an Open University course.

Maths will help you a lot as a computer programmer. If you want to do game, graphics or animation programming, trig will be invaluable. I don't know what level Year 10 is in your education system or how much Australian employers will look at it, but if it's anything like in the UK, it won't matter one jot compared to how you fare in your ongoing education.

Maths is practice. You can know all the theory, but if you don't practice, you won't be able to apply it. Do all the exercised. Find more online. God I'm getting myself excited. I'm going to look at Open University courses.

Posted 05-21-2012 at 04:29 AM by Wil

I've found applications for advanced maths in everyday life.

My advice to you is you see your teacher about it and ask for additional help, since that is (allegedly) their job. I remember going to extra classes in the holidays with most of my year, and we weren't exactly struggling. Though as it happened, I learned more from my friend than I did from my teachers.

Also practice. Make it your thing. "Does math for fun". It's an amusing reputation, though people react as though they've just discovered you're from Alpha Centauri.

Also this:

Posted 05-21-2012 at 04:34 AM by Bullet Magnet

	: This is my main problem because my dream career is to be a computer programmer. I'm also worried about what having a D for maths will look like on my resume/report card. This is the moment of life where I will be seeking my first job. Yeah as Wil said, you'll probably need it then - The fact that I'm bad at math is probably why I have trouble getting my head around programming myself.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 04:46 AM by DarkHoodness

Unless you aim to become a teacher or a scientist or do some difficult college or Uni courses where such advanced mathematical skills are required, then you'll only need a basic understanding of maths to get by in life.

That's an incredibly wide scope there. Almost everything involving Science and Engineering (which are among the biggest fields in terms of student numbers) will need maths. Lots of other areas will need Statistics.

Speaking as someone who's doing a PhD in Computer Science, you don't need to worry too much. My maths grades were up and down all throughout high school; they varied significantly depending on who my teacher was. As long as you get acceptable grades to get in to your uni course, you'll be fine. Uni maths classes re-teach everything you need to know, so even if you're struggling with a bad teacher this year you'll be fine in the long term.

Posted 05-21-2012 at 04:54 AM by Nate

I remember you saying on NF you were interested in Computer Science and programming, in this country at least, you can't get into the top ten universities without an A level in math, I actually got a B in math at GCSE but didn't bother to take it to A level, while I dislike maths, I feel this was a mistake, because now that I want to do game programming I've eliminated the top 10 uni's in the country from my list of choices. The point is, fundamentally a lot of uni courses like you to be good at math. I'm not saying this to scare you, but it means that you may need to up your game a bit, you might have had a bad teacher, like Nate said, in which case it's not your fault, but if your rents have a bit of cash lying around, it might be an idea to get yourself a tutor. So long as you get the good grades in your actual exams though, I reckon you'll be fine.

Posted 05-21-2012 at 05:56 AM by STM

	So are you actually getting an F in maths, or do you just feel like you're failing at trig?
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 05:59 AM by Phylum

	: you can't get into the top ten universities without an A level in math It's not like that here. Most university places are allotted based on overall grade rather than grades in specific subjects. I just skimmed the Computer Science courses for Victoria and the few that specified that maths was needed had a very low required score. Mudokon_Master: What state are you in?
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 06:38 AM by Nate

I'm not sure how your levels of education match the ones we have in the UK, but to me there's a huge gap between what you learn at the ages of 11-16 (Key Stage 3/GCSE) and 16-18 (A Level). I got a B at GCSE in Maths, so I didn't think I'd have much of a problem when I took it at A Level. It was ridiculously hard, probably the hardest thing I've ever done, and ended up coming out of the AS without a grade. The saddest thing is that even the people who tried really hard and seemed to be doing well came out with very low grades or no grade at all, which just proves its difficulty. I think you should do maths at a higher level if you really enjoy it or want to do something that uses that level of skill in the future, but I wouldn't advise it otherwise. That is if things in Australia are similar to the UK.

Posted 05-21-2012 at 07:31 AM by Jordan

	I failed Maths 3 times. If I need it in later life then i'm fucked.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 09:05 AM by Crashpunk

	Specifically, what part of trig are you struggling with? Maybe some of us (me?) can help.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 10:24 AM by jumper

	Don't worry about it man. Most of the modelling and problem solving equations were stupid. Especially the last one. I couldn't figure out the last one seeing as how we weren't even taught to or at least given a hint on how to do it before the test.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 01:05 PM by Something_Cool

	: So are you actually getting an F in maths, or do you just feel like you're failing at trig? I'm almost certain I'll get below a C considering I didn't complete about half the questions. : Mudokon_Master: What state are you in? Queensland.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 03:37 PM by Mudokon_Master

	Ah. Well, I don't know how it works up there. But you can check the tertiary entrance requirements if you're worried.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 06:26 PM by Nate

	Grade 10 is when math went from simple formulas with easy steps to simple formulas that you need a bullshit 400$ piece of equipment to do. Also, I never really liked the plural Maths. I always just called it math. It was bad enough when it was on its own, we don't need plurals.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 06:44 PM by Mr. Bungle

	How do you feel about the full word 'Mathematics'?
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 06:45 PM by Nate

	Can math(s) have a plural? I mean, how do you count math(s)? What's the value of one mathematic(s)?
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 07:36 PM by Wings of Fire

	Mathematics is okay. Probably because that how they say "Maths" on our report cards. Just sounds more professional. Maths makes it sound like there are a lot more of them. I dunno, I'm weird I guess.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 08:04 PM by Mr. Bungle

	Yeah, you are :P Our school is organizing a trip for grade 9's and 10's to an excursion to the University of the Sunshine Coast. We choose two introductory courses for the day and I've already chosen Programming as one of them. They might tell us what standards of math(s) we need to enrol.
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 10:54 PM by Mudokon_Master

	Computer Science courses in Adelaide require an ATAR of around 70 and successful completion of Math Apps (financial stuff).
	Posted 05-21-2012 at 11:33 PM by Phylum

	: Mathematics is okay. Probably because that how they say "Maths" on our report cards. Just sounds more professional. Maths makes it sound like there are a lot more of them. I take the principle that if 'Mathematics' is the standard usage, then 'Maths' follows logically. : I dunno, I'm weird I guess. You've probably been hanging around Americans a lot. I've warned you about those people!
	Posted 05-22-2012 at 05:48 AM by Nate

	OMG Nate changed his avatar!
	Posted 05-22-2012 at 09:03 AM by MeechMunchie

	: OMG Nate changed his avatar! : Teh Joe says (14:25) Tch, now I feel like I should be following the trend Thorn says (14:26) Given that most of them are using it ironically, I'm not sure if it works when real MLP fans do it Them... us Teh Joe says (14:26) Hah! I caught that Shamed!
	Posted 05-22-2012 at 09:46 AM by Wings of Fire

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Assorted Flavours (05-29-2012)
Failing Maths (05-20-2012)
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