Random poll!

[conuly]

[Poll #1256925]

For the record, I find algebra to be breathtakingly self-evident, while geometry is mindnumbingly complicated and foggy.

Comments

[azurelunatic]

It's different concepts. One's about balance and the order of operations, and following the rules to undo the abstractions of what's been done to it. The other is very heavily spatial. Different skill sets.

[tsukikage85.livejournal.com]

I've always been bad at math that requires insight (complex integration, geometric and trigonometric proofs). Stuff that's basically plug-and-chug (algebra, even complex differentiation) I can do in my sleep.

[firingneurons.livejournal.com]

The strangest thing about my ability to do Algebra is that I can solve page-long algebraic formulas without any problems, but ask me what 8+5 is and I'll sit there and count on my fingers.

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

I like both but am better at algebra because memorization is HARD for me, but rearranging things comes easily, and I am fascinated by how stuff works (I had both "yay!" and "argh!" in physics because of that combination). Geometry is generally more interesting because it deals with visual variation too, but algebra is a little easier because it's less stuff to memorize.

I always liked (and was generally good at) math until I met calculus. Maybe I'd do OK if I could concentrate on it and had a good teacher. I flunked it hard in college because I went headlong into the class without a clue, with a new calculator to learn. The main problem I suspect is that the professor was ALSO trying to learn the new calculator and failed miserably at trying to teach us how to use it as well as fumble through how to explain calculus with the silly calculator.

About 3 years later, I took a required algebra class and scheduled it for evening, when most of the students were nontraditional. All the older ladies who sat around me called me "the brain" because I could explain the concepts (especially when it came to logarithms) better than the professor was. If I had been paying more attention to the professor rather than reading the book and aiding my fellow students, I'm sure I would have gotten confused over things I already knew too. :-p We all passed with flying colors. The professor was nice and knew her stuff, she just didn't break anything down into simple steps or keep the steps in sequence.

[davidkevin.livejournal.com]

"We hold these axioms to be self-evident...."

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

I loved geometry but was slightly better at algebra. I also loved trig and particularly adored physics and astronomy, which involve a great many applications of geometry and trig. Although it seems like we were taught geometry in a very different way compared to most people here.

Despite loving all things language and languages and working in languages professionally, I also consistently did better at math than languages all through school (well, until halfway through calculus, at any rate). My sister, an aspiring math teacher, is actually the language genius in my family and not so good at math (her goal is to get kids like herself to understand it).

[leora.livejournal.com]

I wanted to select key lime, but that was not an option.

[azurelunatic]

It's different concepts. One's about balance and the order of operations, and following the rules to undo the abstractions of what's been done to it. The other is very heavily spatial. Different skill sets.

[tsukikage85.livejournal.com]

I've always been bad at math that requires insight (complex integration, geometric and trigonometric proofs). Stuff that's basically plug-and-chug (algebra, even complex differentiation) I can do in my sleep.

[firingneurons.livejournal.com]

The strangest thing about my ability to do Algebra is that I can solve page-long algebraic formulas without any problems, but ask me what 8+5 is and I'll sit there and count on my fingers.

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

I like both but am better at algebra because memorization is HARD for me, but rearranging things comes easily, and I am fascinated by how stuff works (I had both "yay!" and "argh!" in physics because of that combination). Geometry is generally more interesting because it deals with visual variation too, but algebra is a little easier because it's less stuff to memorize.

I always liked (and was generally good at) math until I met calculus. Maybe I'd do OK if I could concentrate on it and had a good teacher. I flunked it hard in college because I went headlong into the class without a clue, with a new calculator to learn. The main problem I suspect is that the professor was ALSO trying to learn the new calculator and failed miserably at trying to teach us how to use it as well as fumble through how to explain calculus with the silly calculator.

About 3 years later, I took a required algebra class and scheduled it for evening, when most of the students were nontraditional. All the older ladies who sat around me called me "the brain" because I could explain the concepts (especially when it came to logarithms) better than the professor was. If I had been paying more attention to the professor rather than reading the book and aiding my fellow students, I'm sure I would have gotten confused over things I already knew too. :-p We all passed with flying colors. The professor was nice and knew her stuff, she just didn't break anything down into simple steps or keep the steps in sequence.

[davidkevin.livejournal.com]

"We hold these axioms to be self-evident...."

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

I loved geometry but was slightly better at algebra. I also loved trig and particularly adored physics and astronomy, which involve a great many applications of geometry and trig. Although it seems like we were taught geometry in a very different way compared to most people here.

Despite loving all things language and languages and working in languages professionally, I also consistently did better at math than languages all through school (well, until halfway through calculus, at any rate). My sister, an aspiring math teacher, is actually the language genius in my family and not so good at math (her goal is to get kids like herself to understand it).

[leora.livejournal.com]

I wanted to select key lime, but that was not an option.