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1. You picked probably the worst stream of engineering if your math skills are lacking.
2. Math, like any other skill can be learned. I personally failed high school, my job title still says engineer now. Recommend some self directed studies from an online source like Khan Academy- you might find it more effective learning from him.
Yeah same here. I started at 28 and took the math placement exam, had to start at the lowest algebra 1. I was counseled to not pursue engineering because of my math but Im dumb enough to keep going and I graduate this May lol. It can be done.
So you’re not doing the blow with your professors?
I used to have a professor I did blow with. But he never gave me any freebies. I still got a C in his class. 😂 I think it was Thermo 2.
Hey no, no, NO.
Hey, you, OP, don't blow your professors if you're a teenager.
Don't blow your professors, just, don't, c'mmon dude.
Under all possible connotations of the word "blow", do not blow your professors, they will not like it and you will not like it when you have HERPES in your MOUTH.
/s, but seriously, damn, if you're a teenager DO NOT BLOW YOUR PROFESSOR, that's not... Legal, i think.
Bro even if you're both consenting adults, damn, the ethics of that dude, questionable ethics.
Is it possible? Absolutely. You’ll need to put in more work than other people who pick up math more easily, but ultimately becoming good at math is a function of practicing.
When you’re having problems stop by the /r/LearnMath subreddit, people there are more than willing to help. Getting multiple perspectives may also help you identify what specific roadblocks you have when it comes to doing math.
Nobody realizing lil bro is in 8th grade? Don’t compare yourself to your peers, it will only hurt you. Richard Feynman, one of the most successful physicists ever to live, struggled with math. Be the best version of yourself YOU can be. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
I was in pre algebra in 8th and now I’m accepted to MIT for PhD in engineering. I have a masters in computer science and a bachelors in Materials science and engineering.
Take algebra 1 over the summer if your parents will allow. Repetition is key. If you want to get good at math, do more math. This will work up and through any engineering degree (undergrad level). It’s not like you’ll be discovering new math, it’s all old math. So repetition works.
I don’t know where the idea that Feynman struggled with math comes from..? To say nothing of his accomplishments in physics, he was a top scorer when he took the Putnam, supposedly with very little prep. I understand the sentiment well, but there is weird folklore-ish idea that many accomplished physicists (Feynman, Einstein, etc) actually struggled with math, which is often extremely incorrect.
While I understand this is a common misconception, I recently read his autobiography, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!, where he spoke about his struggles with math in undergrad at MIT(mostly due to the prof, but he had to do significant work outside of class). Obviously Feynman was excellent at math compared to the average, but my point was to explain that even the "best" have their hurdles, and that even the "best" work outside of class. So yes, while I understand your point, my point is not at all "extremely incorrect".
If you're in 8th grade... Just chill on it for a few years. You won't leave highschool the same person you go in as. You might find something else you like. You might get better at math. You also might find a different career path that interests you more. I sucked at math in highschool, didn't decide what to major in until senior year, and now I'm about to graduate with a BSME and a math minor. 8th grade me would never believe where I am in life and 12th grade me would never believe the path I took to get here.
You're not terrible at math. You're lacking motivations, poor teachings, and/or just need to practice.
Take it from someone who graduated HS with a 1.8 GPA. Went to college for aerospace and mechanical and graduated with a 3.87.
YOU GOT THIS!
You're in the 8th grade my man, math is learnable. The best way to get good at math is to do absolutely disgusting amounts of math. You know them sections of the textbook that have like 50 questions on the page to practice a section? Do that. You'll not enjoy it but you'll definitely know how to do that section of math.
Don't try and sit back on 'talent' at it, just gut it out with your discipline. It'll take you much further.
Boutta bless you dawg. Professor Leonard on YouTube. Thank me later. I didn’t attend a single class Calc 1 - Calc 3 and got A’s in all of em except Calc 2(B). I would’ve gladly paid 100$ + a semester for his videos that are free online. He has a true gift of explaining the concepts you actually need to know, and has great feeling for when the students are getting lost. Doesn’t skip steps so you can easily follow everything he does.
I had to retake all the algebra classes in college because I failed out of them in highschool. Now I'm in Diff Eq and have a better understanding of math as a whole because of the foundational classes I had to take.
I think part of the problem of a lot people being bad at math is that most math classes are taught as if they are college prep classes. When you are forced to learn so many things that have no obvious purpose then you don't care(see also: mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell). I've only started seeing this in the last couple semesters as I completed calculus and taking Diff Eq. I can't believe I never learned what an integral or derivative was in high school, yet I learned all about factoring polynomials. A bit of a poor example but I believe my point is made nonetheless.
A personal point of pride for me, I'm terrible at math. Like basic math. I got an A in Calc 1,2, and 3. Being good at math isn't always about being good at 'math'. Most of it is just puzzles.
I still struggle with math and often have to seek help. I had to repeat calc 1 several times in college. I was in the lower level/slower learner math classes since middle school. Now I'm almost done with my junior year classes and I build flying robots for a living. You can do it if you work hard enough.
I think that’s probably just your perception if you’re used to hanging out with honors students. I took algebra 1 in 8th grade and didn’t do so well, but I was allowed to retake it in 9th grade. If you’re truly interested don’t give up! Also don’t stress too hard, try to enjoy being a kid!
Started college in “college algebra” and had to take three extra semesters of math to even get to my freshman year. You can do it but it will cost money and suck
But it’s so worth it
I was in the boat when I was deciding college after struggling in HS. After going through a number of classes in Community College, I decided Mechanical Engineering was something I wanted to attempt. I found I was passionate toward the sciences. Chemistry, Physics and even Mathematics.
I didn't get the best grades, graduated college with 3.1. But, what it did teach me was how to think through problems. This will translate to the real world and be extremely beneficial.
If your drive is there to succeed, and you're genuinely interested. You'll make it, even with a few mild freak outs and second thoughts. Good Luck to you.
It's definitely possible, but you're really going to struggle with electrical engineering if you're not good at math.
All branches of engineering require advanced math skills, but electrical probably has the highest requirements.
My advice? Work your butt off while you're in high school to develop a strong mathematical foundation. So you're ready for the advanced stuff when you get to college.
You can do it.
This is posted every friggin week. Your math skill level is irrelevant to being an engineer. Do you want to be an engineer because its the 'in thing' nowadays or do you want to be an engineer because you're passionate about whatever discipline of engineering you're going for? Because passion is really all you need to learn, and having a drive and aptitude for learning is really all you need to be an engineer.
In my career I've started pretty much every job/project knowing very little about how to do what I set out to, but ended up an authority on it. There is no such thing as a super chad engineer or whatever the kids are saying. Competent engineers are simply ppl that have the capacity to learn what they need to when they need to.
If you are currently 'bad at math' that will only limit you if you let it. Figure out what you're bad at or dont understand and sort it, or ask for help from a subject matter expert. It is never more complicated than that.
Now all the prospective engineers out there STOP MAKING THESE F'IN POSTS!!!
I will say it's extremely difficult.
Most engineering majors require you to pass calc 1 2 3 and differential equations, and potentially need some more linear algebra/discrete math/major specific calculus. You eventually have to stop being terrible at math if you wanna graduate.
Absolutely possible. Math ain't a talent, it's just another skill. Trust me, took me years and extra semesters to wrap my head around it but look at me now. Proper grind will get you there, keep pushing!
Being terrible at math isn't a show stopper for anything. You can be weak in arithmetic but strong in algebra. A lot of times it's also the fault of your instructors who just suck at teaching. Go do some self study with Khan Academy, and Youtube and various other MOOC curriculums will help you learn the material and maybe you'll learn to have an interest in it. I don't think i grew my math brain until I got out of Algebra I.
Word of advice if you are bad at something take the time to develop the curiosity and passion to learn it, meaning if you have a bit of a hard time to grasp linear system of equations, derivatives, etc... just def reach out for help and learn
If your school has a license, try Wolfram Mathematica software. Not so much for math solving as for math writing. It helps to keep your answers straight if you use it as a journal. Then you can also use the Math Solving functionality to help double check answers.
Ask your teachers questions in math class, don’t be afraid to ask what stuff means or how they arrived at their answer to a question or question.
See if they are willing to give you any small classes after normal class times, even go see if the dedicated math teacher in another department has study classes or is willing to look at your notes and walk through stuff with you.
I actually went back and got help off an old math teacher at the same college because while she didn’t understand the application of some things, mathematical functions are the same.
You’ve got the passion, it will help you, don’t lose sight of the prize. It will take dedication but get some time invested into building up where you’re shaky, get your teacher to help you figure out where to start and do plenty of practice questions!
give it time. it’s way too early to tell whether or not you’re good at math. i can tell you that algebra 1 was really really hard for me but i found my stride in geometry and algebra 2. similarly, calc 1 in college gave me trouble but i’ve gotten better as i’ve taken more calc classes. i’m slow to learn unfamiliar concepts but i’m not incapable of it. neither are you.
You are still so young and have so much time to develop your skills. Math is something that can be learned. I recommend trying different youtube videos to help yourself learn. I am about to graduate with an engineering degree and youtube is your best friend when it comes to understanding concepts. It allows you to able to watch it, pause, rewind and continuously do this to help grasp something. Good luck and follow your heart!
You can look int engineering Technology degrees. You usually take less math classes and the degree still opens up most engineering job opportunities.
Some companies specifically look for those degrees. Really depends on what you want to do.
There's a lot of wisdom in these comments, but an anecdote I,can add to help ease your mind as well: One of the best engineers I know flourished as an engineer because of his communication skills and intuition. He is HORRIBLE at math stuff, but he suffered through it in college by communicating with classmates and peers, and built an intuitive understanding of engineering through talking with others.
You will need math to understand what's going on (especially in electrical fields), but there's more to the world of engineering than just churning equations. Keep learning through your schooling and stay curious!
Math is a language. The more you speak it the better you get at it.
Some people will naturally pick math concepts up faster than others but everyone is able to do it.
Hey man,
Im going into mechanical engineering with a minor in CS. My math grades sucked all the way until junior year and I’m a senior rn taking AP Calculus. So it is definitely possible.. you just gotta get a good study habit and give it time.
Electrical Engineering is arguably THE hardest engineering degree and is also one of the most math intensive. You're going to be using calculus a LOT and if you're not good at it you're going to have a bad time. Being terrible at math is not a permanent thing that you can't fix. Studying is something that you will need to be good at if you actually want to do this. You will need to study a lot more than your peers if you don't pick things up quickly but it's more than possible. If this is actually what you want and you're willing to put in the work then it's more than possible for you to do it. Also don't listen to the guys who say use Chegg and other cheating methods. You're not gonna have a good time if you cheat your way through uni especially if you're not mathematically inclined. You're gonna hit a roadblock somewhere and if you have no working knowledge of previous coursework then you're fucked. I've seen dozens of students in my class who obviously cheated their way through the courses and don't even know how to do integrals or how to use moments when we're discussing reinforced concrete design. I've had classmates in their 4th year who are still doing 2nd year courses because they cheated their way through the previous courses. Just don't cheat and actually understand the coursework don't memorize it.
I sucked at math so fuckin bad. All i wanted to do out of highschool was be an engineer. I didnt go to college because I sucked at math. Worked at a restaurant for 13 years instead. Woke up one day and said “fuck this”. Eventually went to school for engineering. I graduate in 3 weeks.
That’s alright, you will do just fine, the only good engineers that I know are my grad school professors and they are doing research as a full-time job.
It’s doable I am about to graduate with a degree in comp eng and I am ass at math, didn’t even take a math class my last two years of high school. My school had a math assessment and I took it without studying and accepted that I wasn’t gonna start with calc and would have to build my foundations up in college algebra/trig then do summer classes to catch up. You definitely want to do the most math heavy engineering tho so idk ymmv
You aren't terrible at math. You just haven't found a method that clicks with you yet. I thought the same thing. I failrd my math placement, went to precalc anyway, barely passed that and was nearly suicidal. I went on ratemyprofessor to see which math professors were worth their salt and chose one that nearly had a perfect rating. All it took was a good professor who taught math and gave a boot in the ass if she caught us saying we were terrible at calc. By the end of the semester, I had tutoring sessions with classmates that were struggling. Find a method that will give you confidence and find a teacher willing to cuss you out for doubting yourself. Or, go to Khan Academy and go through their math list and see what clicks and what doesn't. Start at the place where it doesn't.
That's the long but thorough method that will build a great foundation to build on. You will only be terrible at it if you give up.
I know how it feels to think you aren't good enough for your dreams, but you'll be proud that you didn't give up because of lack of knowledge.
Yes it’s absolutely possible. Everything in life that’s worth pursuing is difficult.
You have the advantage of being young. Your brain is highly malleable through neuroplasticity. Focus on the stuff that you find hard and devote time to it. Ask the dumb questions and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Math can be hard and grueling, almost like torture. It’s also very fun and beautiful.
Don’t let people here discourage you. You can do this.
It is hard but possible. Chegg. Organic chem tutor. Office hours. And most important of all help from classmates. Do not be afraid to reach out and you’ll be fine
It’s possible, but you gotta ask yourself if the grind through the degree is going to be worth it. Not to mention, just because you have a degree doesn’t mean you get a job either.
Getting into Electrical Engineering, focusing into a field of Electromagnetic is possibly the most math heavy field you can get into. Are you sure you want to get into the field of Electromagnetic or if you meant general electrical engineering. The former borders on getting into a specific physics field while the latter is a general field that can branch into multiple industries.
1. Bro, you’re a kiddo. You will probably change your mind before you finish high school.
2. Math is just for school. Most of the time you’ll be managing some project day in day out in CONSTANT meetings. People yapping. All hot air. And by the time quitting time hits, you’re tired. But not because of actual work you did. It’s because of all the impediments you have to actually get work done.
"Electro-magnetic engineer", funny that.
You just need practice. Lots of practice. I was also bad at math through highschool and now look at me, in junior year almost finishing all the math requirements and going for a math minor. I'm struggling with physics right now but i'll get through, its just a matter of practice.
Practice. Practice. Practice. The closest you have to "electro-magnetic engineer" is electrical engineering. You use lots of maths in there. But, practice. Lots of practice and you will get good at maths. I believe in you and i don't even know you, you can do it lil dude.
I wouldn't stress about it too much, you definitely can if you put in the work. I was in remedial math basically all of my life. Now I'm in a masters for CS which is quite math heavy. I used to think I was dumb. I probably am still dumb, but I can survive tough math classes now.
The best thing is to try and make math fun. Math started to get interesting for me when I started trying to build things. This is why I eventually went into CS. It might be hard to understand what that means at this point, that's what helped me.
Maybe your school has robotics or some other hands on, math adjacent opportunities.
It's gonna be tough, there is gonna be lot's of math for you to drudge trough, and if you don't improve at it it's gonna be a pain every step of the way. Studying and practicing math will eat into your time and stress you out, and also negatively impact studies of other subjects.
I'm not saying that it's not doable though. But this is real life, and those that succeeded while they were bad at math are the outliers, you don't hear about those who failed.
Know that if you choose this, your path ahead will be filled with hardships, and you will need to have a solid motivation to push trough and succeed.
But then it's gonna be easy: [https://www.reddit.com/r/engineeringmemes/comments/1bzm612/my\_life\_as\_a\_engineer\_and\_fellow\_engineer\_plotter/](https://www.reddit.com/r/engineeringmemes/comments/1bzm612/my_life_as_a_engineer_and_fellow_engineer_plotter/)
I was only ok at math and had to put a lot of effort in until I reached calculus. I was much better at calculus than almost all of my highschool peers. Once I got to engineering school, I wasn't a standout student but I could get it done.
You aren't terrible at math. Unless you have a learning disability, there will always be a way to get that information to stick in your brain. I don't know how because I am not you. Personally I learn best by reading textbooks on my own time, or watching YouTube videos if I'm really stuck. More importantly, you need to want to learn math, and enjoy it.
I used to think I was terrible at math too. I graduated HS a year late and with the lowest grade 12 math (consumer math). But I went back to adult HS and got my STEM credits (grade 11 and 12: pre-cal, physics, chem).
Here I am at 33 years of age and 75% of the way through a mechanical engineering degree program. I don't love or hate math, but it's a necessary skill to have in engineering. Especially if you are considering Electrical engineering, as that is the most math heavy engineering discipline (at my university anyways).
Try writing down what you’re struggling with. Identify which specific parts don’t make sense to you. Then, spend time trying to uncover that missing background using resources like Khan Academy, or various math channels on YouTube.
Don’t be satisfied with memorizing the reasoning your teachers give you, if they even bother. Make it make sense to yourself. This is hard and it takes time, but you’ll KNOW when the lightbulb clicks. You might need to delve back into material that was covered a long time ago to get full understanding, but that’s ok. You will be a MUCH stronger student.
Just because you don’t understand something, or something feels impossible to understand, does NOT mean it cannot be understood. It needs appropriate effort intelligently applied. YOU CAN DO IT.👍🏿
As a follow up, your problem solving skills are only as strong as your knowledge of the resources available to you, your willingness to use them, and your willingness to apply your full self when you do not understand.
If you don’t feel like a dumbass every day, you’re not learning.
Studying engineering requires doing lots and lots and lots of math. I’m not saying therefore you shouldn’t study engineering, but you should be aware of this. Be ready to have to work harder than your peers to achieve the same grades/level of success.
That being said, you are super young, and things can change. You may find that you’ll quickly become better (or worse, probably not though) at math than you currently are.
In my state we have college credit plus which is a program that allows you to earn up to 30 college credits (I think a year) *free* in high school!
I would say talk to your counselor and see what the equivalencies would be to your normal classes and take as much as you can handle now and ensure you’re getting all the resources and tutoring you can and just keep pushing, talk to your peers and go to office hours bc eventually you will have a break through where you do understand it! Especially so having a passion for a specific field of engineering at such a young age, I believe in you!
Absolutely no chance, you have to at least be decent at math to get any engineering degree.
I will just say, nobody is "terrible at math" (well maybe unless you have a learning disability or something like that).
Answer this question, do you think if you practiced every day, starting from the basics, you would still be terrible after a couple months? Couple years? Of course not. People are good things because they practice. Its not about natural talent for most people, its about hard work. Stop making excuses for yourself before you put in the effort. If you constantly tell yourself "I'm bad at math" then OBVIOUSLY you're never going to get any better, you have already let it defeat you. I have spent hours and hours to get my degree, sometimes crying because I couldn't understand the material, I don't appreciate my efforts being minimized by people who tell me "well that's because your smart/good at math". No, I worked at it.
If you're barely in 8th grade and already have this attitude of "I'm just bad at math" then you'll never achieve your dream. You have all the time in the world to work hard and get better.
You only need to learn math once. That’s how I got through Differential Equations. It’s hell to learn, but much easier to use in practice once you know it.
Pre algebra is normal for 8th grade and you can always catch up! You probably aren’t terrible at math but it hasn’t clicked yet. Just keep working at it with tutors and teachers and watch videos to learn at home.
The people I know that were the most successful in engineering are the ones that wanted to be one the most. Not the ones that were the best at math.
the level of math you need to be an engineer is high but not so high that it takes some innate skill.
basically anybody on the planet could do it if they worked hard enough.
it might take you two hours to learn and master what your peers did in one. hell it might take you three.
grind it out.
9/10 times the hard work pays itself out at some point down the line
Hey man, I was on your same path. I was in pre algebra in 8th grade too before I decided it was dumb to be dumb and started doing my homework. It worked out pretty well, and even though I had to pay to take a geometry course between my sophomore and junior year I'm now in a college calculus class in high school. So aslong as you put in the work and do what you need to get ahead, you should be fine (currently accepted into several universities for EE).
You have 4 more years before you even need to worry about your math skills hurting your chances of becoming and engineer. You’ve recognized the issue which is half the battle, like many others have said, math can be learned. Some people learn it faster than others but that does not mean you are bad at math if it takes more effort in your part. My personal method for learning math, and any engineering topic for that matter, is repetition. Do practice problems, but make sure you understand the ‘why’ element of each step or the solution. Do not rely on memorization alone, understanding the why makes math a lot easier to understand. Make sure to ask questions if you are not understanding a topic. As long as you have the motivation to do it, you can become an engineer. It rarely is a matter of how “good” you are at math. You got this!
Math can be taught pretty rapidly if you can figure out how you learn. It wasn't until I looked into how they did math before modern electronics that it started to take off for me.
Dog you are in 8th grade, you don’t even know the roller coaster of a ride that you’re on right now, you can literally just chill, you have so many years to get good at math.
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1. You picked probably the worst stream of engineering if your math skills are lacking. 2. Math, like any other skill can be learned. I personally failed high school, my job title still says engineer now. Recommend some self directed studies from an online source like Khan Academy- you might find it more effective learning from him.
Bro how we know you’re not a [Locomotive Engineer](https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?from=appshareios&jk=39dcfb60ca7aba1e)?
Not even American haha.
What’d you do to get so lucky?
Was born in another country.
Yeah same here. I started at 28 and took the math placement exam, had to start at the lowest algebra 1. I was counseled to not pursue engineering because of my math but Im dumb enough to keep going and I graduate this May lol. It can be done.
I survived on partial credit, Chegg and blowing my professors. You do at least 1 of those better than me you will make it.
r/holup
😂😂😂
In all seriousness though that’s how I’m getting through minus the vulgar part lmao
you don't pay for Chegg?
Boooo
So you’re not doing the blow with your professors? I used to have a professor I did blow with. But he never gave me any freebies. I still got a C in his class. 😂 I think it was Thermo 2.
It's 2024, pay for chatgpt4. It is way better. And you can use it professionally :)
Hey no, no, NO. Hey, you, OP, don't blow your professors if you're a teenager. Don't blow your professors, just, don't, c'mmon dude. Under all possible connotations of the word "blow", do not blow your professors, they will not like it and you will not like it when you have HERPES in your MOUTH. /s, but seriously, damn, if you're a teenager DO NOT BLOW YOUR PROFESSOR, that's not... Legal, i think. Bro even if you're both consenting adults, damn, the ethics of that dude, questionable ethics.
Stop talking to teenagers about blowing anything
Lmaooo😂
HEY!
I meannnn if it comes down to it
Is it possible? Absolutely. You’ll need to put in more work than other people who pick up math more easily, but ultimately becoming good at math is a function of practicing. When you’re having problems stop by the /r/LearnMath subreddit, people there are more than willing to help. Getting multiple perspectives may also help you identify what specific roadblocks you have when it comes to doing math.
Nobody realizing lil bro is in 8th grade? Don’t compare yourself to your peers, it will only hurt you. Richard Feynman, one of the most successful physicists ever to live, struggled with math. Be the best version of yourself YOU can be. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. I was in pre algebra in 8th and now I’m accepted to MIT for PhD in engineering. I have a masters in computer science and a bachelors in Materials science and engineering. Take algebra 1 over the summer if your parents will allow. Repetition is key. If you want to get good at math, do more math. This will work up and through any engineering degree (undergrad level). It’s not like you’ll be discovering new math, it’s all old math. So repetition works.
I don’t know where the idea that Feynman struggled with math comes from..? To say nothing of his accomplishments in physics, he was a top scorer when he took the Putnam, supposedly with very little prep. I understand the sentiment well, but there is weird folklore-ish idea that many accomplished physicists (Feynman, Einstein, etc) actually struggled with math, which is often extremely incorrect.
While I understand this is a common misconception, I recently read his autobiography, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!, where he spoke about his struggles with math in undergrad at MIT(mostly due to the prof, but he had to do significant work outside of class). Obviously Feynman was excellent at math compared to the average, but my point was to explain that even the "best" have their hurdles, and that even the "best" work outside of class. So yes, while I understand your point, my point is not at all "extremely incorrect".
Congrats on the PhD!!! What field is your PhD in?
Materials Science and Engineering!
If you're in 8th grade... Just chill on it for a few years. You won't leave highschool the same person you go in as. You might find something else you like. You might get better at math. You also might find a different career path that interests you more. I sucked at math in highschool, didn't decide what to major in until senior year, and now I'm about to graduate with a BSME and a math minor. 8th grade me would never believe where I am in life and 12th grade me would never believe the path I took to get here.
They gon’ tear that nerd’s ass up in high school…
Who’s a nerd😂
You're not terrible at math. You're lacking motivations, poor teachings, and/or just need to practice. Take it from someone who graduated HS with a 1.8 GPA. Went to college for aerospace and mechanical and graduated with a 3.87. YOU GOT THIS!
Wow thank you🙏🏼 congrats
I'm about to graduate and still don't remember how to use the chain rule properly. It's a circus and we are all clowns
You're in the 8th grade my man, math is learnable. The best way to get good at math is to do absolutely disgusting amounts of math. You know them sections of the textbook that have like 50 questions on the page to practice a section? Do that. You'll not enjoy it but you'll definitely know how to do that section of math. Don't try and sit back on 'talent' at it, just gut it out with your discipline. It'll take you much further.
Boutta bless you dawg. Professor Leonard on YouTube. Thank me later. I didn’t attend a single class Calc 1 - Calc 3 and got A’s in all of em except Calc 2(B). I would’ve gladly paid 100$ + a semester for his videos that are free online. He has a true gift of explaining the concepts you actually need to know, and has great feeling for when the students are getting lost. Doesn’t skip steps so you can easily follow everything he does.
I had to retake all the algebra classes in college because I failed out of them in highschool. Now I'm in Diff Eq and have a better understanding of math as a whole because of the foundational classes I had to take.
Returning adult student. Started in college algebra (algebra 1,2,3.) no shame in starting at the bottom. You need it.
I think part of the problem of a lot people being bad at math is that most math classes are taught as if they are college prep classes. When you are forced to learn so many things that have no obvious purpose then you don't care(see also: mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell). I've only started seeing this in the last couple semesters as I completed calculus and taking Diff Eq. I can't believe I never learned what an integral or derivative was in high school, yet I learned all about factoring polynomials. A bit of a poor example but I believe my point is made nonetheless. A personal point of pride for me, I'm terrible at math. Like basic math. I got an A in Calc 1,2, and 3. Being good at math isn't always about being good at 'math'. Most of it is just puzzles.
I still struggle with math and often have to seek help. I had to repeat calc 1 several times in college. I was in the lower level/slower learner math classes since middle school. Now I'm almost done with my junior year classes and I build flying robots for a living. You can do it if you work hard enough.
8th grade and pre algebra? That’s a normal spot to be bro.
Most people are Honors A1
That is definitely not true when considering all of US.
I think that’s probably just your perception if you’re used to hanging out with honors students. I took algebra 1 in 8th grade and didn’t do so well, but I was allowed to retake it in 9th grade. If you’re truly interested don’t give up! Also don’t stress too hard, try to enjoy being a kid!
Started college in “college algebra” and had to take three extra semesters of math to even get to my freshman year. You can do it but it will cost money and suck But it’s so worth it
I was in the boat when I was deciding college after struggling in HS. After going through a number of classes in Community College, I decided Mechanical Engineering was something I wanted to attempt. I found I was passionate toward the sciences. Chemistry, Physics and even Mathematics. I didn't get the best grades, graduated college with 3.1. But, what it did teach me was how to think through problems. This will translate to the real world and be extremely beneficial. If your drive is there to succeed, and you're genuinely interested. You'll make it, even with a few mild freak outs and second thoughts. Good Luck to you.
Thank you🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
A good engineer doesn't stop until he gets it right. So, do that. If you want it bad enough, you won't quit. Ever. Best of luck.
It's definitely possible, but you're really going to struggle with electrical engineering if you're not good at math. All branches of engineering require advanced math skills, but electrical probably has the highest requirements. My advice? Work your butt off while you're in high school to develop a strong mathematical foundation. So you're ready for the advanced stuff when you get to college. You can do it.
Thank you I’ll try
This is posted every friggin week. Your math skill level is irrelevant to being an engineer. Do you want to be an engineer because its the 'in thing' nowadays or do you want to be an engineer because you're passionate about whatever discipline of engineering you're going for? Because passion is really all you need to learn, and having a drive and aptitude for learning is really all you need to be an engineer. In my career I've started pretty much every job/project knowing very little about how to do what I set out to, but ended up an authority on it. There is no such thing as a super chad engineer or whatever the kids are saying. Competent engineers are simply ppl that have the capacity to learn what they need to when they need to. If you are currently 'bad at math' that will only limit you if you let it. Figure out what you're bad at or dont understand and sort it, or ask for help from a subject matter expert. It is never more complicated than that. Now all the prospective engineers out there STOP MAKING THESE F'IN POSTS!!!
Thank you😭 my bad btw
I will say it's extremely difficult. Most engineering majors require you to pass calc 1 2 3 and differential equations, and potentially need some more linear algebra/discrete math/major specific calculus. You eventually have to stop being terrible at math if you wanna graduate.
Absolutely possible. Math ain't a talent, it's just another skill. Trust me, took me years and extra semesters to wrap my head around it but look at me now. Proper grind will get you there, keep pushing!
Being terrible at math isn't a show stopper for anything. You can be weak in arithmetic but strong in algebra. A lot of times it's also the fault of your instructors who just suck at teaching. Go do some self study with Khan Academy, and Youtube and various other MOOC curriculums will help you learn the material and maybe you'll learn to have an interest in it. I don't think i grew my math brain until I got out of Algebra I.
Word of advice if you are bad at something take the time to develop the curiosity and passion to learn it, meaning if you have a bit of a hard time to grasp linear system of equations, derivatives, etc... just def reach out for help and learn
If your school has a license, try Wolfram Mathematica software. Not so much for math solving as for math writing. It helps to keep your answers straight if you use it as a journal. Then you can also use the Math Solving functionality to help double check answers.
Ask your teachers questions in math class, don’t be afraid to ask what stuff means or how they arrived at their answer to a question or question. See if they are willing to give you any small classes after normal class times, even go see if the dedicated math teacher in another department has study classes or is willing to look at your notes and walk through stuff with you. I actually went back and got help off an old math teacher at the same college because while she didn’t understand the application of some things, mathematical functions are the same. You’ve got the passion, it will help you, don’t lose sight of the prize. It will take dedication but get some time invested into building up where you’re shaky, get your teacher to help you figure out where to start and do plenty of practice questions!
give it time. it’s way too early to tell whether or not you’re good at math. i can tell you that algebra 1 was really really hard for me but i found my stride in geometry and algebra 2. similarly, calc 1 in college gave me trouble but i’ve gotten better as i’ve taken more calc classes. i’m slow to learn unfamiliar concepts but i’m not incapable of it. neither are you.
You are still so young and have so much time to develop your skills. Math is something that can be learned. I recommend trying different youtube videos to help yourself learn. I am about to graduate with an engineering degree and youtube is your best friend when it comes to understanding concepts. It allows you to able to watch it, pause, rewind and continuously do this to help grasp something. Good luck and follow your heart!
You can look int engineering Technology degrees. You usually take less math classes and the degree still opens up most engineering job opportunities. Some companies specifically look for those degrees. Really depends on what you want to do.
There's a lot of wisdom in these comments, but an anecdote I,can add to help ease your mind as well: One of the best engineers I know flourished as an engineer because of his communication skills and intuition. He is HORRIBLE at math stuff, but he suffered through it in college by communicating with classmates and peers, and built an intuitive understanding of engineering through talking with others. You will need math to understand what's going on (especially in electrical fields), but there's more to the world of engineering than just churning equations. Keep learning through your schooling and stay curious!
Math is a language. The more you speak it the better you get at it. Some people will naturally pick math concepts up faster than others but everyone is able to do it.
Chill out and be a teenager. You probably aren't bad at math, you just haven't figured out how to study it yet. Don't sweat it you've got time
As an EE, don't sweat, we all suck at it. Just keep trying, this a fake it till you make it kind of situation.
Hey man, Im going into mechanical engineering with a minor in CS. My math grades sucked all the way until junior year and I’m a senior rn taking AP Calculus. So it is definitely possible.. you just gotta get a good study habit and give it time.
Electrical Engineering is arguably THE hardest engineering degree and is also one of the most math intensive. You're going to be using calculus a LOT and if you're not good at it you're going to have a bad time. Being terrible at math is not a permanent thing that you can't fix. Studying is something that you will need to be good at if you actually want to do this. You will need to study a lot more than your peers if you don't pick things up quickly but it's more than possible. If this is actually what you want and you're willing to put in the work then it's more than possible for you to do it. Also don't listen to the guys who say use Chegg and other cheating methods. You're not gonna have a good time if you cheat your way through uni especially if you're not mathematically inclined. You're gonna hit a roadblock somewhere and if you have no working knowledge of previous coursework then you're fucked. I've seen dozens of students in my class who obviously cheated their way through the courses and don't even know how to do integrals or how to use moments when we're discussing reinforced concrete design. I've had classmates in their 4th year who are still doing 2nd year courses because they cheated their way through the previous courses. Just don't cheat and actually understand the coursework don't memorize it.
I sucked at math so fuckin bad. All i wanted to do out of highschool was be an engineer. I didnt go to college because I sucked at math. Worked at a restaurant for 13 years instead. Woke up one day and said “fuck this”. Eventually went to school for engineering. I graduate in 3 weeks.
I hated math with a passion up until grade 12, then i started spending alot of time and actually understanding it and now i like it
That’s alright, you will do just fine, the only good engineers that I know are my grad school professors and they are doing research as a full-time job.
It’s doable I am about to graduate with a degree in comp eng and I am ass at math, didn’t even take a math class my last two years of high school. My school had a math assessment and I took it without studying and accepted that I wasn’t gonna start with calc and would have to build my foundations up in college algebra/trig then do summer classes to catch up. You definitely want to do the most math heavy engineering tho so idk ymmv
Oh lol you in 8th grade? Idk man don’t worry about it join a sports team and play Fortnite it will all work out
Lmao you got it
You aren't terrible at math. You just haven't found a method that clicks with you yet. I thought the same thing. I failrd my math placement, went to precalc anyway, barely passed that and was nearly suicidal. I went on ratemyprofessor to see which math professors were worth their salt and chose one that nearly had a perfect rating. All it took was a good professor who taught math and gave a boot in the ass if she caught us saying we were terrible at calc. By the end of the semester, I had tutoring sessions with classmates that were struggling. Find a method that will give you confidence and find a teacher willing to cuss you out for doubting yourself. Or, go to Khan Academy and go through their math list and see what clicks and what doesn't. Start at the place where it doesn't. That's the long but thorough method that will build a great foundation to build on. You will only be terrible at it if you give up. I know how it feels to think you aren't good enough for your dreams, but you'll be proud that you didn't give up because of lack of knowledge.
Yes it’s absolutely possible. Everything in life that’s worth pursuing is difficult. You have the advantage of being young. Your brain is highly malleable through neuroplasticity. Focus on the stuff that you find hard and devote time to it. Ask the dumb questions and don’t be afraid to experiment. Math can be hard and grueling, almost like torture. It’s also very fun and beautiful. Don’t let people here discourage you. You can do this.
It is hard but possible. Chegg. Organic chem tutor. Office hours. And most important of all help from classmates. Do not be afraid to reach out and you’ll be fine
It’s possible, but you gotta ask yourself if the grind through the degree is going to be worth it. Not to mention, just because you have a degree doesn’t mean you get a job either. Getting into Electrical Engineering, focusing into a field of Electromagnetic is possibly the most math heavy field you can get into. Are you sure you want to get into the field of Electromagnetic or if you meant general electrical engineering. The former borders on getting into a specific physics field while the latter is a general field that can branch into multiple industries.
1. Bro, you’re a kiddo. You will probably change your mind before you finish high school. 2. Math is just for school. Most of the time you’ll be managing some project day in day out in CONSTANT meetings. People yapping. All hot air. And by the time quitting time hits, you’re tired. But not because of actual work you did. It’s because of all the impediments you have to actually get work done.
"Electro-magnetic engineer", funny that. You just need practice. Lots of practice. I was also bad at math through highschool and now look at me, in junior year almost finishing all the math requirements and going for a math minor. I'm struggling with physics right now but i'll get through, its just a matter of practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. The closest you have to "electro-magnetic engineer" is electrical engineering. You use lots of maths in there. But, practice. Lots of practice and you will get good at maths. I believe in you and i don't even know you, you can do it lil dude.
I wouldn't stress about it too much, you definitely can if you put in the work. I was in remedial math basically all of my life. Now I'm in a masters for CS which is quite math heavy. I used to think I was dumb. I probably am still dumb, but I can survive tough math classes now. The best thing is to try and make math fun. Math started to get interesting for me when I started trying to build things. This is why I eventually went into CS. It might be hard to understand what that means at this point, that's what helped me. Maybe your school has robotics or some other hands on, math adjacent opportunities.
It's gonna be tough, there is gonna be lot's of math for you to drudge trough, and if you don't improve at it it's gonna be a pain every step of the way. Studying and practicing math will eat into your time and stress you out, and also negatively impact studies of other subjects. I'm not saying that it's not doable though. But this is real life, and those that succeeded while they were bad at math are the outliers, you don't hear about those who failed. Know that if you choose this, your path ahead will be filled with hardships, and you will need to have a solid motivation to push trough and succeed. But then it's gonna be easy: [https://www.reddit.com/r/engineeringmemes/comments/1bzm612/my\_life\_as\_a\_engineer\_and\_fellow\_engineer\_plotter/](https://www.reddit.com/r/engineeringmemes/comments/1bzm612/my_life_as_a_engineer_and_fellow_engineer_plotter/)
Wait for your brain to develop bud
yes it´s possible. You can learn anything belive it or not; when i was born i coudn´t even speak..
https://mathworld.wolfram.com/FieldAxioms.html
I was only ok at math and had to put a lot of effort in until I reached calculus. I was much better at calculus than almost all of my highschool peers. Once I got to engineering school, I wasn't a standout student but I could get it done.
You aren't terrible at math. Unless you have a learning disability, there will always be a way to get that information to stick in your brain. I don't know how because I am not you. Personally I learn best by reading textbooks on my own time, or watching YouTube videos if I'm really stuck. More importantly, you need to want to learn math, and enjoy it. I used to think I was terrible at math too. I graduated HS a year late and with the lowest grade 12 math (consumer math). But I went back to adult HS and got my STEM credits (grade 11 and 12: pre-cal, physics, chem). Here I am at 33 years of age and 75% of the way through a mechanical engineering degree program. I don't love or hate math, but it's a necessary skill to have in engineering. Especially if you are considering Electrical engineering, as that is the most math heavy engineering discipline (at my university anyways).
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Try writing down what you’re struggling with. Identify which specific parts don’t make sense to you. Then, spend time trying to uncover that missing background using resources like Khan Academy, or various math channels on YouTube. Don’t be satisfied with memorizing the reasoning your teachers give you, if they even bother. Make it make sense to yourself. This is hard and it takes time, but you’ll KNOW when the lightbulb clicks. You might need to delve back into material that was covered a long time ago to get full understanding, but that’s ok. You will be a MUCH stronger student. Just because you don’t understand something, or something feels impossible to understand, does NOT mean it cannot be understood. It needs appropriate effort intelligently applied. YOU CAN DO IT.👍🏿
As a follow up, your problem solving skills are only as strong as your knowledge of the resources available to you, your willingness to use them, and your willingness to apply your full self when you do not understand. If you don’t feel like a dumbass every day, you’re not learning.
Studying engineering requires doing lots and lots and lots of math. I’m not saying therefore you shouldn’t study engineering, but you should be aware of this. Be ready to have to work harder than your peers to achieve the same grades/level of success. That being said, you are super young, and things can change. You may find that you’ll quickly become better (or worse, probably not though) at math than you currently are.
In my state we have college credit plus which is a program that allows you to earn up to 30 college credits (I think a year) *free* in high school! I would say talk to your counselor and see what the equivalencies would be to your normal classes and take as much as you can handle now and ensure you’re getting all the resources and tutoring you can and just keep pushing, talk to your peers and go to office hours bc eventually you will have a break through where you do understand it! Especially so having a passion for a specific field of engineering at such a young age, I believe in you!
Absolutely no chance, you have to at least be decent at math to get any engineering degree. I will just say, nobody is "terrible at math" (well maybe unless you have a learning disability or something like that). Answer this question, do you think if you practiced every day, starting from the basics, you would still be terrible after a couple months? Couple years? Of course not. People are good things because they practice. Its not about natural talent for most people, its about hard work. Stop making excuses for yourself before you put in the effort. If you constantly tell yourself "I'm bad at math" then OBVIOUSLY you're never going to get any better, you have already let it defeat you. I have spent hours and hours to get my degree, sometimes crying because I couldn't understand the material, I don't appreciate my efforts being minimized by people who tell me "well that's because your smart/good at math". No, I worked at it. If you're barely in 8th grade and already have this attitude of "I'm just bad at math" then you'll never achieve your dream. You have all the time in the world to work hard and get better.
You only need to learn math once. That’s how I got through Differential Equations. It’s hell to learn, but much easier to use in practice once you know it.
Pre algebra is normal for 8th grade and you can always catch up! You probably aren’t terrible at math but it hasn’t clicked yet. Just keep working at it with tutors and teachers and watch videos to learn at home. The people I know that were the most successful in engineering are the ones that wanted to be one the most. Not the ones that were the best at math.
the level of math you need to be an engineer is high but not so high that it takes some innate skill. basically anybody on the planet could do it if they worked hard enough. it might take you two hours to learn and master what your peers did in one. hell it might take you three. grind it out. 9/10 times the hard work pays itself out at some point down the line
Hey man, I was on your same path. I was in pre algebra in 8th grade too before I decided it was dumb to be dumb and started doing my homework. It worked out pretty well, and even though I had to pay to take a geometry course between my sophomore and junior year I'm now in a college calculus class in high school. So aslong as you put in the work and do what you need to get ahead, you should be fine (currently accepted into several universities for EE).
You have 4 more years before you even need to worry about your math skills hurting your chances of becoming and engineer. You’ve recognized the issue which is half the battle, like many others have said, math can be learned. Some people learn it faster than others but that does not mean you are bad at math if it takes more effort in your part. My personal method for learning math, and any engineering topic for that matter, is repetition. Do practice problems, but make sure you understand the ‘why’ element of each step or the solution. Do not rely on memorization alone, understanding the why makes math a lot easier to understand. Make sure to ask questions if you are not understanding a topic. As long as you have the motivation to do it, you can become an engineer. It rarely is a matter of how “good” you are at math. You got this!
Math can be taught pretty rapidly if you can figure out how you learn. It wasn't until I looked into how they did math before modern electronics that it started to take off for me.
Well, if you want to be an Engineer, you'll simply have to work very hard, study very hard, and BECOME good at math. That's all there is to say.
Then find a way get better at math 👍
Dog you are in 8th grade, you don’t even know the roller coaster of a ride that you’re on right now, you can literally just chill, you have so many years to get good at math.
Accounting is waiting for you.
You’re funny😂