How To Learn Math? – Notes To My Younger Self

As someone who works with mathematics on a daily basis, I constantly reflect upon what I now know about math that I wish I knew earlier. I know that hindsight is 20–20. But still, I think it is human nature to self-reflect and it feels unnatural to resist it.

Even if my younger self cannot realistically profit from this knowledge, if someone else can, it would be a net-positive outcome, right?

When I originally imagined how I would communicate with my younger self, I imagined myself writing notes to pass along. But then, I caught myself working with silly boundaries in a silly imaginary scenario.

Why does communication with my younger self have to be one-way? What if my younger self could communicate back to me?

If my younger self did indeed have the possibility to communicate with the current me, I am pretty certain he would sceptically ask the following question:

“So, what do you do now exactly? Why should I listen to you?

And that’s precisely where I would like to begin.

The Present

Good question, younger me! You don’t have to listen to me. I’m just an ordinary person who is still not “gifted” at mathematics at all. But what might interest you is the fact that I work with exciting technical stuff on a daily basis.

This technical stuff quite often involves mathematics and I LOVE working with math. Now, I know that you’ve always wanted to enjoy math, but are finding it hard to.

And from all the experiences I have gone through, I think I can share a few pointers on how you can start enjoying mathematics faster as you proceed in life.

I’m not saying that what I will be sharing will make you better or worse at math. But it will most certainly make math more fun! Isn’t that something worth your attention?

If you do indeed feel that it is worth giving a shot, read along.

Mistakes from the Distant Past

Your parents and teachers have always been adamant that precision and correct answers to math problems are crucially important. I am here to say that immaculate precision and correct answers to math problems are not crucial at all.

The fact that all of your tests and exams are designed to punish you for “mistakes” will make it hard for you take my word. Do your best to get by. These tests and exams are actually not a good measure of what you can do with math!

On the contrary, I encourage you to do a lot of mistakes. Look forward to mistakes. Make a lot of them. And each time you make a mistake, analyse what caused it and how it happened. Explore the math behind your mistakes!

I (your future self) still make mistakes with my calculations all the time. I have worked on the math behind race cars, where lives depend on precision and correct answers!

Yet here I am, encouraging you to make mistakes and admit that I still make them. Why is this? Because the fear of mistakes causes you to make more of them and avoid exploring your limits. You also don’t enjoy something you fear and avoid pushing your limits.

As you explore your mistakes, you will come up with creative systems that ensure that the final result is still correct and precise even if you make mistakes along the way. This is likely beyond your understanding now. 

But trust me if you can — don’t be afraid of making mistakes; look forward to them, and explore your limits. Exploration is almost always fun!

This essay is supported by Generatebg

Your Best Friend

This might come as a bit of a shocker to you. But most of your teachers are bad at math! Sure, they can execute mathematical algorithms well. But most of them have a very poor understanding of the fundamentals of math.

As a result, what you currently think you know about math are just a bunch of algorithmic steps to solve some textbook math problems. Ask a bunch of recursive “whys”, and you will eventually run into a wall.

Don’t blame your parents or teachers; it is not their fault (nor yours!). They are trying their best. If you want to enjoy math (and potentially understand it deeper), YOU are your best bet.

Do not depend upon any person to teach you math! The library is your best friend here. Explore a variety of books on the topics you find hard or challenging. It will be hard-going initially, but as you proceed step-by-step, you will find your footing.

Eventually, something called “the internet” will come along and drastically change the way you learn math. But until then, remember that the library is your best friend when it comes to learning math. Teach yourself!

Again, do not depend on any single person to teach you math!

Resetting Expectations

Your parents and teachers will always expect something or the other from you as far as math is concerned. Some will think that you have great potential. Some will think that you are hopeless.

Try and not be influenced by any of these expectations. Try and enjoy math and exploration as much as possible. Eventually, you will be able to set your own expectations.

I have said it once before. I will say it again: Your scores in exams and tests are not a good measure of what you can do with math. Do your best to get by.

They are designed to be the opposite of “fun”. Instead, cherish your explorations, for they will reward you handsomely in the long run. Design games around your math explorations — imagination is a powerful tool and ally!

One Last Wish

I know very well that you are not very patient. So, I will not bore you with any more of my reflections for now. If I feel the need to share more, I will write to you again at a later point.

For now, I feel that I have shared the most important points I wanted to convey. Before I wind up though, I have one last wish to share with you — it is central to having fun with math.

I always felt that I discovered Martin Gardner too late in my life. For this reason, I urge you to discover his work as early as possible in your life. 

After this, you will look at math differently, and start enjoying math exploration much more — I promise!

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Further reading that might interest you: 

• Mathematics Vs. Physics: What Makes Them So Different?
• How To Understand Units In Mathematics?
• Modern Math Is Full Of Symbols. Is This Really Necessary?

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