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skippercollector

(206 posts)
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 08:24 AM Jun 2013

Anyone else struggle with geometry?

I'm long out of school, so this isn't a current problem. It's just one I'm curious about. I've read so many discussions in the past year on various forums about how many people struggled/struggle with algebra. Algebra was the one math subject I enjoyed and was good at. I've always said it was because it was letters and not numbers!
However, I hated plane geometry! It was time-consuming and very hard for me to understand and visualize. I never got good grades in it. I remember little of what I learned.
I suspect that some of my struggles had to do with my poor eyesight. Until I had eye surgery in my 30s, I was legally blind and wore very thick glasses. I couldn't see far distances even with glasses. I think my 3-D vision is lacking and I know my peripheral vision is poor and I am better at remembering words, not pictures, in my head.
I'm not talking about high school geometry with the theorems. That was straight memorization of comparisons. That wasn't the problem.
Fortunately, I went into a career that involved writing, not math.

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Anyone else struggle with geometry? (Original Post) skippercollector Jun 2013 OP
Geometry was easy for me. It proves to be useful every day. Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #1
I struggled with analytical geometry... HereSince1628 Jun 2013 #2
I only recall learning 63 theorems parrot fashion early sixties. dipsydoodle Jun 2013 #3
I considered geometry to be a logic class rather than math. Downwinder Jun 2013 #4
That's what it's supposed to be these days. For the most part. Igel Jun 2013 #10
Hated both of them, elleng Jun 2013 #5
Should have been just right for law. Downwinder Jun 2013 #6
Right, and able to do it with words, elleng Jun 2013 #7
I loved geometry. femmocrat Jun 2013 #8
Liked both Algebra and Geometry dem in texas Jun 2013 #12
Ewww savebigbird Jun 2013 #9
I HATE ALL MATH!!!!!!! CRK7376 Jun 2013 #11

HereSince1628

(36,063 posts)
2. I struggled with analytical geometry...
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 08:41 AM
Jun 2013

I think mostly because at the time my memory of trig relationships was really pretty poor.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
3. I only recall learning 63 theorems parrot fashion early sixties.
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 08:48 AM
Jun 2013

The only thing none of them mentioned was measure twice cut once.

Downwinder

(12,869 posts)
4. I considered geometry to be a logic class rather than math.
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 10:03 AM
Jun 2013

You learn to assess a problem and address it in an organized fashion.

Igel

(35,191 posts)
10. That's what it's supposed to be these days. For the most part.
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 09:16 PM
Jun 2013

Its use by geometers is assumed, but for most of us it's how to start with a set of axioms and deduce a fairly large set of internally self-consistent rules. Training for rigorous, logical thinking and upper levels of math.

Seldom taught that way. The schools I've seen tend to teach it as a series of precepts to be memorized. Thus it's the equivalent of buying an AKC-certified prize-winning stud, and when you take him to the vet for his initial check up stipulating that he be neutered.

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)
8. I loved geometry.
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 04:16 PM
Jun 2013

I liked Algebra I too, but by Algebra II, I knew I was spinning my wheels and would never use it again. I didn't take Trig or Calculus. I spent all of my time in the art room, where I ended up spending my career. (Well, not the same one.)

dem in texas

(2,672 posts)
12. Liked both Algebra and Geometry
Mon Jun 17, 2013, 01:28 PM
Jun 2013

I always like anything math, studied accounting and finance in college, was a CFO for several companies, then got into the software business as consultant designing accounting and business software. My algebra came in handy when laying out the logic and data tests needed in a program. The programmers didn't always understand accounting rules, but when I wrote it out in a algebraic formula, they would understand.

savebigbird

(417 posts)
9. Ewww
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 08:00 PM
Jun 2013

I HATE geometry. HATE.

I aced all the other math courses I took, including multiple levels of algebra, calculus, trigonometry, linear equations, statistics; but geometry? Yuck. Proofs were the worst.

CRK7376

(2,187 posts)
11. I HATE ALL MATH!!!!!!!
Tue Jun 4, 2013, 11:41 AM
Jun 2013

I can add, subtract, multiply and divide and that's it. The rest was absolute torture for me, still is. Thankfully for me and my kids, they are smart in math and need little help to understand and do well in that subject. I sure can't help them, at least not since about 4th grade....I never understood the theories or equations. Yes I know its value, how it helps in construction, astronomy etc...still, it's hated by me.

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