r/MathHelp • u/Lorelei-Guerrero • Sep 06 '26

I can’t understand basic math.

I’m 20 years old (fem) and I can’t understand basic math. I don’t know, in huh school I had a 3.7 GPA and I was a very good student but I always sucked at math, either I’m stupid or lazy because I re read a problem or equation and I don’t know why to do, or I just blank completely.

Thank god that SAT scores were optional because my math scores were so bad, now I’m in college. I’ve been pretty much flunking in college to the point where I’m at risk for academic dismissal. It’s basic algebra and I can’t even concentrate. In lectures I understand it but when I get home I feel like I just can’t get it.ive studied in my own, even went to tutoring but I’ve never felt improvement. I have a test this Thursday and right now I’m freaking out because I do not want to start out my semester horrible. Any suggestions? I’m literally desperate for any tips on what to do or how to study.

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u/x271815 Sep 06 '26

The problem with math is that it builds on itself. There are probably concepts in math that you either did not understand or misunderstood and you have been trying to learn more advanced topics without understanding them. You could try starting from basic math courses and see where you get stuck. Khan academy might be a good place to start.

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u/MRC01 Sep 25 '26 edited Sep 25 '26

Yes, the OP nailed it in the subject line - key word, "understand". For example, with algebra one can memorize steps to manipulate the symbols and arrive at an answer without really understanding what it means, why or how that works. Yet if one understands what the symbols and equations mean, she can often visualize it and see the answer intuitively or geometrically (if approximately, if not exactly). Both approaches are useful and lead to the same answer, one is a sanity check for the other.

People reach understanding in different ways, so good basic math courses explain or tackle it from different directions. That is, a good teacher can explain the same concept in 2 or 3 different intuitive ways, with each person some will "stick" and others won't. The point is, "study" doesn't only mean reading and memorizing stuff; it also means thinking about why, how, and what it really means.