How come we have to learn boring maths?

5 Dec 2007 · Posted in Learning, Mathematics 

A reader of my Interactive Mathematics site recently wrote:

How come we have to learn how to do maths? IT IS BORING

I replied with the following.

Hi Terry [name changed]

Thanks for your question.

Is it mathematics that’s boring or is there more to your question?

One of the big problems is that math teachers have a lot of content to get through and don’t have much chance to make things exciting.

I know I can’t convince you that mathematics can be interesting in one letter, but let me point out some of the stuff I enjoy in mathematics:

Math of Beauty

Music and Trigonometry

Music and Fourier Series

Fractals

Fractal tattoos

You may also find Danica McKellar’s work (and book) interesting:

Actually, if we expect something to be boring – it will be. If we approach things looking for the fun side, that’s what we are more likely to find.

Good luck with your studies and I hope it is not too boring :-)

Regards

I’m not sure if it helped since I didn’t get a reply from her.

Comments

2 Responses to “How come we have to learn boring maths?”

  1. fatman on December 13th, 2007 10:37 am

    y is maths so boring like y couldn’t we play sport every once and a while

  2. Johan de Nijs on December 16th, 2007 2:25 am

    Math is the language of nature, of the cosmos and of the realities(3) we live in. Math is not easy, but is exciting when one asks questions. Only when the person her/him self is boring math will become exceedingly boring.

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