You’re not bad at math: What I learned after 7500 hours of studying math

Summary

The video takes a motivational approach to math, claiming IQ and 'being smart' are not reliable determinants for success. Anyone can improve in math through persistence, obsessiveness, and deeper understanding of concepts and logic. The creator shares how over 7,500 hours of studying math, she realized that struggling does not equate to stupidity; we must acknowledge confusion in order to address gaps in comprehension. She explains tangible personal benefits of pursuing math including mobility, future opportunities, salary, and improved logic. Overall, the video aims to encourage students to embrace the lifelong, problem-solving benefits of deeper math study.

Takeaways

• 😊 You can catch up and excel in math even if you're currently struggling
• 😎 IQ and "being smart" are not accurate determinants of math performance
• 🔥 Becoming obsessive about understanding every question is key to success
• 😣 It's normal to find math confusing if you're missing foundational knowledge
• ❓ Asking good questions is critical to overcoming confusion
• 😥 Struggling with math is common, don't beat yourself up
• 🤓 Math builds valuable logic and problem solving skills
• 😏 Studying math can make you look smart
• 💰 Strong math skills open up high-paying career opportunities
• 💡 Math is an essential foundation for logical thinking

Q & A

What does the speaker say is the reason why some students find math difficult?

The speaker says students find math difficult because math builds on previous foundations that students may have forgotten or not properly learned. Without that base knowledge, the logic in more advanced math does not make sense.

What does the speaker recommend doing when you are confused about a math concept?

The speaker recommends identifying exactly which step you are confused on and figuring out what base knowledge you are missing that is causing your confusion. She recommends Googling specifics or asking someone for help.

What is the speaker's advice for overcoming struggles with math?

The speaker advises not beating yourself up when you can't figure something out. She recommends taking deep breaths, calming down, and patiently trying to learn each step to see where you went wrong. She says to not let a question defeat you.

What does the speaker say is not a good reason to give up on a math question?

The speaker says you should not give up just because you think someone else is smarter than you or has stricter parents. She says most students have similar IQs and being smart is a scam.

What does the speaker say is the key to being good at math?

The speaker says being obsessive about understanding every step of every relevant math question is key. Good math students won't rest until they fully understand something.

How does the speaker say you can catch up in a math class?

The speaker says you can catch up and get an A in a math class within 2 weeks by relentlessly focusing on fully understanding all relevant homework and textbook questions.

What personal reasons does the speaker give for studying math?

The speaker studied math to look smart, for higher salary potential, and to build logic/problem-solving skills.

What happened when the speaker was studying for an exam?

The speaker cried at 2am in the library because she couldn't understand an important question, but eventually calmed herself and kept trying.

What advice does the speaker have around asking questions?

The speaker advises asking very specific rather than generic questions, even providing examples of good questions to ask. She says don't let fear of looking stupid stop you.

What does the speaker say math has changed about her life?

The speaker says studying math has changed her life by improving her problem-solving abilities and logical thinking, which are now huge parts of her personality.