Why are some people bad at maths? - CrowdScience podcast, BBC World Service

Summary

In this episode of CrowdScience, the team explores why some people, like listener Israel, struggle with math. Genetic, environmental, and emotional factors all play a role in mathematical ability, with research showing a significant genetic influence. However, a positive mindset, proper teaching methods, and tackling math anxiety can greatly improve skills. The episode also covers dyscalculia, a condition where individuals have difficulty with basic arithmetic, and highlights the importance of early interventions. Ultimately, the show emphasizes that while not everyone will be a math expert, anyone can improve their numerical skills with effort and the right support.

Takeaways

• 😀 Takeaway 1: Genetics plays a significant role in math ability, but it’s not the only factor. Studies show that genes contribute around 50-60% to one's math skills.
• 😀 Takeaway 2: Environment, including experiences and exposures, also heavily influences how well we do in math. Factors like family life, socioeconomic status, and random events can all shape our abilities.
• 😀 Takeaway 3: Math anxiety can lead to avoidance, which worsens performance. This negative cycle affects working memory and limits the mental space needed for problem-solving.
• 😀 Takeaway 4: Despite genetic and environmental influences, it is possible to improve in mathematics with time, effort, and the right mindset.
• 😀 Takeaway 5: Dyscalculia, a condition that impairs number sense, affects approximately 5% of the population and makes it much harder for individuals to learn basic arithmetic.
• 😀 Takeaway 6: Certain cultures, like some Indigenous communities in Australia, lack specific words for numbers, yet people in those cultures still possess a strong sense of quantity and can perform basic arithmetic.
• 😀 Takeaway 7: Children in countries like China and Finland often perform well in math due to their focus on foundational skills, teacher support, and respect for educators.
• 😀 Takeaway 8: Finland's educational system emphasizes equal support for struggling students, ensuring that no one falls too far behind, which helps raise overall performance.
• 😀 Takeaway 9: Despite struggling with mental arithmetic, people like Emma, who pursued astrophysics and cosmology, demonstrate that success in math isn’t limited to basic arithmetic fluency.
• 😀 Takeaway 10: Emotional factors like self-belief, positive reinforcement, and overcoming negative experiences can significantly impact a person’s ability to excel in math, regardless of genetic predispositions.

Q & A

What is the central question posed by the farmer in the episode?

The farmer asks how many sheep, goats, and horses he has on his farm, given that all of his animals are sheep except three, all goats except four, and all horses except five.

Why did Israel from Papua New Guinea struggle with mathematics?

Israel struggled with mathematics due to difficulties he experienced in early schooling, particularly with long division. Despite studying hard, he found it difficult to improve and started disliking math due to a lack of success.

What is the role of genetics in mathematical ability?

Genetics contribute to about 50-60% of mathematical ability in secondary school and adulthood, as evidenced by twin studies. Identical twins are more similar in mathematical ability than non-identical twins, indicating a genetic component to math skills.

What is the 'exposome' and how does it relate to mathematics?

The 'exposome' refers to all the experiences and environments that influence a person throughout their life. In the context of math, the exposome includes factors like learning experiences, social influences, and even random events that affect one's relationship with numbers.

How does mathematics anxiety impact a person's ability to perform in math?

Mathematics anxiety can overload a person's working memory, which reduces their ability to solve math problems. Anxious thoughts take up valuable mental space, leaving less capacity for performing the task at hand, making it harder for individuals to succeed in math.

What role does the education system play in shaping mathematical abilities?

Educational systems play a crucial role in mathematical development. Countries like Finland and East Asian nations focus on ensuring all students have a solid foundation in math. The quality of teachers, their training, and the support systems in place significantly impact students' performance.

What are some differences between countries with high and low mathematical performance?

In high-performing countries like China and Finland, there is a strong emphasis on teaching foundational math skills to all students, with special support for those falling behind. However, there is greater variability in performance in countries like China, where there can be a large gap between the best and worst performers.

How does the lack of number-specific language affect people's mathematical abilities?

In communities that lack number-specific language, such as some indigenous Australian cultures, people can still demonstrate an innate understanding of numbers. They can perform tasks like addition or matching quantities, showing that a basic numerical sense is built-in, even without formal counting words.

What is dyscalculia and how does it impact learning math?

Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to understand numbers and perform arithmetic. It is believed to affect about 5% of the population. Individuals with dyscalculia may struggle with basic tasks like addition or multiplication due to their impaired number sense.

What interventions are being explored to help children with dyscalculia?

Researchers have developed games that help children with dyscalculia improve their number sense and basic arithmetic skills. One such game uses beads and sets to teach mathematical concepts. While these games show promise, the long-term effectiveness of such interventions is still being studied.