Essays on Math Anxiety

Importance of Mathematics in our Daily Life

Introduction Many students had disliked mathematics or math and had given up on appreciating its use. Some do so since they see Math as a hard and intimidating subject, while some do not simply see the point of studying it. However, many have discovered and acknowledged that Math is indeed an important part of our lives. They had recognized that Math is an indispensable tool and that many encounters or transactions are highly dependent on it such as in banking and economics. Likewise, the technology in today’s society is the fruit of algorithms, several mathematical computations, and mathematical ...

Introduction

Mathematics is one of the most important inventions of man, not to forget that it has existed since ancient civilizations emerged. One needs to count each day, recognize numbers, add, subtract, analyze and conclude from the world around every day. Almost everything that happens around in the world has a mathematical explanation. But mathematics is also a student’s nightmare. Mathematics forms the core subject in all curriculums world-wide. However, many do not understand mathematics even when they live with it every day. Mathematics is not a natural phenomenon and people learn it as they grow through their life. But not everyone ...

Part I: Mathematical Anxiety and Defining “Good Teaching”

Anxiety in mathematics is a long-studied field of educational psychology, and is a problem that has many suggested causes. To understand the issues that arise for many people when confronting mathematics, it is important first to understand what the psychological concept of “mathematical (math) anxiety” is. Math anxiety is a perceived notion, defined by Ashcraft and Kirk (2001) as: “a feeling of tension, apprehension, or fear that interferes with math performance” (Ashcraft and Kirk, 2001). Notably, math anxiety or math phobia is not an actual inability to do mathematics; it is the perceived inability to do mathematics. This observation and the resulting research ...

Abstract

This paper examines the correlative effects of stress levels on examination results, particularly in areas of academic study where students are already struggling. The research examines the test scores and stress levels of remedial and basic-level mathematics students in the undergraduate level, tracking their changes in stress level over time and the effects that changes in stress level has on a student’s academic performance in in-class mathematics examinations.

Introduction

Stress levels can seriously affect the overall quality of life that an individual is able to achieve. In tertiary institutions like colleges and universities, stress levels for students just learning to ...

In order to relax from math anxiety, it is necessary for an individual to develop an attitude of constantly studying, as well as practicing. This is because math is a skill, which is normally acquired as an individual interacts constantly with math operations. It is said, “Practice makes perfect”. This applies to math in cases where an individual engages in doing math problems consistently. It is recommended that one begins by handling and researching on math problems, which are simple to learn and handle. This makes one learn the basics of math effectively. This creates confidence in an individual towards ...