Do not feel bad about asking for help. Many people struggle with math, and your teacher has likely dealt with struggling students before. Your teacher is invested in seeing you succeed. Be direct when asking for help, and explain the issue clearly. Do not say, “I don’t get any of this. " Instead, say, “I feel like I understand everything until chapter three, but polynomials are really confusing me. "

If you have a learning disability that affects your competency at math, such as dyslexia, see if you can find a tutor who works with students with disabilities. National organizations associated with your disability may be able to find you a local tutor. A medical doctor may be able to refer you to a tutor as well.

If you’re very confused, choose someone with a lot of patience who’s good at explaining things. Your cousin may be a whiz at math, but he may be short-tempered and judgmental. He may snap at you for not understanding something. Instead, ask your sister who’s usually calm. Do not be embarrassed to ask for help. It can take a long time to improve your math skills, and everyone needs some help along the way.

Some schools provide certain aspects of a course, like PowerPoint presentations and taped lectures, for free online. You can also look into an auditing a course at a local college. If money is an issue, auditing a course can allow you to gain knowledge for no cost.

If your school does not have a resource center, it may have a general resource center where you can get help on a variety of subjects. You can also see if your professor does review sessions. If you’re confused by a subject, a review session with a professor can help you better understand that subject.

When helping, explain the subject material as clear as you possibly can. In addition to explaining the process, explain why it works. If you’re beginning to feel very comfortable with your math skills, you could work as a private tutor for people at a lower level. Explaining math to others can help improve your math skills.

If you have a bad attitude, you will get frustrated easily. If you assume you’re bad at math, when you get a problem wrong you will see that as a confirmation of this assumption. You will think to yourself, “I knew I’m no good at this. What’s the point?” Go into it with the right attitude. If you’re currently struggling with math, don’t think, “I’m bad at math. " Instead, think to yourself, “I have not taken enough time to practice math, so I’m still learning. With some hard work, I know I can improve my skills. "

Some people do have an inborn talent for math. This can help them gain an advantage early on, and they may learn more quickly in elementary school. However, most studies indicate hard work can improve your math skills just as much as a natural inclination. In fact, hard work may pay off more long term than innate talent. There are learning disorders, like dyscalculia, that can affect your ability to do math. However, even with a learning disability, you can improve your math skills with practice and proper treatment. Do not get discouraged. You are not simply bad at math. You just need practice.

The ability to do math can help with your reasoning skills, and mental math can make your day-to-day life less stressful. Embrace math instead of disregarding it. Being good at math can be beneficial to you.

Find an area where there is not a lot of noise or commotion. A quiet coffee shop could work, or a desk in your bedroom. Minimize distractions in front of you. Disconnect from the internet and put away your phone. If you like music while studying, go for instrumental music. Music with lyrics, or music that’s very loud, can be distracting when you’re studying.

Stick to a schedule. See where you can fit in some study time every day. Maybe you usually have some time in the early evenings. You could plan to study math from 6 to 7 every night after dinner. Try not to study for hours and hours straight. This may create stress. Study for an hour or so each night.

Math theory may seem complicated, but with a little hard work, you can begin to figure it out. In math classes, do not hesitate to ask why. Why does the Pythagorean Theorem work? How does the quadratic equation work on a logical level? Understanding the underlying concepts is far more productive than simple memorization. If you understand something in depth, you’ll have an easier time working with it. You’ll be better equipped to check your answer if you understand why an equation makes sense.

If you first need to divide, concentrate only on dividing. If you need to add next, keep your focus on adding. Once you’ve completed the problem, you can go through and look at the process. Try to understand why and how the process worked.

It’s vital that you write down your process when solving math problems. Use a pen to write down the steps you took to solve a problem line by line. This way, when you make an error, you can review your work and figure out where you slipped up more easily.

Checking answers can also help you better understand the underlying theories behind math.