<p>In terms of Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calc, Calc, etc.</p>
<p>What’s your stance on it?</p>
<p>Very interesting question.</p>
<p>Natural AND acquired.</p>
<p>I believe that each student has a certain threshold for mathematic ability. Once they reach this threshold, it becomes exponentially harder to learn new material. From that point on, it’s a matter of “how much do I really want to learn this stuff.”</p>
<p>i agree with robotfood…from personal experience, i can say that it comes naturally to a point- then you max out (in my case, ap calculus junior year), have no motivation, and the crappy grades come rollin’ in :)</p>
<p>In the overwhelming majority of cases, completely acquired.</p>
<p>I personally believe mathematical ability is something one acquires.</p>
<p>That being said there is an unnerving percentage of the International mathletes who are have sight disabilities and/or are left-handed</p>
<p>Both. I don’t believe that you can “max” out at a certain level or degree of math, but I do beleive that some people are hardwired to be more logical thinkers or see numbers better, and in the long run will help them with learning math. The vice versa applies also, in which case learning math is a more difficult experience.</p>
<p>i thought they were natural…
like things to do with the right/left sides of the brain or osmething…</p>
<p>Perhaps, but imo being good at math requires more than being “logical” or having “number skills.” After a certain point, creativity and imagination start being really crucial. So I don’t think the left/right brain thing necessarily applies.</p>
<p>Acquired. Most things like this are, until you start talking about people like Einstein or Hawking.</p>
<p>both. i know this one math genius who doesnt do much work on his own, but manages to grasp everything and ace tests.</p>
<p>however, i used to suck desperately at math, studied a bit, and improved score-wise.</p>
<p>i used to suck at math too… until i took a bit of math tutoring and i found tricks… but mainly not memorization for everything… just the formulas, it isnt natural talent, its talent ytou have to acquire</p>
<p>I think for almost everyone, it’s completely acquired. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone a particular school system churns out (same classes & teaches 1st through 12th grades) is going to have the same math abilities. Much of education has to do with attitude. If a child’s parents and teachers present math and numbers as something easy, that’s how kids will perceive it once they grasp it. If they’re always hearing from peers and parents how hard math is, and how dumb it is, and how pointless it is, they’re far less likely to try.</p>
<p>I think for the majority of people math skills are aquired. That’s why there is such an uneven population of math “geniuses” around the world, because differenct cultures enforce the acquisition of math skills differently. If math skills came naturally, then there would be just as many math geniuses everywhere, dont you think?<br>
Ah! I’m talking too complicated for myself!</p>
<p>Natural, I think. For all the details of math though, like asymptotes and stuff, it is acquired. I think it is natural, still.</p>
<p>Most people can become very good at math without having any particular natural ability.</p>
<p>However, I know somebody who is amazing at math. Nobody can become that in touch with math and numbers without a natural inclination (gift almost).</p>
<p>Math is an acquired skill.</p>
<p>Memory is a natural skill.</p>
<p>Remembering math is a combination of both. :)</p>
<p>Natural and Acquired.</p>
<p>Natural in a sense that I can solve math problems like 23x27 or 18x34 or things like that in my head in less than three seconds. Simple math is easy for me (SAT 1 Math). Things like that got me a 790 in SAT 1 Math.</p>
<p>Acquired in sense that you need to know the material and be able to solve…non-simple questions. (I’m doing horribly in AP Calc AB but I haven’t studied or done hw or done…anything really.) Not knowing the material got me a 710 in SAT II Math Level 2.</p>
<p>I guess it is acquired in the context most of you seem to be talking about. That is, the context of a highschool math class like ap calculus and such. However, do note, that in order to succeed in math olympiad tests like the AIME or USAMO, one is entering a whole other realm. Let’s face it, no matter how much you try to persuade and convince that the AIME or USAMO is simple, a person who is not naturally talented in math will fail miserably. So in this case, I don’t think any of the psychological babble on how people percieve math as a stereotypically hard or boring subject applies. IMO, for people who don’t want to specialize in math, this may even extend to prospective engineers, one can learn the required math skills and not be terribly gifted, however, if you want to be a mathematician, natural ability in math is incredibly significant, by far the most important attribute.</p>
<p>I honestly think it’s more natural. So many people ‘get math’ because they are naturally a mathlete. Other people can try their hardest, and can never grasp complicated concepts. </p>
<p>I guess what I’m trying to say, is that some people are naturally better at math. That’s a given. You can’t reach the grounds of a math genius by simply trying hard. You have to be a genius to be a genius at math. Everyone’s brain is different. </p>
<p>I think that a lot of you are misinterpreting the question. I don’t think that by “skill” the topic creator means knowledge. I think that by “skill” the topic creator means the potential to learn and understand math. Some people are better at learning, understanding, and solving math.</p>