Why Maths feels so hard? Science has the answer
Ravi still remembers that day in fifth grade. The teacher handed back the math test, and there it was, a big red circle around his answer, marked wrong. His classmates giggled, and the teacher sighed, "You just don't get it, do you?"From that moment on, Ravi decided: math is not for me.Decades later, he still freezes up when he has to calculate a tip or help his daughter with her homework. Sound familiar? If you've ever felt your stomach turn at the sight of a math problem, you're not alone."The moment I see numbers in a word problem, my brain just shuts down," says Sneha, a Class 10 student in Delhi. "Even if I know the method, I panic and mess it up."advertisementIT'S NOT JUST YOU, IT'S YOUR BRAIN
Believe it or not, the fear of math is real- and it's got a name: math anxiety. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that people with math anxiety experience activity in the same part of the brain that processes physical pain, just by thinking about doing math.Another Stanford University study using MRI scans showed that math-anxious children had hyperactive fear centers (amygdala) and underactive reasoning centers (prefrontal cortex). This means their brain goes into a state of panic."I used to think my students were just lazy or not trying hard enough," admits Mr. Ghosh, a middle school math teacher in Kolkata. "But once I learned about math anxiety, I realised they're not lazy-they're scared."BUT WHERE DOES THIS FEAR BEGIN?1. Bad early experiencesMany people trace their fear back to school-timed tests, confusing instructions, or being humiliated for mistakes."I was once told to stand outside the class because I couldn't recite the 7 times table," recalls Ramesh, now 32."That memory still haunts me."advertisement2. The "I'm not a math person" mythA global education survey (PISA 2012) found that students who believed "math talent is something you're born with" performed significantly worse than those who believed effort matters."Everyone around me said things like 'our family isn't good at math'-so I just accepted it," says Priya, a college student from Bengaluru."It was like a family curse."3. Teacher troubleA study from the University of Chicago revealed that female teachers with math anxiety often pass it on to their female students, leading to lower performance and confidence."As a teacher, I try to hide my own fear of numbers. But kids pick up on it," says Mrs. Saini, a primary school teacher in Jaipur. "Now I work on my own confidence first, so I can help build theirs."WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY?
Why It Matters?Math fear doesn't just affect report cards-it shapes lives."I avoided engineering even though I loved physics-just because I was scared of calculus," says Amrit, now studying literature. It affects career paths, job readiness, and basic confidence in managing money, bills, or taxes. Over time, math anxiety can snowball into missed opportunities and lifelong self-doubt.GOOD NEWS: YOU CAN BEAT ITStart small: Use real-life math-like cooking, shopping, or budgeting.Change your mindset: Mistakes are not failure-they're part of learning.Use tools: Apps, games, and online tutors can help build comfort.Get support: A patient teacher or mentor can help rebuild confidence.advertisement"I used to cry during math class. Now I help my younger brother with his homework," says Kavya, a student who overcame math anxiety with the help of a supportive tutor.Math isn't a monster hiding under the bed. It's a skill-one that anyone can build with time, patience, and the right support. So the next time numbers make you nervous, remember: it's not you, it's your wiring-and science says you can rewire it.
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