Imagine sitting down for a math test, and suddenly your heart starts racing, your palms get sweaty, and you feel butterflies in your stomach. This is called math anxiety, and it’s something many people experience. Even the famous French mathematician Laurent Schwartz felt this way in high school. Despite his worries, he went on to win the Fields Medal, which is like the Nobel Prize for math!
Research shows that about 20% of people feel anxious about math. Some psychologists even think it’s a condition that can be diagnosed. But having math anxiety doesn’t mean you’re bad at math. In fact, it can happen to anyone, even those who are really good at it.
Many people think they get anxious because they’re not good at math, but it’s often the other way around. Anxiety can actually make it harder to do well. This is because anxiety uses up something called working memory, which is like a mental notepad that helps us organize information. When you’re worried about math, there’s less room in your working memory to focus on solving problems.
Math anxiety is more common than anxiety about other subjects. Researchers are still figuring out why, but it might have to do with how math is introduced to kids. If parents or teachers say math is hard, kids might start to believe it. Teachers who are anxious about math can also pass that feeling on to their students. Plus, the pressure to solve problems quickly can make things worse. In some places, being good at math is seen as a sign of intelligence, which can add even more pressure.
Even great mathematicians like Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Fields Medal, felt unsure about math at times. So, what can you do if you feel anxious about math?
It’s also important to understand that your brain can grow and change. This idea is called a growth mindset. Believing that you can improve can actually help you get better at math. If you’re a teacher or parent, try to make math fun and creative. This can help build confidence in students. Give them time to think through their answers without rushing.
For schools, it’s important that teachers have a positive attitude about math. This can inspire students to feel the same way. It’s also crucial to challenge the myth that boys are naturally better at math than girls, as this is not true at all.
If you have math anxiety, remember that you’re not alone. Anxiety doesn’t define your abilities, and with time and effort, you can overcome it. Recognizing that others feel the same way can be comforting, and knowing that you can improve is empowering.
Pair up with a classmate and create a short skit where one of you plays a student experiencing math anxiety, and the other plays a supportive friend or teacher. Use this activity to explore feelings and strategies for overcoming anxiety. Present your skit to the class and discuss what you learned.
Join a guided mindfulness session focused on reducing anxiety. Practice deep breathing and visualization techniques that you can use before a math test. Reflect on how these techniques make you feel and how they might help you manage math anxiety.
Start a journal where you write about your experiences with math. Each week, note any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Include positive affirmations and examples of how your math skills have improved over time. Share your progress with a classmate.
Research common myths about math, such as “boys are better at math than girls” or “you have to be born with a math brain.” Create a poster or presentation debunking these myths and present it to the class. Discuss how these myths contribute to math anxiety.
Work on a creative math project that interests you, such as designing a math-related game or creating art using geometric shapes. Present your project to the class and explain how it helped you see math in a fun and engaging way.
When French mathematician Laurent Schwartz was in high school, he began to worry that he wasn’t smart enough to solve math problems. You might relate to this feeling: sitting down for a math test, your heart races, your palms sweat, and you feel butterflies in your stomach, making it hard to concentrate. This experience is known as math anxiety, and if you feel it, you’re not alone. Research suggests that about 20% of the population experiences it, and some psychologists even consider it a diagnosable condition. However, having math anxiety doesn’t mean you’re bad at math—quite the opposite. Laurent Schwartz went on to win the Fields Medal, the highest honor in mathematics.
People often think they feel anxious about math because they struggle with it, but it’s frequently the other way around: anxiety can lead to poor performance. Some psychologists believe that math anxiety reduces a cognitive resource called working memory, which is essential for organizing information needed to complete tasks. Worrying about solving math problems or performing poorly on tests consumes working memory, leaving less available for the math itself. This can cause individuals to struggle with even basic math skills they have previously mastered.
While academic anxiety isn’t limited to math, it appears to be more prevalent and impactful in this subject. Researchers are still exploring why this is the case, but some studies suggest that how children are introduced to math by parents and teachers plays a significant role. If parents frame math as challenging and unfamiliar, children may internalize this perspective. Teachers with math anxiety can also inadvertently pass it on to their students. Additionally, pressure to solve problems quickly can increase stress. In some cultures, being proficient in math is equated with overall intelligence, which can heighten anxiety for students.
Even influential mathematicians like Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Fields Medal, experienced self-doubt and lost interest in math due to a lack of encouragement from her middle school teacher.
So, what can you do if you experience math anxiety? Relaxation techniques, such as short breathing exercises, have been shown to improve test performance in students with math anxiety. Writing down your worries can also be beneficial, allowing you to reevaluate stressful experiences and free up working memory. Engaging in physical activity, like a brisk walk, can help relieve muscle tension and prevent anxiety from escalating.
Understanding that the brain is flexible can help change your mindset. The areas involved in math skills can grow and develop over time, a concept known as the growth mindset. Viewing yourself as someone capable of growth can actually facilitate improvement. If you’re a teacher or parent, try to make math playful and focus on its creative aspects, which can help build confidence in students. It’s also important to give children the time and space to work through their answers.
For administrators, ensuring that teachers possess positive attitudes and confidence in math is crucial for inspiring the same in their students. Additionally, it’s essential to dispel the myth that boys are inherently better at math than girls, as this is entirely false.
If you experience math anxiety, simply knowing that it exists may not be enough. However, recognizing that you’re not alone can be reassuring. Remember, anxiety does not reflect your abilities, and with time and awareness, it is something you can overcome.
Math – The study of numbers, quantities, shapes, and patterns and how they relate to each other. – In math class, we learned how to solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula.
Anxiety – A feeling of worry or nervousness, often about something that is going to happen or might happen. – Many students experience anxiety before taking a big math test.
Memory – The ability to store and recall information and past experiences in the brain. – Using flashcards can help improve your memory of important math formulas.
Problems – Questions or exercises in mathematics that require a solution. – The teacher assigned several math problems for homework to practice solving equations.
Confidence – The feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust. – Practicing math regularly can help build your confidence in solving complex problems.
Techniques – Methods or ways of doing something, especially in a skilled manner. – Learning different techniques for solving algebraic equations can make math easier.
Mindset – A particular way of thinking or a mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations. – Having a positive mindset can help you overcome challenges in math.
Pressure – The feeling of stress or urgency caused by the need to achieve something or perform well. – Some students feel a lot of pressure to do well on their math exams.
Students – Individuals who are studying at a school or other educational institution. – The students worked together to solve the challenging math problems assigned by their teacher.
Teachers – Individuals who help others learn by providing instruction and guidance. – The math teachers organized a workshop to help students improve their problem-solving skills.
