We are all born with the mathematician's brain, whether you realize it or not

Is it true that some people do not have brains to do math, or whoever spends enough time can become a math genius? Is it all about math? How do you overcome your fear of math and turn math into friends? What is the true nature of mathematics?

The following article by mathematician Marcus du Sautoy will help you answer questions on a certain part.

Marcus du Sautoy is Oxford University's top math professor. He is also the professor who holds the Simonyi chair in charge of disseminating scientific knowledge to the public at Oxford. The article was published in Guardian in 2018.

We are all mathematicians

We are all mathematicians, even if we don't realize it.

The important thing to realize is that math is very wide, not just arithmetic. You may be in trouble with the multiplication table but in fact you are a great mathematician. In fact, I believe that all of us have evolved to become a good mathematician, because math is ultimately an understanding of patterns / patterns / patterns.

Picture 1 of We are all born with the mathematician's brain, whether you realize it or not
Mathematics is very wide, not just arithmetic.(Photo: Institution for Science Advancement)

Those who are good at math are those who are able to survive in the urban jungle of the modern world. When we face the chaos of the jungle, the best negotiators are those whose brains are able to detect patterns.

If you see something symmetrical, it could be the face of an animal, and you can eat it or it can eat you. Either way, those who are sensitive to symmetry will survive.

Similarly, people who are knowledgeable about numbers can talk about whether their tribe has exceeded their numbers, which will lead to a decision to fight or evacuate. And by discovering a model in the past, you can predict what might happen next.

Those who are good at math have become our ancestors, because they are survivors. And today's good math people will survive in the urban jungle of the modern world, because they have the best tools to plan for the future.

Picture 2 of We are all born with the mathematician's brain, whether you realize it or not
Those who are good at math have become our ancestors, because they are survivors.(Photo: Atlanta Black Star).

You can still be good at math even if you have trouble learning math

Recently, we found a brain disease called dyscalculia , an obstacle to learning that made it difficult to handle numbers and perform arithmetic exercises. Dyscalculia is a disease with numbers similar to dyslexia with words.

Picture 3 of We are all born with the mathematician's brain, whether you realize it or not
Dyscalculia is a disease with numbers similar to dyslexia with words. (Photo: Edublox Online Tutor)

I was afraid that when the disease was difficult to study math / fear of this math school was more widely accepted, there will be half of England claim to have it. That will be harmful for those who have this disease. It is thought that about 5% of the UK population may have some degree of difficulty learning mathematics. We should not use it to cover up bad education or psychological shortcomings due to lack of confidence.

Even for those who have dyscalculia, it is important to remember, math is not just the sum of numbers. Just as someone with dyslexia can become a great novelist, there are many data bits in the mathematical universe that do not need the support of arithmetic.

You can think of an algorithm to manipulate numbers without being able to do the calculations yourself. That's because building an algorithm is a logical understanding of how numbers work - an abstract skill.

I'm not good at the multiplication table at school because I don't like things like memorizing. When things become more abstract, I discover that math is the subject for me.

A new way of thinking is the key to learning mathematics

Your thinking (mindset) is the key to doing math. Half of the time I spend on my doctoral students is to help them manage their mental state. It's scary to venture into an unknown area. They try to solve problems without anyone knowing what the answer is. Think that it is important for you to be able to reach your destination.

This philosophy applies to the mathematics we study in schools and universities. You will find that at every level there are students collapsing because of difficulties. The problem is recognizing strategies to overcome these psychological obstacles. Students who see ideas for the first time may look like bunnies seeing bright lights at the top of a car. They are numb and cannot move. I'm sure neural activity is triggered by fear that can interfere with our ability to think rationally in our problems.

That is why it is more important to look back at the years of math learning than to go to the next bit of the curriculum data. Mathematics is like building a logical pyramid, when a layer is shaken, everything built above it can fall and crash into each other. However, usually a seemingly impossible topic will suddenly become clear when you return to it for the second time.

Math is purely logical, unrelated to any mysterious magic tricks or components.

Strategies that connect with the mathematical mind

Math is a bit like playing sports or learning an instrument. You can't do it right away, but you need to practice. Think about having a math muscle in your brain and it will gradually become stronger through training.

Picture 4 of We are all born with the mathematician's brain, whether you realize it or not
Math is a bit like playing sports or learning an instrument.

Math is everywhere, so you can see interesting math bubbles below anything you like to do. A sudoku number challenge is math logic and not arithmetic. Math is full of music. Rhythm is the discovery of how different numbers interact with each other. Topics and variations are ideas of symmetry. Architecture and visual arts are built on the capabilities that geometry can provide. Even poems have models that can evoke mathematical thoughts.

Mathematics is a very humane pursuit and mathematics has its history. Learning how Indians created zero, or how ancient Egyptians devised a formula for calculating the volume of pyramids to be built would appeal to the brain cells of the brain waiting to be lit.

Mathematics is the language of the universe and the language we all can learn to say it.