Ok, so apparently it seems like what I've been discovering in school is that if you succeed in one subject, you either fail (or not do as well) in another subject.
Like for instance:
People who are good at Algebra will not do as well in Geometry/ People who do well in Geometry will not do as well in Algebra.
People who are good at Grammar/English/Writing will not do as well in Math/ People who are good at Math will not do as well in Grammar/English/Writing.
I was just curious if this is true for anybody else. I know I get great grades in Grammar/Writing class, but I stink in Algebra class. I'm trying to do the best I can in Algebra, but it just doesn't come as easy as Grammar or Writing.

Its a common occurance. It has to do with which side of the brain is dominant.

For me personally, I was good at math but bad at Grammar/English/Writing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateralization_of_brain_function

I'm not sure, but I think with math it depends on "how your head is wired". Usually people who exceed in Algebra don't do as well in Geometry because they try to visualize the problems using formulas and not shapes, which doesn't work. And people who do well in Geometry usually don't do well in Algebra because they don't have any images to use as a bearing to solve the problem. Though I don't think success in writing has any bearing on it.

On all of my math classes I either have gotten a B+ or an A, but with Geometry I had a B. Meanwhile, I have high A's in History and English. Though I would take that with a grain of salt, because ever since I got to college early (is 16/17 early?) I have only done History classes in regards to writing.

In high school I was well rounded at everything but French.

Not always true. I was a math prodigy in middle school and high school, but did good in every subject. Then my senior year of high school I suddenly lost interest in math and took up writing, and a couple languages in college (but languages only come easy for me up to a basic level).

I aced geometry, but I was terrible at Algebra. Geometry is all about logic and deduction, whereas with algebra you've just got disorganized, jumbled numbers everywhere.

So yeah, it's true, for me at least. Not sure about the math versus english, though.

Grades only show that you did the work, not that your brain is wired a specific way. Usually people prefer one area over the other, but that doesnt mean people cant be good at both




All math is logic based. Just different forms and presentations of it. One visual trhough graphs and charts and shapes, the other trhough pure numbers.

Its like A written story vs a comic book.

I've never really struggled with a class except for Spanish. A good portion of that was me just not trying, though.

You got that wrong, Algebra is logic and deduction with numbers. This is not to say that geometry isn't logical, but algebra IS logic.

I passed English with flying colours, but only barely scraqed through the most basic of math classes. So yeah, the Math/English thing is true for me at least.

I've always, subjectively, felt that I performed better in English then mathematics, but when I applied myself and had an interest in the material, I can pull off A+ work in both subjects. As an example, I had a pre-Calc class that had a teacher whose English was, well, terrible. I got a C+. I then took a Calculus 1 class with a different professor, studied hard, and got an A+.

It has as much to do with your own perception of your ability as it does any issues of right / left brain (unless of course there's some actual neurological issues).

It's somewhat true for me. I did very well in History, Science and English but failed miserably in all forms of Math. In fact, I never technically completed a single year of Algebra... somehow I (barely) passed a few math support classes and it added up to enough credits over time that all I had to take is Geometry. It's pretty bad.

As far as I'm concerned there are two types of people in the world: Creators and consumers.

I don't have a choice when it comes to learning. If there's a teacher, and I'm in a class, I'm going to pay attention and learn. I'm no genius. I don't know what I haven't learned and I can't learn what I've not been taught. I'll absorb math, English, science, geography, history, music, computers, engineering, and bloody anything else.

The only thing I'm bad at is creativity. Teach me to play a song or solve an equation or write an essay, and by god I'll do it; but ask me to make up something new? Pfeh. It's not in my bones to be a creator like that. People who can create are mysterious and luminous things to me. As far as I know they weave something out of nothing. You can't be taught that.

horrible at math, great at.....

Way back when, when I was still in school I was alway good in English, but absolutly despised math class, numbers just never interested me, still don't. Words on the other hand do interest me and always have, in fact while, I was still in high school my english teacher kept reminding me that the chapter I was reading was not the one that they were working on. I told her I had alrready read that chapter and the one after it too. Needless to say, I had to humor her and turn back to the lessons that I was already familiar with.

EDIT: and if I hadn't burned all those brain cell years ago I'd still be good at English.

i'm great at math... which i guess is why i borderline flunked most english courses, aside from tests revolving around grammar

I mean geometry actually uses words.

This is true for a lot of people. Obviously there are people who are straight A students in every subject.

I was one that was good in English, history and Spanish classes. But I was a D student in math.

What's the difference though, what's really the difference between saying "plus" and saying "+"? Up until recently ALL math was just words. Reading an algebra equation is just like reading a sentence.

Geometry's problem is all the proofs that require deeper understanding. It's not enough to know you do this with that number here. You have to know why you're allowed to do this with that number here (additive property of adding, I don't know).

Logic has more symbols in it than most basic math classes

Argh! For whatever reason, geometry makes more sense!

I'm not sure what's going on with me. My SAT scores indicate I'm pretty well-rounded in my capabilities (math, reading, and writing all being right at or only away by 10 points from a score of 660 in each section) and I do well in nearly all my courses from physics, to biology, to history, to government and politics, to English, to French, to health sciences, etc. being at AP levels for each, but certain math courses sometimes give me trouble. For example, I did terribly at calculus this past semester. In sharp contrast, all my other AP classes had scores in the 90s. It makes me wonder, because I'm also pretty good at math (SAT, physics, ability to calculate mentally), but when it comes to actual courses, at least in the case of calculus, I struggle a bit. It's only calculus, really, but math has been, throughout high school, my weakest subject (though that's not saying much considering the high grades I typically get and have as a standard)... just calculus was the one where it all came crashing down. Maybe it's, to some degree, a failure to properly accumulate certain skills. I do have a tendency to doze off in math courses.

Seriously, though, it's not that I'm necessarily incapable of doing these things. I do have an inherent ability to calculate and perform mathematical operations quite well, but math courses are just incredibly boring and uninteresting (can usually find some intrigue in practically every other subject area, but math is just so asininely boring) and I find it difficult to invest myself into the courses... then again, maybe I'm just lazy. In fact, I am lazy, but when I absolutely hate the content of a course and realize it's literally useless to me (again, I can calculate... pretty good at mental calculations and math up to a certain point, but I can't think of a single logical reason why I, a hopeful premed/biology major going into the medical field, will ever need the overwhelming majority of crap taught in calculus, yet I still take the course...), I just don't really pay much attention to it. I should because I care about the result and the reverberations, but I just can't. It's boring. If it were a 3D Graphics programming class, I may be more invested in all the numbers and the like going into it as I see a relevant result to my video gaming hobby. In fact, when I did once take a microrobotics programming courses, I did have more fun with it than calculus, but calculus and other advanced math courses... the content svcks, the teachers are uninteresting (they choose math-teaching as a lifelong pursuit... can't be that interesting), and I just hate it... can't wait to leave and get to an interesting course.

Anyway, my point is I usually do well in all subjects, but math has consistently caused me the most issues and my calculus score was just bad, period, in sharp contrast to all else I've done. I'm not trying to boast, but I'm typically quite articulate and capable of writing some really meticulous anolytical essays based on given reading, I have a penchant for historical and biological study and enjoyment, I can find a genuine interest in psychology/health sciences, I get involved in Government and Political science courses, and to a degree, I enjoy physics and chemistry, but math has always been weaker interest, though I don't lack the capacity to do well in math courses. I do, however, lack certain creative capacity. I love music (look forward the orchestral soundtrack of a good game as a prime feature, even) and I can write, but actually forming stories or doing anything with physical interpretation of art (drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.), though something I admire and aspire to be able to do, just aren't things I'm very good at on a base level, it seems. Those and social skills are probably my Achilles heel (sorry about the calculus rant ) while math is more simply a victim of disinterest and revilement, on my part.

I've lost faith in most forms of math and every teacher of math. They told me I wouldn't have a calculator on me all the time, but I have a smart-phone. They told me I'd use this stuff all the time, but I never do more than simple adding or subtracting. It's the same with english teachers. Write in cursive, that's all they accept in college. That's not true. They wouldn't accept that if I got on my knees and begged.

Science on the other hand, has never led me wrong. Nor has history. Most teachers are fun people who understand the subject their teaching should be practical.

Also - To hell with foreign language classes. I took 5 years of French and was taught the same crap 5 times. I still can't ask for a glass of water...

For me, it's absolutely true. You wouldn't know it from some of my posts, but I am excellent at writing, English, and really anything that's connected to language. I'm also pretty good with history.

However, I am terrible at math and science. I can usually pull out a B in those subjects, but only just. It's just not interesting to me, and my brain doesn't really work that way. Go figure.

Another thing for me, as I said I svck at math, and rock out in English. But I also excell in science! I have an average of 105 right now, which is better than English or math! It's really weird...And it's Physical Science so it's supposed to be harder...

In my case, this was true, but I know people who got awesome grades in all subjects.