Math Is Like A Roller-Coaster

For some people Math looks like a roller-coaster. It seems difficult and scary when they look up from the ground. They think they may never be able to master it. But the secret is that Math, especially problem solving, is an experience. You have to try it. You cannot guess how it will be until you take the step, overcoming your inhibitions, and actually do the “brave” thing. How many people do you know that were screaming during a roller-coaster ride, yet at the end were shouting excitedly: “Again! Again!”

And that’s not all! Somewhere in their mind a thought is born: “What if I try the next, scarier roller-coaster? How would that be?” Mathematics and problem solving are the same. There is something inside us that makes our successes feel deeply rewarding. This is called personal development, transforming us into a better version of ourselves, a version that is fully equipped to handle the obstacles of life.

Life is a series of problems that you have to solve and decisions you have to make. How do you know what’s better? In fact, you don’t. You just make a choice each time based on your previous experience. But what if you don’t have the experience?

For example, how could you make financial decisions if you lack basic computation skills? How would you invest your money when you don’t know what kind of outcomes you can expect? Can you trust someone else with your money? There’s a well-known joke in finance that a stock-exchange broker once said to a client: “With your money and my knowledge we have nothing to lose, except your money...”

When you are young, parents make the most important decisions for you. But when you become an adult, you have to rely on yourself. From routine decisions like buying groceries, to once-in-a-lifetime decisions like choosing a mortgage, you need to trust your problem-solving abilities. Believe it or not, most of our decisions have an algorithmic, mathematical component, even if we are not aware of it. And because we rely so heavily on our intuition, we need to build strong and robust foundations, so others can’t take advantage of our lack of experience.

And if you still think that Mathematics is scary, then start with a merry-go-round and build up. It takes time to grow and develop into an improved version of yourself, but the alternative is to be complacent and lack those valuable skills when you dearly need them in life.