66 “I don’t do math Do you?”

“I don’t do math!
Do you?”


Have you ever made this
statement?
Would you say that you
couldn’t read?
Do we view math as the
“difficult” subject?
Can math be fun?


By: Lee Alford
ED 503



Overview
Math anxiety
Variables
Word phrases
Algebraic
expressions
Evaluating Algebraic
expressions


Overcoming Math
Anxiety
What is math

anxiety?
A stress, tension, and/or strain on the
body and mind, often due to a negative
experience in math.


3 Factors that affect math
anxiety:
Achievement
Power
Personal
relationships


Individual achievement levels
affect anxiety levels.
Do you …
Set high goals?
Self-motivate?
Become stressed when
goals aren’t achieved?


If you answered yes to any
question, you may suffer from
math anxiety.


If you lose control, you lose
power which affects anxiety

levels.


Have your parents ever made
negative comments about math?
Did your teacher ever say
“That’s just the way it is”?

Did anyone ever tell
you to memorize the
steps?


Overcoming math anxiety begins
with a positive attitude!

Positive self-image
Positive personal relationships
Positive goals
Positive outlook
Positive teaching


Coping with
Math Anxiety
can be overcome,
this article is
helpful.

Resources for help overcoming
math anxiety:
Math for the Anxious: building basic skills by Rosanne
Proga, McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Boston, 2005.
ISBN 0-07-288584-X.
Mastering Mathematics, How to Be a Great Math
Student, 3rd edition, by Richard Manning Smith.
Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning. Pacifica Grove, CA,
1998. ISBN 0-534-34947-1.
Conquering Math Anxiety, 2nd edition, by Cynthia
Arem, Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning. Pacifica Grove,
CA, 2003. ISBN 0-534-38634-2.


Variables

What is a variable?
Something with ability to
change, in math it is
represented by a letter or
symbol.


Word
phrases

Eight more than three times a number
How do you express this
mathematically?

The numerical expression below is
the answer. 

3x + 8
In Algebra, a variable is a symbol used
to represent any element of a given
set of numbers.


Algebraic
expressions

Of what operations do the
following words math you think?
Times
Less
Quotient
Twice

divided by
more
diminished
difference

add
subtract
decreased
product

sum
half
increased
factor


Evaluating
Algebraic
expressions

What does it mean to evaluate?
How is an evaluation different from
an expression?


Evaluate is to find a value; to
calculate numerically
Express is to represent by a sign,
symbol, &/or words

vs.


Algebraic expressions help solve word
problems.
Reading comprehension helps
translate words into numbers and
symbols.
Practice makes Progress, click here for
some practice!

Final Thoughts

Algebra and all math is a universal
language where:
Attitude is
everything
Ability depends on
confidence
Confidence depends on
attitude


I do math,
do you?