The “12 Math Myths” (as stated in “Solving Problems Using Elementary Mathematics” by David Gay

 

In case you feel frustrated or anxious or angry while you are working on problems, you might want to take a peek at what Stanley Kogelman and Joseph Warren call the “12 math myths”.

 

1.  Men are better in math than women.

2.  Math requires logic, not intuition.

3.  You must always know how you got the answer.

4.  Math is not creative.

5.  There is a best way to do a math problem.

6.  It’s always important to get the answer exactly right.

7.  It’s bad to count on your fingers.

8.  Mathematicians do problems quickly, in their heads.

9.  Math requires a good memory.

10.  Math is done by working intensely until the problem is solved.

11.  Some people have a “math mind” and some don’t.

12.  There is a magic key to doing math.^*

 

Perhaps a better name for these “myths” would be the “12 Math Misconceptions”!

 

^* From Stanley Kogelman and Joseph Warren, Mind over Math, Dial, New York, 1978 pp. 31ff