Originally Posted by Rachelcb80
Originally Posted by grammypatty7
Quilt math: I refer to it as "convoluted quilt math but it works." My husband and both of our kids majored in math and my husband is a retired high school math teacher and our daughter is now a high school math teacher. Interestingly enough though, when I do have to ask for help, he messes it up worse than I ever have. I usually get it if he'll be quiet and let me explain what's going on but he likes to tell me what's going on and where my thinking is wrong. I've learned though, once he gives me his figures, do it my way and mine will work - he's not a quilter.
You know what I think part of it might be? Quilt math has a lot of geometry (don't know if that's spelled right) in it. Most people who are good at algebra, trig, etc, aren't as strong in geometry. I struggled a lot in school with all my math classes, but geometry was much easier for me. It takes a different kind of thinking then traditional math. Of course I have no proof for this opinion, it's just a thought. :)
I was never good at math and geometry was just plain over my head. I did pass the class with the then average C grade and was thrilled to do so. I assume the issue with my husband is my inability to get him to understand what I'm trying to do and he get's impatient and tells me to listen to him but we're never thinking the same thing. When I can get us both on the same page, it works wonderfully but I've learned over the years that when we both measure something, I'd better measure again because most likely, his won't be accurate. I'm more the creative brain than he is. At least now I finally know but there are times when he's a tremendous help. He's a good geometry math teacher plus all levels of math. He even started his top students in college math which was nice. It's interesting that when our daughter teaches math, my quilts are taken into her classroom to show how geometry does fit into real life. I suspect she makes geometry really work for students likeme. My poor teacher tried and was determined to make sure I passed his class and the poor man could never understand why geometry made no sense to me.