--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Two contrasting attitudes: non-math…" description: "\"Two contrasting attitudes: non-math person: \"Math is so abstract.\" i.e. \"hard to understand\" math person: We abstract *in order to understand.* Part of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/james-key-245503_abstract_two-contrasting-attitudes-non-math-perso_232547.png" --- # Two contrasting attitudes: non-math person: "Math is so… ![“Two contrasting attitudes: non-math person: "Math is so abstract." i.e. "hard to understand" math person: We abstract *in order to understand.* Part of our job is to teach people this latter mentality.” quote by James Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/james-key-245503_abstract_two-contrasting-attitudes-non-math-perso_232547.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/james-key-245503_abstract_two-contrasting-attitudes-non-math-perso_232547.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edb/james-key-245503_abstract_two-contrasting-attitudes-non-math-perso_232547.png) > “Two contrasting attitudes: non-math person: "Math is so abstract." i.e. "hard to understand" math person: We abstract \*in order to understand.\* Part of our job is to teach people this latter mentality.” [James Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-key/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contrasting views on math: abstract vs. purposeful abstraction for understanding. **In simple terms:** Abstract concepts serve to deepen comprehension. Key Takeaway Use abstraction as a tool for insight. Themes education mathematics mindset learning teaching Mood instructive analytical Type Abstract:1 Attitude:1 Education:1 Hard:0 Jobs:0 Latter:0 Math:1 Mathematics:1 Mentality:1 Order:0 People:0 Persons:0 Teach:1 Two:0 Math Person:0 Non Math:0 Person Abstract:0 Math Abstract:0 Person Math:0 When to use this quote - classroom teaching - curriculum design - self‑study Key Concepts cognitive science pedagogy abstract reasoning Questions to Reflect On - How do you make abstract ideas concrete? - What supports help learners? A Different Perspective Abstraction can be inaccessible without proper scaffolding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Latter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latter/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Math Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math-abstract-2351194/) [Math Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math-person-1795089/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentality/) [Non Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-math-2351192/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Person Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-abstract-2351193/) [Person Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-math-2351195/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [I noticed there were so many people, especially women, who would come up to me having recognized me from TV and say, 'I heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/i-noticed-there-were-so-many-people-especially-women-who-would-come/) [Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/) > [There is too much acceptance of people saying, 'I am a math person, or I am an artsy person.' 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