Is it odd for an INTP to hate math?

[Emerson Biggens]

Because I hate it. I can do it....but I hate it. Especially when they just give you problems that have nothing to do with anything and are just numbers. Word problems are better.

It sucks that I hate it too, because I love physics and cosmology. I get ideas and then I can't do anything with them. I could learn the math, but I have no motivation to do so.

[Samurai Drifter]

I disliked math in school, except as it related to programming.

To me it's only interesting as a tool, not as an entire field of study. Maybe you'll understand me when I say that doing plain number algebra problems feels somehow like jumping through hoops- there's no point to it and no mystery about it. All you need is the process to solve the problem and then you apply it.

[stopharian]

I hate math

and programming

[Jennywocky]

It would be typical for INTPs to hate math. Because it's mere computation, boring and mechanical. It's also "detail work" where you have to be exact or you'll get the wrong answer.

INTPs like math theory, however, in general -- anything where principles have to be figured out and applied.

Einstein hated math. (He figured out relativity first, then did the math to prove it after the fact... only because he had to.)

[Turboflame]

I'm with you, I have no motivation to do dull repetitive pointless math

But I like programming

[rhinosaur]

I enjoy math, especially when applied to things like physics and chemistry. I enjoyed it even before I got into physics and chemistry. One of my earliest memories involves learning that 2+2=4, and then impressing my sister with this knowledge.

But no, it's not odd for an INTP to hate math. You have to be meticulous and rigorous, or it doesn't work, and unless you actually use it, it seems pointless.

[AyEye]

Personally I love it. Yes it can be painfull when working through it. But when it all works, there is an amazing beauty and elegance to it.
Also, when I'm working on a problem it's virtually the only time that I can really focus on one thing, my mind just goes into a zone and doesn't wander constantly like it does normally.
And yes school level maths does suck, its only good at a reasonbly high level, where you begin to learn how it all fits together.

[Karl]

I find math exciting, because even as I'm "jumping through hoops" I see the implicications of what it can accomplish. It makes me want to delve further into it.

Not that I'm good at it or anything.

[Ferrus]

Ah, the comments regarding 'detail' do strike a chord. I can do it, and when I focus I can do it reasonably well, but I am apt to make a silly mistake - rather like when I play chess.

Immanuel Kant and Michael Faraday seemed to get along well enough without advanced maths though.

[Nighthawk]

I also disliked math in high school and during my undergrad years. Started to enjoy it a lot more in grad school, in conjunction with programming. It's still not my first choice for pleasure reading, however.