For some University of Memphis students, math can be both easy and enjoyable. But for others, it's nothing short of difficult and boring.
"I hated it," said Mark Sylvester, a freshman recording technology major. Sylvester said he disliked the fact that math just had a right or wrong answer.
"You can't have your own opinion," he said.
Kelly Scott, a sophomore non-profit administration and organization major, agreed.
"I hate it (math) because there's only one right answer," Scott said. "It's kind of boring."
She said her favorite subject was anthropology because she loved learning about other cultures and religions.
However, Thuy Ngo, a junior education major, said she likes math.
"I never had any difficulties with it," Ngo said. "It (math) came naturally."
Marissa Blaylock, a junior education major, said she likes simple basic math.
"It's not hard," she said. "It's just not my favorite."
Almost four in 10 adults surveyed said they hated math in school, according to the poll, which was conducted by AP-AOL news. Twice as many people said they hated math as said that about any other subject.
Cecil C. Rousseau, a professor in the department of mathematical sciences, gave one reason for why some may dislike math.
"Math is difficult for them," Rousseau said.
He said teachers and professors are doing all they can to make math interesting.
"There is no lack of effort to engage them (students)," Rousseau said. "There is only so much you can do."
Rousseau said he thinks many people's dislike for math goes back to when they were in elementary school.
"They (students) didn't learn what they needed to," he said.
He said America is not alone in having a difficult time educating students.
In many European countries, they also have educational problems, math included, Rousseau said.
The poll, however, did say that 25 percent of those surveyed said math was their favorite subject.
Jon Lancaster, a freshman communication major, said although math is not his favorite subject, it has some practical uses.
"It (math) is important because we have to use it in our everyday life," he said.
Lancaster said he likes the application of psychology because it looks at why people do the things they do.
Allison Watson, a freshman art education major, said she likes the logical aspects of math.
"It is organized and it has a form," she said.
Watson said she wants to learn more about every subject.
"There is nothing I don't want to learn about," Watson said.
The AP-AOL News poll, which was conducted on Aug. 9-11 by Ipsos, an international polling firm, surveyed 1,000 adults.
