Danica McKellar: Why math matters

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Danica McKellarActress Danica McKellar talks about her approach to getting girls to excel in math.

Actress, turned mathematician, Danica McKellar, is out to disprove a myth that women and girls are not as good at math as men and boys. And Danica is living proof. She is a summa cum laude graduate of UCLA with a degree in mathematics. She even has a groundbreaking theorem named after her.

“There’s value in tackling something that’s challenging and then over coming that obstacle, that challenge,” explains Danica. “Then you’ve taught yourself ‘You’re stronger and smarter than you thought!’.

Danica McKellar: Why math matters

Actress Danica McKellar talks about her approach to getting girls to excel in math.

Danica first caught the eye of America when she was just 12 years old, playing schoolgirl Winnie Cooper on the beloved TV hit, The Wonder Years. Since then, she’s become a New York Times bestselling author of innovative math books with titillating titles like: Math Doesn’t Suck, Kiss My Math, Hot X: Algebra Exposed and Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape.

“That’s my goal with these books is to give that to, especially girls, who are feeling discouraged for so many kinds of reasons,” says Danica. “Give them the tools and power to feel good about themselves and math.”

Danica joined Mike Walter in our Los Angeles studio to talk about her unique approach to getting girls to explore, embrace and excel in mathematics.