Which is the best way to study Mathematics?

Which is the best way to study Mathematics?

SmartLearn’s academic team is providing you the best way to study mathematics. Learning Mathematics is like learning the art of solving problems and not just knowing formulae and concepts. You need to focus more on problem solving instead of just reading theories, formulae and solutions, if you want to improve your mathematics.

Following are some instructions/tips that would definitely help you learn mathematics better:

Make a habit to study Mathematics with a paper and pen: More you work out, better you remember. Even If you are learning formulae and concepts, have a habit of writing it down the paper. Concentration is the key word to study mathematics. Whether you are solving a problem or reading mathematical steps of a solution you need better concentration and focus. So my suggestion would be to sit on a table chair with no disturbance around. If your room is noisy, you can put cotton balls in your ears.

Spend more time in solving problems instead of reading solutions/theories/formulae: More you practice, better you would learn. It is very important that you solve problems to learn topics in mathematics. Just understanding concepts and learning formulae would not be sufficient to be able to solve questions in exam. In mathematics more than 50% of the knowledge comes through tricks/methods involved in solving problems. If you don’t practice questions, you don’t acquire this knowledge. In fact learning in Mathematics starts the day you start solving problems with pen and paper.

Learning Procedure: Priority should be given to learning formulae and concepts before working out the problems. Write them and see how confident you are. You should start working out solved-examples only after learning the concepts and formulae. This should be the procedure of study for easy understanding of the solved examples as in every questions we use multiple formulae. Formulae play a vital role in mathematics, as you will not be able to proceed with the problems once you forget the formulae. Then proceed with the next level of questions that is average level questions.

We can decide the level of the questions based on the ability to solve the questions.

Level 1 – If you can understand the solution just by a glance.

Level 2 – If you can understand the solution after going through the complete solution step-by-step.

Level 3 – If you find it hard to understand the solution.

You can start with 35-45 level 1 problems and make sure that the formulae and concepts of these problems are clear so that you can move to the next level of problems. Then practice at least 35-45 level 2 problems and make sure that the concepts and solutions are clear. Then try to solve level 3 problems. When compared to level 1 and level 2 problems, level 3 problems are less important.

Give importance to revision: In case you are not able to solve any of the problems, you try to solve it or else you see their solutions. Generally when you see the solution and know the problem solving methodology, you do nothing after that. In a weeks time you forget the solution. In case you are asked to solve the same problem again, you might not be able to solve it.

I strongly feel that you should solve the problems by yourself with paper and pen after seeing the solution. This helps you retain the solutions in your mind for a longer time when compared to seeing the solutions alone. When you try a problem mark the difficulty level of the question so that it will be easy for future reference. Select a few questions which are quite difficult and take up a test with a fixed time. This procedure increases your confidence and makes your mathematical skills more powerful.

At the time of revision you will have confusion as to what to revise at the time before the exams. Just take up the level 2 questions and start revising. This will be helpful only if you mark the questions as level 2 or level 1.

Trying out the problems before looking into the solutions: As far as we have reviewed, students have the tendency to look into the solution page before trying out the problems. They sit with the books and study materials around which makes them easy to look into the solutions before trying out the problems. We strongly fight back this kind of attitude in some students. Once you continue this, you will become a dependent on solutions and you tend to surrender yourself to the solutions. The students should have a fighting attitude when it comes to the problem solving in subjects. Not for all questions you can follow this, at least for 70%-80% questions you can try it for yourself before looking into the solutions.

Interest makes you perform better: yes, interest makes you work better and perform better. As mathematics involves puzzles, tricks, problems, you can perform better only if you like the subject. When you attempt a problem and you succeed in that, feel very proud of you. In the same way, don’t get frustrated when you fail to solve the problem. Instead feel thrilled when you take help from solutions. Try to solve questions which you took help from the solutions once again so that make sure that you don’t repeat the same mistake.

Creative learning process: Learning formulae is a tiring work for the students. When things are made creative it makes learning fun for you. You can make paper cards of the formulae and tricks and carry it with you. You can learn it at any place, this helps you build your knowledge in a creative way.