SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO STUDY MATH
St. Louis Community College at Meramec
Mathematics Department
Copyright © 2001 with all rights reserved.
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO STUDY MATH
Mathematics material should be read slowly, every step is important.
Try to understand each line. Even major ideas are not always repeated.
Pay special attention to material that is "highlighted" or "in boxes."
Try examples first. Cover them up then uncover one line at a time to compare your approach.
Keep lower level math books as a reference.
Figure out what is a reasonable amount of time to spend on projects, exercises, problems, to study for tests and/or write reports. It may be more than you expect.
Math skill improves through practice.
Details are important in mathematics, as in other disciplines.
Try different ways of solving a problem. Many times there is more than one way to solve a problem.
Math is like a ladder. If you missed earlier steps, go back and fill them in.
In word problems, write down knowns and unknowns. Use symbols. Make sketches to organize the information.
If "stuck," be adventurous; experiment with possibilities.
Beware of what you say to yourself inside your head. "I can't do it" really means "I can't do this yet."
The process of learning mathematics is cumulative. Plan to review previously covered material regularly.
Do the exercises or work that look "easy" to you first.
Break up math study time into small enough units to keep your energy level high usually 20-30 minutes.
html copyright © 2001
with all rights reserved by
William V. Thayer,
PedLog