Most students hate studying math because it is perceived as difficult. Many students also have the impression that once they are given the problem, they can solve it immediately without having to go through many steps to arrive at an answer.
Math is a fascinating and enjoyable subject to master, but it also has its share of difficulties. If you’re having trouble with arithmetic, whether in or out of the classroom, there are several tangible measures you can do to improve your math skills.
If you’re a student, don’t be afraid to seek assistance from your instructor, and practice excellent classroom habits such as taking notes and asking questions about things that perplex you. Aside from that, try studying in a distraction-free area and go over any subjects you’re having trouble with again.
However, this often leads them to make silly mistakes which make the problem harder for themselves than necessary. This results in a lot of frustration. Here are some useful tips on how to study math more effectively and easily:
1. Know your formulas
You should know all of your formulas, inside out. If you don’t know the formula for area of a triangle, look it up! If you don’t remember your algebraic factoring rules, learn them! Don’t be afraid of the formulas, they are there to save you time and confusion.
2. You cannot learn it all at once
Have you ever gotten a new textbook and immediately started trying to memorize everything in it? It is impossible; your brain can only absorb so much new information at one time.
Instead of reading the whole chapter in one go, take some time to understand each section before moving onto the next one. Also try highlighting important information that will help you later on when studying for tests or quizzes.
3. Make flashcards
This is probably the best tip I have for students who don’t like to study math because they think they are bad at it!
Flashcards are not just for foreign vocabulary, but also very effective for remembering math facts, scientific notation rules, or any other concept you need to study.
You should make your own flashcards with the information you are studying on one side and the answer written on the other. Refer back to your notes when writing out answers for each question.
4. Practice makes perfect
Here is another tip that may sound obvious but many students still don’t do it! The more problems you attempt, the better you will get at solving them. It is important not only to practice new concepts but also test yourself on material that has already been covered in class if possible.
If not, go through old tests given by your teacher during previous years of high school or even assignments from past classes taken during college or university level courses. It is also a good idea to check your results with the solutions provided by your teacher, so you can see what mistakes you are making.
5. Get help when needed
As much as students don’t want to admit it, not everyone learns in the same way. It’s ok if you aren’t understanding something right away; there are many ways to get help!
Talk to your teacher after class or make an appointment with them during their office hours. Many teachers will be more than happy to explain things further or offer useful tips on how they would explain it themselves.
You can even talk to other students who might have already taken the course and try learning alongside them (not cheating of course!). Also consider asking family members who may be to make suggestions or help you out.
6. Use your calculator!
You should be looking for ways to simplify problems so that they do not require the use of a calculator. If this is not possible, then by all means use one and make it work for you instead of against you!
There are many calculators available on programs such as Excel and Google Sheets which allow students to plot graphs and statistics of their data without the need to learn how to use graphing software such as MATLAB or RStudio .
You can also find useful tutorials online that give step-by-step instructions on how to plot functions using your graphing software along with downloadable templates/spreadsheets that can save time when working through more difficult problems.
7. Don’t be afraid of the library!
The library has much more than just books, it has thousands of resources that can help you study. You should check out their computers, search databases online through the library website, etc.
Or if you are looking for something more physical there are usually multiple copies of textbooks which you can read before making your own copy (which is free!). The librarians can also give suggestions on good review materials to use along with practice problems included in the book itself.
Be sure to take advantage of these resources when studying because they could make all the difference between passing and failing a course!?
8. Technology is your friend
If you find yourself waiting in line or spending hours doing homework alone at home then this tip is for you! Sometimes studying with just a book or notes is not enough.
There are many great study apps available that provide engaging ways to learn and practice different types of problems such as Khan Academy , Quizlet , and Cram .
They also contain databases full of past tests along with solutions so that if you get stuck on a problem, you can try solving it yourself or look for the answer in your notes, then check with the solution given in the app.
9. Take breaks when needed
You should remember not to spend hours and hours each day studying at home because eventually your brain will get tired and may even mistake information previously learned for wrong facts (this has happened to me before).
You don’t want it to happen while reviewing for an exam because then you will have to go back through all that material again.
10. Don’t lose hope!
Even if you get the worst grade possible on your midterm or final, your hard work can pay off in the end! Grades are not everything; there are many other skills gained while studying economics which you can apply to real life (i.e. critical thinking, math skills, etc.). Keep working hard and don’t give up! There is nothing wrong with asking for help every once in a while… I know it might be embarrassing at first, but everyone has to start somewhere 🙂 So good luck to everyone still studying for their finals and happy holidays!!!Share