Math tends to be quite a difficult subject to understand for many people due to the confusing combination of numbers/words/symbols and the large amount of time it consumes. However, once you start to understand the underlying logistics involved, it becomes much easier, faster, and fun!
Here are 6 different ways to improve your mathematical skills:
1. Don’t try to memorize formulas.
Rather than trying to memorize formulas, try to understand the concepts behind them. Formulas are only the basic outlines used to figure out a method of solution, but the rules as to how/why they are applied make it easier to understand, therefore making it easier to complete. Memorizing a formula may be quicker and simpler, but when it comes to tests, you won’t understand much and will have difficulty solving problems.
2. Write down your thought process.
Recording each step in your thought process ensures that everything you do makes sense according to the rules. Often, silly mistakes occur when steps are skipped. Instead, write down all of your ideas. Break down your work until it becomes comprehensible for you. This will also help when you are unsure as to whether you solved a problem correctly; you will be able to analyze each step, and see if you made any mistakes. If you did, you will be able to see exactly where you went wrong and figure out how to fix it.
3. Write neatly.
Your equations should be written vertically rather than horizontally, even though that takes up more space, this is so that you/your teacher can see the process of the work being done clearly. As well, make sure that the equal signs in each line are spaced properly to match up with the lines above and below so that you can see if your equation has balanced out yet on both sides. If an answer to a question is incorrect, you might still be able to get partial marks for showing all your work properly.
You are bound to eventually make a mistake when solving math problems, so always write with a mechanical pencil and eraser instead of a pen. With a mechanical pencil and eraser, you can easily erase your error and retry. On the other hand, anything written in pen will have to be scratched out; scratched out work makes everything look more messy and confusing, leading to more mistakes being made.
4. Make notes.
Math is essentially a language of its own, completely different from English; this can lead to tons of confusion when trying to determine what everything means. In your notes, be sure to record formulas, concepts, rules, and make your own personal math translations/definitions to better increase your understanding. If needed, colour code different steps to solving an equation and section all your notes properly so everything will be easy to find in the future.
5. Relate problems to something you already understand.
When you are working on math problems that you have absolutely no interest in, concepts tend to slip from your grasp, leaving you confused and bored. Instead, try to relate the problems to something that you are fascinated by; this will motivate you to try to solve more problems, and it will trick your brain into thinking that you are doing a fun activity rather than just boring math problems.
6. Practice!
You have probably heard this before, but practice makes perfect! Expecting to completely understand concepts just by reading past work will lead to disaster; all you will be doing is analyzing solved problems instead of engaging your brain properly. Use questions that are at or above your grade level to push you to your limit and improve your ability to understand and solve challenging problems.
There are many different methods of practicing: you can pretend as if you are teaching someone a lesson about the subject or you can find sites online that provide problems to solve. When pretending to teach a lesson, you will actually be testing yourself to see what you clearly understand; if you fully understand a concept, you should easily be able to ‘teach’ somebody about it. If you do not want to give a pretend lesson to someone, you can find several online interactive tools that can help you improve your understanding of math.
These tips and tricks have helped me improve my grades in math, and hopefully it will help you too. Instead of getting frustrated when you do not understand a problem, take a deep breath, and work hard until it becomes apprehensible. You got this!
Edited By: Khushi Kumari
Jacqueline is a tenth grade student in Markham, Ontario. She enjoys creating things in her free time and is always up for an adventure. She hopes to one day be able to travel the world and experience all the little things it has to offer.
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