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How to study Math?
How to study Math?
By Dave Lim, Head of Mathematics at EduZ Tuition. NTU Nanyang Scholar, first-class honours, over 15 years of teaching including at Nanyang Junior College.
There's no denying it - maths can be tricky! But even if you do not feel it's your strongest subject, you can improve in maths if you are willing to put in the effort. The best way to do well in maths is to practise every day. So take plenty of time to study on your own or in a group. With a little determination, you can make real progress in maths.

1. Don't just do your homework, keep going.
Work through extra practice problems, as well. Your teacher assigns a certain number of problems for homework, but if you don’t feel like you fully understand, you might need to try a few extra problems. Look for extra practice sets in your textbook or assignment books, and try some of those until you feel more confident. Oftentimes, the answers to all the odd-numbered problems are in the back of the book. Do the odd-numbered problem, check your answer, then try the even-numbered problem next to it.
- Solving problems over and over is the best way to get good at math, which is why doing your homework is so important.
2. Make sure you read your textbook actively
Take your time to make sure you understand what you're reading. Read each section slowly, making sure you fully understand it before you move on to the next one. Take note of any definitions and examples that are mentioned in the book. Also, pay attention to any learning goals that are mentioned at the beginning of the chapter, as well as the summary at the end.
- Reading your math book might not sound like a lot of fun, but it can really help you understand a difficult concept you're struggling with. In addition, your textbook can help you understand why things are done a certain way, helping you go beyond simply memorising the steps.
- Each night when you're studying, read a few pages ahead of what you've already been assigned. That can make it easier to keep up during class because you'll already be familiar with what the teacher is talking about.
3. Rather than memorising, emphasise comprehension
Learn the meaning behind what you do. Do not just try to memorise everything your teacher writes down. Instead, focus on understanding why you need to do a certain procedure at a certain time or where a formula comes from. If you can do this, it will be much easier for you to memorise. If you can not visualise it, it will be harder to memorise.
- If you are really struggling with a particular concept, try asking your teacher to explain it again, re-read the chapter in your textbook, ask a friend for help, or find a maths tutor.
- Sometimes teachers and professors allow you to bring a list of formulas to a test. But if you do not know how and when to use them, it will not help you much.
4. Once you're done, check your work
Look up the answer or rewrite the problem with the solution. There may be answers to homework problems listed in the back of your textbook. If that's the case, try looking up the answer after you've completed the problem. Try working backwards through the problem if you get a different answer. If you still cannot find the answer, ask your teacher about it in the next class.
- Some problems—like equations with variables—can be checked by substituting the solution in place of the variable. For instance, if you solve "2x = 3+1" earlier and got "x = 2," you could check that by working through "2*2 = 3+1," or "4 = 4." Since the answer is true, you know you have the correct answer.
Reference: https://www.wikihow.com/Study-Math
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