Math Tips
How to Pass Your Math Classes in Easy Steps!
There are no shortcuts that will suddenly make you a mathematical genius. But that doesn't mean that there's no hope. Mathematical thinking is a very particular skill that you can learn with time and practice. Yes, it is a learned skill, which means that you shouldn't tell yourself "I'm not a math person" and believe that you are innately incapable of understanding math.
The following is a collection of advice to help you maximize what your chances of success in a math class.
In General...
How to Pass Your Math Classes in Easy Steps!
There are no shortcuts that will suddenly make you a mathematical genius. But that doesn't mean that there's no hope. Mathematical thinking is a very particular skill that you can learn with time and practice. Yes, it is a learned skill, which means that you shouldn't tell yourself "I'm not a math person" and believe that you are innately incapable of understanding math.
The following is a collection of advice to help you maximize what your chances of success in a math class.
In General...
- Understand concepts, not just calculations - Mathematics is ultimately about ideas, not just calculations. By keeping the ideas straight, you're better able to think through complex calculations and understand those dreaded word problems. For example:
- Addition and subtraction are represented by movement to the right or left on the number line. Multiplication is represented by areas of rectangles. Division counts the number of groupings you make when the groups are a certain size.
- The derivative of a function is the slope of its graph at a point. Integration represents an area under a curve and is the inverse of taking a derivative.
- The value of a collection of identical objects is the value of an individual object multiplied by the number of objects.
- The total flow rate of materials in a system is the amount flowing into the system minus the the amount flowing out of the system.
- Practice and repetitions - As with any learned skill, it takes practice and repetitions to attain fluency. Do all of your homework. If you have access to practice exams, do those. If you need help with your basic arithmetic, buy or make flashcards and practice 20 minutes a day. This is the type of discipline that is extremely helpful in math classes.
- Write neatly - How you write affects how you think. Being organized in your presentation will help you to identify both conceptual and computational errors. It also helps you when it comes time to review for exams because you don't need to work as hard to figure out what you did or why you did it. For example, consider the following presentations:
- The presentation on the left makes sense if you already know what's going on. But if you were trying to understand it without that background, you would be stuck. The presentation on the right is clean and organized. You should aspire to write like that.
- Don't guess randomly when you get something wrong - I was once working with a student who was trying to simplify . His first response was . When I told him he was wrong, he then proceeded to rattle off several different answers. "Oh, it's . I mean . No? What about ?" This type of guesswork may eventually land you at the right answer, but the odds are very good that you wouldn't have actually learned anything. When you get a problem wrong, ask yourself "Why is this wrong?" And when you get a problem right, ask yourself "Do I know why this is the right answer?"
- Find and use free online resources - Do you know how many YouTube videos there are for getting help with factoring trinomials? Obviously, you need to be careful what you watch because not all of it is good. Nevada State College has a relationship with Smarthinking to provide free tutoring students to students through the Canvas portal (look for a link on the left navigation bar in your classes). However, there are a few well-known resources such as the Khan Academy and HippoCampus that are generally reliable.
- Read your textbook - Most students only open their textbooks to do homework problems, and nothing more. In other college courses, you have required reading that you do before class so that you will be ready to discuss the material in class. Math classes are not always structured around discussion, but that does not eliminate the importance of reading the textbook. Even if the instructor doesn't assign required reading, you should always read the next section so that you have a better chance of understanding the new material. Reading a math textbook is a different type of reading than reading other books, and there is a lot of advice on the internet on how to read a math textbook. Some advice is common to all reading, such as paying attention to vocabulary words and identifying key concepts. Other advice is particular to math, such as working out examples. As with most study techniques, you simply have to start trying them to see what's effective for you.
- Ask questions - We value small classes at NSC because it allows us to have meaningful interactions with students in the classroom. We want you to understand the material, and we will help you. So if you have a question, you should ask. But please do it respectfully. Try to work with the instructor to understand the material. If you're really stuck and the instructor isn't able to help you on the spot after a couple tries, make a note talk to the instructor after class, in office hours, or by email.
- Don't just copy equations - It's not enough to just copy the equations off the board. The odds are good that you can get those same equations straight out of the book or find those equations on the notes if the instructor provides notes. (If those notes aren't available in those forms, form a partnership with others in the class to share notes and ensure that nothing is missed.) Try to focus your thoughts on the ideas.
- Review your notes - It's amazing how many students take notes but never look at them again. Before starting into the homework, take a moment and read back through your notes to remind you of what happened. A lot of students try to start their homework and just stare blankly at the problems for an hour before giving up. By taking the time to review, you give you brain a push in the right direction.
- Get help from the Student Academic Center - Did you know that NSC offers free math tutoring? Your student fees are used to fund the Student Academic Center. You can get individual tutoring or group tutoring with one of several of the math tutors. Group tutoring is a great option because it gives you the chance to work with friends and a tutor, and this type of interaction can increase your ability to remember the things you learn.
- Do your homework on time - This should go without saying. But we're saying it anyway.
- Talk to (or email) your instructor when you have questions - The instructors are here to help you to learn. So why not get help from them?