Math is Not a Spectator Sport

You cannot learn mathematics by just going to class and watching the instructor lecture and work problems. In order to learn mathematics, you must be actively involved in the learning process. You’ve got to attend class and pay attention while in class. You’ve got to take a good set of notes. You’ve got to work assignment problems, even if the instructor doesn’t assign any. You’ve got to study on a regular schedule, not just the night before exams. In other words, you need to be involved in the learning process.

The reality is that most people really need to work to pass a math class, and in general they need to work harder at math classes than they do with their other online classes. If all that you’re willing to do is spend a couple of hours studying before each exam then you will find that passing most math classes will be very difficult. If you aren’t willing to be actively involved in the process of learning mathematics, both inside and outside of the class room, then you can connect with professional experts.

Work to Understand the Principles

Some formulas have restrictions on them that you need to know in order to correctly use them. For instance, in order to use the quadratic formula, you must have the quadratic in standard form first. You need to remember this, or you will often get the wrong answer!

Other formulas are very general and require you to identify the parts in the problem that correspond to parts in the formula. If you don’t understand how the formula works and the principle behind it, it can often be very difficult to use the formula. For example, in a calculus course it’s not terribly difficult to memorize the formula for integration by parts for integrals. However, if you don’t understand how to actually use the formula and identify the appropriate parts of the integral you will find the memorized formula worthless.

Mathematics is Cumulative

You’ve always got to remember that mathematics courses are cumulative. Almost everything you do in a math class will depend on subjects that you’ve previously learned. This goes beyond just knowing the previous sections in your current class to needing to remember material from previous classes. You will find a college algebra class to be very difficult without the knowledge that you learned in your high school algebra class. You can’t do a calculus class without first taking (and understanding) an Algebra and a Trigonometry class.

Go to Class: Remember that math is cumulative. If you don’t go to class you will miss important material that will be used in later sections and/or important announcements.

Get to Class on Time: Sometime important announcements are only given during the first few minutes of a class.

LISTEN During Class: In order to get something out of the class you need to listen while in class. Often this can be difficult to do but it is very important. Sometimes important ideas will not be written down on the board, but instead just spoken by the instructor. Watch for things the instructor emphasizes, even if just in words. This often means the instructor thinks it’s important. The more important that an instructor thinks a topic is, the more likely that it will show up on the exam!

Take Good Notes: Try to write down everything that instructor puts on board. It may seem easy when watching the instructor, but it often is not so easy when it comes time for you to do it. A good set of notes will help remind you how to do these problems. For some instructors writing down everything may be difficult. In these cases, you should try to write down as much as possible. Note as well that this seems to contradict the previous tip. It is often hard to both listen and take a good set of notes. This is something that one often only gains with practice. You need to be able to listen while you are writing down the important parts of the lecture.

If you find that you are having trouble both listening and taking good notes, then you might consider bringing in a tape recorder and record the lecture. Note however that prior to doing this you should first speak with your instructor. There are a few instructors out there in the world that do not like to have their lectures recorded.

Ask Questions: If you don’t understand something, then ask your instructor. Chances are you are not the only one who doesn’t understand.

Listen When Others Ask Questions: When other students ask questions to make sure you listen to both the question and the answer. It may be that the student asking the question thought of something that you didn’t think of.

Review Notes After Class: After each class you should review your notes. Note the topics that you found confusing and formulate questions that you can ask your instructor or tutor to help you understand the topic.

Make a Set of Index Cards: Make a set of index cards with important formulas and concepts on them. You can carry these around with you to look over when you’ve got a few spare minutes. Use them to help you memorize the important formulas and concepts.

Do Assignment After Each Class: At the end of each class budget some time to look over the assignment from that day’s lecture and attempt to do it Doing this will allow you time to really work at understanding the concepts covered that day. Do not wait until the last minute to do the homework as this often results in an incomplete homework set and/or an incomplete understanding of the concept.

Practice, Practice, Practice: Practice as much as possible. The only way to really learn how to do problems is work lots of them. The more you work, the better prepared you will become exam time.

Keep Old Assignments and Exams: Do not throw away mathematics assignment solutions and online exams once you get them back. The solutions is a good source of study material for exams and both the homework and exams is a good source of study material for comprehensive final exams (if you’ve got one).