Be part of a Maths study group

the past weeks, IN we explored ways of improving your Mathematics understanding skills. This final instalment focuses on problem solving.

How to ace problem solving

THE following are tips on how to go about solving Maths problems:

◆ Read the problem: Read the problem carefully and make sure you understand what is being asked.

◆ Re-read the problem: Now, read the problem again and note down what you are given and what you are being asked to find.

◆ What is the problem asking for? Write down, in your own words, exactly what the question is asking you solve or find.

◆ Write down what you know: Now, go back through the problem and write out the information, facts and figures provided in an organised format.

◆ Draw a diagram: If applicable, develop a diagram that more fully represents the problem. Drawing a well-thought-out diagram often suggests a solution.

◆ Put together a plan: Identify any formulas that may help you solve the problem. Figure out what you need to tackle the problem. Often, there are intermediate steps you will need to complete before arriving at your final answer.

◆ Find an example problem: If you are having a difficult time getting your mind around the task, try finding a similar problem that you do understand, or that has already been worked out. Tackle the simpler problem and then go back to the harder one that is of a similar nature.

◆ Carry out your plan: Once you have a good grasp of what is being asked and what needs to be accomplished, go ahead with your plan. Make sure you show your work, step by step, so your instructor can see your reasoning and logic — so that you can go back and check your work.

◆ Check your answer: Sometimes your first answer is not the correct one. Does the answer you came up with make sense? If you are able to plug your answer back into the original problem, do so. This will let you know if your answer is correct.

◆ Review the problem: Once you have settled on an answer, go back and review the problem one last time, paying attention to the concepts, formulas and principles that were required to come up with your solution. This will help you internalise what you have learned and prepare you to tackle more challenging Maths problems.

Get some help

◆ Ask for help if you need it. Use your teacher, a tutor or other learners if necessary. Learning Maths is much easier if you will take advantage of the knowledge and experience of others.

◆ Do not wait until the last minute to get help. Maths is cumulative. So, if you miss a concept, you are likely to get behind really quickly.

◆ Do not be scared of asking questions in class. If you do not understand a concept, chances are there are a lot of other learners who do not understand the concept either. Do not worry about what other people will think or how you might look. If you do not understand something, raise your hand, ask a question and get clarification. If there is not enough time during class to get the clarification you need, visit the instructor during office hours or after class.

◆ Being part of a study group is a very good idea for studying Maths. With a study group of four or more people, chances are that at least one person will have a good understanding of a Math concept and can explain it to the rest of the members. Having the opportunity to explain complex Maths concepts to others also helps to solidify your own understanding of the concept. All around, study groups can be very beneficial for studying Maths.