Subject Series: How to Effectively Study for Math-Oriented Subjects

 

By Shreya Deo

Whether it be arts, medicine, architecture, finances, business, music performance, or engineering, mathematics is an essential part of every career. Mathematical applications, financial literacy, measurements, and every component of our life is ruled by math. So why not make it a subject which you start to enjoy from a young age? Why not make it something you look forward to doing? Today, for the second and final blog of the Subject Series, I want to put out some effective techniques to make your math subject easier to learn and master.

Mental block

When I first started to have actual core math classes in school starting 3rd grade, I hated it. I've always been good at math, but I never really liked it, and I my mind always considered it to be a difficult subject, when in reality, I was doing pretty well in it. So why do some people not like math, while others thoroughly enjoy it? The reason is simply a mental block. 

Math is an intimidating subject, no doubt. The various formulas, multiple fields of knowledge, complex calculations, and lengthy answers all combine to make the subject seem harder than it is. However, with a few steps, you can make math a much more likable and fun subject throughout your schooling and future careers.

The importance of finding good guidance

One of the key steps in being successful in any mathematical subject is the proper guidance. This means your teachers, friends, tutors, and any outside help you get. Having a good support system as a math student is very important to understanding the topic. I personally have had some amazing math teachers like my geometry teacher this year, Mr. Buchanan! His outlook towards math as an abstract, engaging subject helped me feel better about doing math throughout the year. If you are looking for videos explaining a topic well and easily, I would recommend Brian McLogan on YouTube. 

If you feel that math is starting to feel like a pressuring subject, take some time to think about how you are actually perceiving the subject. My tip is not to overdo it. I only do math when I have to study for a test, and that's when i go hardcore. Otherwise, I do a maximum of 10 problems each day for repetitions, which brings me to my second point.

The power of repetition

Repetition. It is something that is stressed by at least one teacher every single year. At first thought, repetition sounds boring. Most teenagers, including me, do not have a long attention span. We tend to get bored with one thing and move on to the next. But how can we train our brain to master the repetition technique?

Although I personally do not use this, I would recommend the Pomodoro technique for any of you who tend to get distracted once in a while. The Pomodoro technique requires you to complete your work for 25 minutes, and then have a 5-minute break to get a snack, catch up on social media, or watch YouTube (As I do :) This helps you do work while not completely feeling burnt out by the end of the day. 

Repetition doesn't mean doing the same problem over and over again. Repetition doesn't mean that you have to do the same technique over and over again. It simply means repeating the same course of action while changing small details as you try new steps. For example, when I have a geometry test coming up, I do 10-15 practice problems every day, however, each day, I try a new technique and method of solving the problem. This keeps the problem engaging and also getting the reps in. 

Finding real world applications

Math is used in almost every aspect of life. We can all probably find some sort of way to incorporate the math we learn into our own world. This is why making mathematical connections is an important part of learning and fully understanding concepts. I do understand that this will only really work in more visual mathematical subjects, like geometry, but trying to find correlations between your external environment and mathematics makes interpretation much easier. Try to relate the things you see or do every day to some sort of math. This helps you get a visual set in your mind the next time you are in class.

Conclusion

Mathematics is one such subject that is applicable to everything in life- from entertainment to work to anything in between. So why not understand how to achieve mastery in the subject? Why not try new methods and techniques to improve, even by a little bit, every day? We hope that this article helps you all interpret and tackle mathematics and math-oriented subjects with a new mindset. As always, if you have any questions, or if you have any methods you would like to share, please feel free to type them into the comments box!