HOW TO STUDY MATHEMATICS

1.  Many times mathematics textbooks raise questions in their readers' minds because algebraic details are omitted from the discussion.  If this happens, read the material again carefully, and attempt to answer those questions by working out those details which are omitted.  Referring back to earlier material may also help.

2.  If, during the course of your study, you cannot understand some point or cannot complete missing details, make a note of this immediately and ask your teacher to explain it to you or to the entire class.

3.  In your study of mathematics, form the habit of studying as soon after class as possible and at a regular time and place.

4.  Try to understand what a problem is asking before you attempt to work it.  If you can't, try breaking the problem down into smaller components.

5.  If you cannot understand how to work a problem, study the preceding discussion and examples.  Use the index freely to find topics that may help you.

6.  Definitions, postulates, and theorems should be understood as well as remembered.  If you don't understand how they work, you probably will not be able to use them.

7.  Whenever possible, draw diagrams, sketches, and graphs which are related to the data of the problem.

8.  Write neatly and organize your work in a logical fashion.  Many mistakes in mathematics result from bad writing habits.

9.  Check each step of a computation problem as you complete it.  To believe that you have completed a problem and then discover that an error was made in the first step is disheartening.

10.  After you have completed a problem, ask yourself if the answer is reasonable.  Intuition plays an important role in mathematics.

11.  Finally, don't give up too readily: Learning is a result of interest and effort.

12.  Try studying in a group- students can often help each other learn.

CLAUDE J. CLARKE LEARNING CENTER
FEINBERG LIBRARY - ROOM 103

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