Math Study Skills

Active Study vs. Passive Study

Be actively involved in managing the learning process, the mathematics, and your study time:
    · Take responsibility for studying, recognizing what you do and don't know, and knowing how to get me to help you with what you don't know.
    · Attend class every day and take complete notes. I formulate test questions based on material and examples covered in class, on reviews, in lectures, and those in the textbook. Don’t expect to be successful in math class if your attendance is not near 100%.
    · Be an active participant in the classroom. Read ahead in the book; try to work some of the problems before they are covered in class. Anticipate what my next step will be.
    · Ask questions in class! There are usually other students wanting to know the answers to the same questions you have. There are no “dumb” questions.
    · Go to LunchBunch and ask questions you don’t ask in class. I will be pleased to see that you are interested, and you will be actively helping yourself.  (LunchBunch: the time others go to recess).
    · Good study habits throughout the year make it easier to study for tests.

Studying Math is Different from Studying Other Subjects

    · Math is learned by doing problems. Do the homework. The problems help you learn the formulas and
algorithms you need to know, as well as improve your problem-solving prowess.
    · A word of warning: Each class builds on the previous ones all year long. You must keep up with me: attend class, read the text and do the homework every day. Falling a day behind puts you at a disadvantage. Falling a week behind puts you in deep trouble.
    · A word of encouragement: Because each class builds on previous ones you're always reviewing previous material as you do new material. Many of the ideas hang together. Identifying and learning the key concepts means you don't have to memorize as much.

Pre-AP Math is Different from Regular Math

These classes cover material at a faster pace, in more depth, with more complex problem-solving, and more non-traditional problem-solving than other courses do. You are expected to absorb new material more quickly. Take responsibility for keeping up with the homework. Make sure you find out how to do it.
    · You probably need to spend more time studying per week - you do more of the learning outside of class than in regular classes
    · Tests may seem harder just because they cover more material.

Study Time

You may know this rule of thumb about math (and other classes):
    Outside study time is a requisite for success.

    · Take as much time as you need to do all the homework and to get complete understanding of the material.
    · Form a study group. Meet once or twice a week (or use the phone). Go over problems you've had trouble with. Either someone else in the group will help you, or you will discover you're all stuck on the same problems. That's when it's time to get help from me.  Helping each other on homework is not cheating – copying answers without doing the work, or without understanding, is cheating.
    · The more challenging the material, the more time you should spend on it.

Problem Solving

Problem Solving (Homework and Tests)

    · The higher-level the math class, the more types of problems: in earlier classes, problems often required just one step to find a solution. Increasingly, you will tackle problems which require several steps to solve. Break these problems down into smaller pieces and solve each piece - divide and conquer!

    · Problem types:

1. Problems testing memorization ("drill"),
2. Problems testing skills ("drill"),
3. Problems requiring application of skills to familiar situations ("template" problems),
4. Problems requiring application of skills to unfamiliar situations (you develop your own strategy for a new problem type),

In early courses, you solved problems of types 1, 2 and 3. In Algebra you can expect to do mostly problems of types 2 and 3 and sometimes of type 4. Later courses expect you to tackle more and more problems of types 3 and 4. Each problem of type 4 usually requires you to use a multi-step approach, and may involve several different math skills and techniques.

    · When you work problems on homework, write out complete solutions, as if you were taking a test. Don't just scratch out a few lines and check the answer in the back of the book. If your answer is not correct, rework the problem; don't just do some mental gymnastics to convince yourself that you could get the correct answer. If you can't get the answer, get help.
    · Make sure you use graph paper and proper techniques when you practice graphing.
    · The practice you get doing homework and reviewing will make test problems easier to tackle.

    Tips on Problem Solving

    · Apply Pólya's four-step process:

    1. The first and most important step in solving a problem is to understand the problem, that is, identify exactly which quantity the problem is asking you to find or solve for (make sure you read the whole problem).
    2. Next, you need to devise a plan, that is, identify which skills and techniques you have learned that can be applied to solve the problem at hand.
    3. Carry out the plan.
    4. Look back: Does the answer you found seem reasonable? Also, review the problem and method of solving so that you will be able to more easily recognize and solve similar problems in the future.

    · Some problem-solving strategies: use one or more variables, complete a table, consider a special case, look for a pattern, guess and check, draw a picture or diagram, make a list, solve a simpler related problem, use reasoning, work backward, solve an equation, look for a formula, use coordinates.

    "Word" Problems are Really "Applied" Problems (Real World Problems)

The term "word problem" has only negative connotations. It's better to think of them as "applied problems", real-world problems.
These problems should be the most interesting ones to solve. Sometimes the "applied" problems don't appear very realistic, but that's usually because the corresponding real applied problems are too hard or complicated to solve at your current level. But at least you get an idea of how the math you are learning can help solve actual real-world problems.

    Solving an Applied Problem

    · First, convert the problem into mathematics. This step is (usually) the most challenging part of an applied problem. If possible, start by drawing a picture. Label it with all the quantities mentioned in the problem. If a quantity in the problem is not a fixed number, name it by a variable. Identify the goal of the problem. Then complete the conversion of the problem into math, i.e., find equations that describe relationships among the variables, and describe the goal of the problem mathematically.
    · Solve the math equation you have generated, using whatever skills and techniques you need (refer to the four-step process described on Page 2).
    · As a final step, you should convert the answer of your math problem back into words, so that you have now solved the original applied problem.

    For Further Reading: George Pólya, How to Solve It, Princeton University Press, Princeton (1945)

   Studying for a Math Test

    Everyday Study is a Big Part of Test Preparation

    Good study habits throughout the year make it easier to study for tests.
    · Do the homework when it is assigned. You cannot hope to cram 2 or more days worth of learning into one day of work.
    · On tests you have to solve problems; homework problems and review problems are the only ways to get practice. As you do homework, make lists of formulas and techniques to use later when you study for tests.
    · Ask me questions as they arise; don't wait until the day before a test. The questions you ask right before a test should be to clear up minor details, not to help you understand major concepts.

    Studying for a Test

    ·  Start by going over each section, reviewing your notes, and checking that you can still do the homework problems (actually work a couple of the problems again). Use the worked examples in the text, from reviews, and notes; cover the solutions and work the problems yourself. Check your work against the solutions given.
    ·  You're not ready yet! In the book each problem appears at the end of the section in which you learned how to do that problem; on a test the problems from different sections are all mixed together.

    Step back and ask yourself what kind of problems you have learned how to solve, what techniques for solutions you have learned, and how to tell which techniques go with which kinds of problems.

    · Try to explain out loud, in your own words, how each solution strategy is used (e.g. how to solve a multi-step equation). If you get confused during a test, you can mentally return to your verbal "capsule instructions". Check your verbal explanations with a friend during a study session (it's more fun than talking to yourself!).
    · Put yourself in a test-like situation: work problems from review sections at the end of sections/chapters. It's important to keep working problems the whole time you're studying.
    · Start studying early. Several days before the test (longer for the final), begin to allot time in your schedule for reviewing for the test.
    · Get lots of sleep the night before the test. Math tests are easier when you are mentally sharp.

   Taking a Math Test

    Test-Taking Strategy Matters

    Just as it is important to think about how you spend your study time (in addition to actually doing the studying), it is important to think about what strategies you will use when you take a test (in addition to actually doing the problems on the test). Good test-taking strategy can make a big difference in your grade!

     Taking a Test

    · First, look over the entire test. You'll get a sense of its length. Try to identify those problems you definitely know how to do right away, and those you expect to have to think about.
    · Do the problems in the order that suits you! Start with the problems that you know for sure you can do the quickest. This builds confidence and means you don't miss any sure points just because you run out of time.  Then try the problems you think you can figure out; then finally try the ones you are least sure about.
    · Time is of the essence - work as quickly and continuously as you can while still writing legibly and showing all your work. If you get stuck on a problem, move on to another one - you can come back later.
    · Work by the clock. On a 50 minute, 25-problem test, starting with the easy questions will probably put you ahead of the clock. When you work on a harder problem, spend the allotted time (e.g., 2 minutes) on that question, and if you have not almost finished it, go on to another problem. Do not spend 10 minutes on a problem, which will yield no more points when there are other problems still to try.
    · Show all your work: make it as easy as possible for me to see how much you do know. Try to write a
well-reasoned solution. If your answer is incorrect, I will assign partial credit based on the work you show.  This is the same instruction you will see on the A.P. exams that you will be taking in high school.
    · Never waste time erasing! Just draw a line through the work you want ignored and move on. Not only does erasing waste precious time, but you may discover later that you erased something useful (and/or may be worth partial credit if you cannot complete the problem). You are (usually) not required to fit your answer in the space provided - you can put your answer on another sheet to avoid needing to erase.
    · In a multiple-step problem outline the steps before actually working the problem.
    · Don't give up on a multi-part problem just because you can't do the first part. Attempt the other part(s) - if the actual solution depends on the first part, at least explain how you would do it.
    · Make sure you read the questions carefully, and do all parts of each problem.
    · Verify your answers - does your answer make sense given the context of the problem?
    · If you finish early, check every problem (that means rework everything from scratch).

   Getting Assistance

    When:

    Get help as soon as you need it. Don't wait until a test is near. The new material builds on the previous
sections, so anything you don't understand now will make future material difficult/impossible to understand.

Use the resources you have available.

    · Ask questions in class. You get help and will stay actively involved in the class.
    · Visit me at tutoring times. I like to see students who want to help themselves. You can go over the last test and ensure that you don’t make the same mistakes on the next one.
    · Ask friends, members of your study group, or anyone else who can help. The classmate who explains something to you learns just as much as you do, for he must think carefully about how to explain the particular concept or solution in a clear way. So don't be reluctant to ask a classmate, or help a classmate.
    · All students need help at some point - be sure to get the help you need.

    Asking Questions

    Don't be afraid to ask questions. Any question is better than no question at all (at least I will know you are confused). But a good question will allow me to quickly identify exactly what you don't understand.

    · Not too helpful comment: "I don't understand this section." The best you can expect in reply to such a remark is a brief review of the section, and this will likely overlook the particular thing(s) that you don't understand.
    · Good comment: "I don't understand why f(x - h) doesn't equal f(x) + f(h)." This is a very specific remark that will get a very specific response and hopefully clear up your difficulty.
    · Good question: "How can you tell the difference between the equation of a parabola and the equation of a line?"
    · Okay question: "How do you do #17?"
    · Better question: "Can you show me how to set up #17?" (I can let you try to finish the problem on your own), or "This is how I tried to do #17. What went wrong?" The focus of attention is on your thought process.
    · Right after you get help with a problem, work another similar problem by yourself.

    You Control the Help You Get

    Helpers should be coaches, not crutches. They should encourage you, give you hints as you need them, and sometimes show you how to do problems. But they should not, nor be expected to, actually do the work you need to do. They are there to help you figure out how to learn math for yourself.   You can’t learn to pull the wagon by riding on it.

    · When you come to me for help, your study group or tutor, have a specific list of questions prepared in
advance. You should run the session as much as possible.
    · Do not allow yourself to become dependent on a tutor. The tutor cannot take the exams for you. You must take care to be the one in control of tutoring sessions. If you depend on a tutor during the first semester you are probably registered in a class that is beyond your current ability level.
    · Do not expect battleship grades for rowboat effort.

This document has been adapted from material that was in an original article from Saint Louis University
Although I have changed the original document to be more useful to you, I am not the original author.

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY
June 1993