Common Math Mistakes | ProductiveandFree

Mathematics is among the toughest subjects to study for school learners. Most challenges are attributed to the method taken to study the subject. Studying the subject the wrong way makes it appear more daunting. However, the challenges can be resolved if the wrong method is taken to fix it.

To make math less daunting, here are the 10 most common problems learners face while studying math, along with ways to solve them.

1. No Understanding

Simply learning tasks by heart, such as steps to solve a problem or a formula, will not help you solve more complex problems. Most learners can solve basic math problems, but complex word problems will stump them.

How to fix it: Try to grasp the concept and the logic behind a problem to help you solve various forms with confidence.

2. Skipping the Basics

Mastering basic arithmetic skills is a prerequisite to mastering fractions, and skipping these will lead to problems with more complex systems such as algebra, geometry, and later, calculus.

How to fix it: Build a strong foundation, and other math skills and complex systems will be easy to grasp.

3. Procrastination Instead of Consistent Practice

Some students study for exams the night before. However, you cannot simply do math on the last minute. Building math problem-solving skills takes time, and consistent practice.

Solution: Set aside and practice math problems on a few different types each day. Having a consistent routine will lessen the stress and knowledge you will hold on the day of your exam.

4. Not Doing Practice Problems

Even if you just read your notes or watched a tutorial, you still must practice.

Solution: After studying a topic, do different exercises. Start with easy problems, and then do more complex problems to help you understand more.

5. Not Learning From Mistakes

People look at the wrong answers, and just wrong without seeing them thoroughly.

Solution: Look at the wrong answers and their explanations. Knowing your weakness will help you, and strengthen your skills.

6. Having No Study Plan

Randomly studying topics will create holes in your knowledge and useless stress.

Solution: Make a study plan that covers one topic at a time and breaks.

7. Not Asking for Help

There are students who don’t ask for help due to shyness, hesitation, or the belief that a problem must be solved alone. Not doing so will lead to prolonged confusion.

How to solve it: Question anything that leaves you stuck. Teachers, classmates, or online communities will help fill in the gaps in understanding.

8. Ignoring Real-World Applications

It is hard to stay motivated to learn math when it feels disconnected from reality. Students fail to see the connection that math has with everyday life.

How to solve it: Relate concepts to real-life situations like math when calculating discounts, measuring ingredients in a recipe, or figuring out the interest on a loan. This will make math more interesting and help to understand the concepts better.

9. Underestimating the Value of Review

Some students will think that once a topic has been learned, that there is no need to go over it again. This is especially the case for math, where concepts can be forgotten if not reinforced or practiced repeatedly.

How to solve it: Plan review sessions weekly or monthly to cover and revisit old topics that you learned. This will help to keep your skills sharp and aid in retention of knowledge over time.

10. Overlooking the Use of Professional Help

Self study is helpful, but it also has its limits. This is especially the case when you are struggling to pinpoint your weak areas or have formed bad study habits.

What you can do: Get a tutor or enroll in a properly structured math program for assistance. If you’re in Singapore, consider a tuition centre franchise. These programs are designed to be stepwise and mastered while designed for focused one-to-one help to build challenge overcoming confidence.

Bonus Hint: Be Positive!

Having a negative belief, for example, thinking you’re “just not good at math” will stop you from doing much. Confidence will be built if you work to improve the situation.

What you can do: Focus on the small wins. This, and the knowledge that math can be improved, will guide you in a positive direction.

Conclusion

In most cases, students weak in math are either cramming, not asking questions, or not mastering the basics. By resolving these, the student should be able to increase their enjoyment in learning math.

MathNous is one of the places students can avoid these mistakes and cultivate their full potential in algebra. It has a good reputation for self-paced and structured guidance in math along with self-practice. Students can avoid these mistakes and cultivate their full potential in math.

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