how to do my math homework

how to do my math homework

How to Successfully Complete Math Homework

1. Understanding the Assignment

Start by spending at least 10 minutes reviewing the assignment. This may sound obvious, but it’s important! Fully read the assignment or problem and make sure you fully understand what is being asked. Some students rush this and they get stuck on homework problems later. If you don’t understand the assignment, then you need to spend more time on it. If the assignment comes with a particular textbook chapter, lecture, or lab reading, make sure you do more than just “check” the readings. Successful students read these assignments, and take notes as they read. A common pitfall is trying to get the homework done without understanding the relevant part of the course. This is usually a waste of time. So first try to learn what you would need to know to understand the problem or task. If the assignment is a problem set that you are doing for practice, whether it’s assigned or unassigned, the best strategy here is to build expertise in the required topic by doing similar problems in the text. Be sure to start simple and slow and work on understanding the types of problems on which you think you’ll be tested. This achievement is most often found within the first problems in the section/chapter. Step it up only as you feel comfortable. You may be tempted to blow off the first few problems, but this is usually where fundamental understanding lies. Successful completion of these problems are key since they often are prerequisites to the more difficult problems at the end of the section. Once you feel confident you can repeat your success on similar problems, move on to the assignment following the same guidelines. It’s sometimes challenging to work problems you are not doing for credit, but successful students are able to recognize the value in the work.

2. Organizing Your Work

No matter how good your organizational skills might be in everyday life, math will still throw you a curve ball. A major aspect of tackling math with success is planning and organization. For the student, an organized approach would involve having a clear workspace, an organized notebook and all the necessary materials. In having all of your materials together, you can minimize the amount of time spent searching for things. This time is better spent understanding the material and working out problems. With regard to the clear workspace, it’s much less frustrating to work on math problems when you have the space to do them. Consider a workman with a project to do. It would be difficult to complete the project at hand without the space to carry it out and the same applies for doing math problems. Math is just easier to accomplish when you have the needed space and resources available.

3. Applying Effective Problem-Solving Strategies

Draw a Diagram The purpose of drawing a diagram is to look for a pattern or to organise the information in a way that makes the problem easier to solve. This method was done by making a table. A systematic approach to drawing diagrams is more helpful and can be explained using various kinds of problems. When you draw a diagram to solve a probability problem, the entire process of counting the possible outcomes, and organising them in a way that relates to the given information can lead you to the correct answer. This is all probability is- counting possibilities. You just have to organize them in a way that makes it easier to. This method is often used to solve word problems.

Guess and Check This is one of the simplest strategies. All you have to do is keep trying. If it doesn’t work, try something else. How to check your answer. Many problems in math are solved by “doing something” then checking to see if you have solved it. This is an important step in problem solving, and you won’t know if you’ve done a problem right unless you have a system for checking answers. If you have an efficient way of checking answers, then the guess and check is a more feasible strategy. Depending on the problem, there are various ways to check if your solution is correct. For example, you can check by working backwards, by plugging the answer into the equation and seeing if it simplifies to the given information, or try an alternative method to the one you used to solve the problem and see if you come up with the same solution.

Math homework often involves problem solving, but no one has ever taught us an effective problem-solving strategy. Problem-solving strategies are your thoughts in action, what you’re doing to figure things out. When your actions are effective in solving a problem, you employ an effective strategy. This section will discuss strategies that are useful in solving math problems and show the reader how to use a systematic approach to solve problems. By using the information provided, you can solve almost any kind of problem that you may come across, in homework, on tests, or in “real life”. The strategies discussed are: 1. Guess and Check 2. Draw a Diagram 3. Work Backwards 4. Look for a Pattern 5. Make a Table.

4. Checking and Reviewing Your Solutions

Guideline 2: Trial and error. Now that’s what I’m talking about! Say your assignment is about optimization. You know what you need to do: draw a diagram representing the word problem and label your axis with variables. Develop an equation for the quantity you are to optimize, then attempt to solve for the answer. But does this method sound familiar? This is the technique used in calculus… more specifically derived from differential equations. You may have temporarily switched to a different method for optimization without realizing. So good ol’ Johnny is going to have to return to his calculus studies!

Guideline 1: Even though you have mostly certainly left this section of your homework until last, or coming back to it at the end of the week, this advice is one hundred percent certain to be beneficial when attempting more problems on this same topic. You will experience much more confidence in your method, and thus leading to a better understanding of your learned techniques. And speaking of techniques…

If you are simply content once you have received your solutions, you may have set up a commitment which has surpassed learning as the purpose. Instead, use your solutions as a means for checking your work to see if you are getting the right answers. Compare and contrast the methods you are using with the solutions that are provided. Make sure your logic is the same as what the author is using. If you do not understand the solutions at this point, then it is time to come in for help because you are trying to learn material on which you have no comprehension. Finally, if everything is correct, return to your assignment at a later date and redo the problems to keep the methods fresh in your mind.

5. Seeking Additional Help and Resources

When you just can’t seem to understand the assignment, find an explanation on the internet. There are many free math explainers that break down concepts step by step. Even a visual explanation like a YouTube video could be helpful. Understanding one type of problem may help you understand another similar problem. If you understand a step by step explanation of the problem that you need to solve, it will be easier for you to figure out how to solve it. Teachers usually appreciate when you can show your work and how you got to the answer. Understanding how to get to an answer is more important than the answer itself and will reflect in your grade. If internet solutions are not clear, do not waste too much time and find another source. One huge resource is your teacher themselves. Most teachers are happy to explain something one on one if something in class was not fully understood. Many teachers also offer before or after school help sessions, try to take advantage of this as they may be more willing to help if there is a smaller number of students. Bring problems that you have attempted, so they can see where you are confused. Teachers of math often like students to succeed and will be happy that you are taking the initiative to further your understanding in the subject.