Tips for Studying Calculus

Calculus is considered to be one of the most difficult classifications of advanced mathematics. In order to do well in calculus you need to have strong base and knowledge of algebra and trigonometry. Learning calculus is not a piece of cake. There are no shortcuts- You need to know the RIGHT method. But hey! Nothing is impossible if you spend the right amount of time and strategize your learning habits. Scroll down and find below the 8 most useful tips for studying calculus in a productive manner.

1) Understand your course

Take time to read your syllabus properly. By doing so, you will be able to have an in depth understanding of your course curriculum and you will know what concept you will be learning, what part of the book the syllabus concur with and all the details regarding your assignments, home works and exams.

2) Prepare your strategy

You need to create an effective learning or homework plan to manage your time well for both calculus and other classes. Doing so will develop your organization skills, will keep you more focused into your studies. Also, this will give you enough leisure time to relax after your study.

3) Allocate time for home work

Make sure that you allocate at the least 2-4 hours on your home work projects. This will give you enough time to work on difficult homework problems and help you to become more disciplined and channel your thoughts and ideas to a productive manner.

4) Memorize

You must dedicatedly learn formulas, definitions and theorems on a daily basis. Do not keep it for another day. Learn them right now! This will avoid difficulties in the future and you would find it easy to recall everything you learned in no time!

5) Work every day

When you start working on calculus, you must make it habitual. Do the works regularly on a daily basis. This will definitely make you an expert in the concepts, definitions and theorems and thus you will find calculus very simple on time being.

6) Form a “calculus gang”

Pick 1 or 2 friends from your class who are experts and enthusiastic in learning calculus. Work regularly with them. This is one of the best methods to learn calculus as your friends will give you out of the box ideas which you might not have ever thought of. And moreover, you won’t get bored.

7) Prepare early

When you have exams, start preparing at the least 5 days before them. Start outlining the important topics, equations and theorems. This will boost your self-confidence and by the time you write your exam you will be at ease with no stress of failing. This would also avoid last minute emergency issues, for example illness.

8) Find new problems

You must always be able to work on new challenging problems. Work on problems that are not regularly assigned from your text book. Do a good research through internet and work on new problems

Mathematics: Let’s Address The Elephant In The Room.

Why do students fear math the most? Is it because it’s tougher than the other subjects? Or is it because it requires more practice?

The answer might lie somewhere between the dry, objective nature of the subject and the improbability of a creative space that a student usually enjoys in a subject like Literature, or even Social Sciences. The result oriented and the exacting approach that Maths is dealt with in schools can scare even the brightest of kids.

The solution here is to truly inspire students and engage them in the process of analytical thinking.The solution is to make students believe that Math is fun.

A trimester exam every 3 months and boring math lessons won’t help. The objective here should be an overhaul of the conventional Math tutoring methods:

1. Visual teaching

It’s not about filling blackboards with scary equations. Students remember it better if they can visually encode it. The tutor needs to give as much visual representation to concepts as he can, so that students can all picture it in their memory.

2. Maths is everyday

Football classes, swimming lessons, English homework – the schedule seems too tight to fit math in. Yet, the student needs to do it. Training the mind to be analytical is a gradual, lengthy process. If not classroom, an online tutor or a private Maths tutor can be of great help.

3. Everybody is different

No two students are alike. A teaching method that guarantees a student’s success may not help the other. It’s important to gauge what’s working on whom. Some students love the challenge of cracking a problem all by themselves, while some prefer a direction in the very beginning. A customized online course that helps them in daily math homework is worth trying.

4. Managing Panic

The right preparation and readiness avoids panic. But getting rid of this habit of stressing takes some time. The right tutor, the one who understands his students will know how to train them to deal with it. Surprise tests, simulating the exam environment frequently are some of the methods that train students better.

5. Look for Specialists

An algebra tutor must be different from a calculus tutor because of the varying degrees of their proficiency. A math tutor will be well-versed in all branches, certainly. But he may teach a particular branch with a lot more finesse and confidence. Look for an array of math teachers while selecting the best ones for your kid. It may not happen in school, but online private tutors are of great significance in this case. Given the right resources and ample time, any student can excel in Maths. The key is to recognize the challenge well and act accordingly. After all, it isn’t rocket science (or is it?).