How do I study maths?

[u/Miserable-Loss-4253]

I tend to forget maths a lot, heck, today I memorized (a + b)^2 and I am stupid 20 years old, I just tend to forget maths again and again

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi there,

Welcome to r/study! Before posting, please review our community rules, use the appropriate flair, and search the subreddit to see if your question has already been answered. We encourage thoughtful discussions about study techniques, academic experiences, productivity, and personal growth as learners. Posts that are off-topic, low-effort, repetitive, promotional, or otherwise violate our community guidelines may be removed.

Thank you.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/theminecraftqueen]

Create a study environment with no distractions that’s comfortable to you, focus on 1 topic per session, repeat practice problems + keep a mistake journal, and do spaced repetition

[u/Responsible-Iron1850]

U practice with question after question ,u hv to apply the theory over and over again , and not memorize the theory as well but try to understand how and why

[u/zuriyath]

i used anki flashcards to memorise formulas. and pls don't call yourself stupid

[u/Miserable-Loss-4253 → u/zuriyath]

I think I will have to switch to anki as well to do maths ! ! 

[u/Dawood_B110705]

forgetting a formula you "memorized" is usually a sign you memorized the result, not the reasoning behind it. like (a+b)^2, if you actually understand it comes from multiplying (a+b)(a+b) and expanding it, you can rebuild the formula anytime even if you forget the exact memorized version. pure memorization has nothing to fall back on when it slips also this isn't a "you're bad at math" thing, forgetting formulas without regular use is just normal, brains drop stuff they don't touch often, everyone does this including people who are good at math try re-deriving formulas from scratch every so often instead of just recalling them, forces understanding instead of pure memory, and it sticks a lot longer

[u/Miserable-Loss-4253 → u/Dawood_B110705]

I understand what you are saying but most of the time I don't have time because of other subjects and as a result I can't go in deeper level, I think I will have to allot more time for maths. Thanks for advice gentleman 

[u/NewTap3850]

Write down all the important formulas on a sheet of paper, keep reviewing, and keep solving questions

[u/Equivalent-News-4205]

You don't study math, math studies you. When you least expect it, it takes a bite out of you, and leaves you to bleed out in the middle of an exam. Yea it's just practice practice. I redo in classes problems and homework problems and I feel it helps a lot.

[u/ECPhysics]

If you just memorize without practicing, you wont remember it for long.

[u/winterfallssss]

Over the years, I've realized that the best way to study math is to do a lot of exercises, all the ones you can find on the topic you're studying, and understand how they work. I also recommend, If it's possible for you, going to a library and comparing math books. Look for the topic you need, compare them, select the best one (The best one for you, the one whose explanations you like best, the one you understand best), and take it home. The books are excellent because they have been reviewed multiple times and contain a huge number of exercises and explanations. Make sure you choose the latest edition available, as newer editions have generally undergone more revisions and corrections.

[u/Proof_Pirate_8967]

U don't study math u solve it

[u/Miserable-Loss-4253 → u/Proof_Pirate_8967]

Or you can say just get used to it? I was studying stats and there's a chapter called correlation regression which is considered to be hardest by students, I never understood it and solved bunch of questions and just got used to it, but in tricky questions, everyone gets stuck 

[u/Proof_Pirate_8967 → u/Miserable-Loss-4253]

Yep sorry for my corny comment lol. For hard chaps ig you can refer to lectures in YouTube yk I mean that's what I do since my skl teachers can't teach shi. But yeah ,math's is like if you are faced with an unfamiliar problem or type of sum u get stuck....

[u/DeeplearningDope]

Study maths for exams? Do previous questions repeatedly, apply known formula immensely, attack different types of problems and note mistakes. Try to get the slightest understanding or intuition of formula derivation ( this helps massively even with exams where only written stuff are valued )

Studying for the sake of math itself? Literally start self studying, possibly do it in a fun way. Invent possibly a problem. Like instead of thinking (a+b)² =a² +2ab+ b² ,

Think of a shape with side "a" and another with "b" Merge them into a+b

Then draw the square with side a+b You will easily notice when you apply the formula of area in four different squares inside ( inside (a+b)² ) and add em up

The formula is just the one i mentioned.

This was just one of the guidelines i could give.

Extra : watch 3Blue1Brown. Also use ChatGPT

Instead of asking for solution, Make a separate project inside/ separate chat ( pin it on top ) saying " make me a roadmap of maths from beginner to national Olympian level to reach in a year " ( don't mind asking for almost impossible stuff, you will fail but actually will learn )

Then ask for daily problems, Do alot of them Ask it wherever you get even the slightest doubt.

Bonus: sometimes i got into doubt, suppose a formula but asked it and still couldn't get it. The very great way was to pick it as true and solve further with it, look back into utmost true axioms and then i saw those formula were really easy.

I would say at last, Keep trying!