Study skills

General mathematics study strategies

Here are the main points you need to follow when studying through your Further Mathematics Centre:

• Try to do some studying for Further Mathematics every day.  Frequent study is far more effective than trying to cram in large chunks of work at the last minute.  New ideas need frequent practice for them to ‘sink in’ properly.
   
• Draw up a study timetable and stick to it.  You will need to integrate your Further Mathematics study into your weekly schedule alongside your other subjects and commitments. 
  
  
• Practising questions is a far more effective technique for learning mathematics than just reading through textbooks and notes.
  
  
• If you can’t understand something even after working through the textbook and web materials, ASK.  Use Ask NRICH and/or talk to other students.  If you need to, contact your tutors, who are there to help you.

Steps to help you to solve a mathematics problem

1. Understand the problem
   
   What is it about?
   What topic of mathematics is involved?
   Describe the problem to yourself verbally.
   What information are you given?
   What are you asked to do?
   What is the unknown?
   Write down the information.
   If appropriate, draw a diagram.
   If necessary, introduce suitable notation.
   
   Ensure that you fully understand the problem and the given information before you proceed.
   
   
2. Devise a plan
   
   Do you need to introduce notation?
   What can you deduce from the given information?
   Can you see a connection between the given information and what you are trying to find?
   What do you need to get the unknown?
   Have you solved a similar problem to this one?
   Can you simplify it and solve an easier problem, then adapt to the original problem?
   Have you used all the given information?
   
   Write down an outline of your plan before you proceed
   
   
3. Carry out the plan
   
   Check each step.
   If you come across a difficulty, go back to your plan and revise it.
   
   
4. Look Back
   
   Reflect on the method; you may be faced with a similar problem in the future.
   Can you check the result?
   Can you check the argument?
   Having found one way of solving the problem, can you now see a better way?
   Can you use the result, or the method, for some other problem?