How to study Maths?

Except this current engineering education, I studied mathematics every year in the span of 12 years of formal school education. Only five semesters had my favorite subject Math in computer engineering! I love Mathematics so much that I missed it badly for other three semesters.  

I want to give example of the tuition-teacher, Govinda, in the Hindi movie ‘Kai Po Che’. He says to his student- ‘Playing with numbers is very interesting, and thrilling.’ But, his female student scoffs that it is so boring, and she can’t visualize mathematics like she did Science. It is not very important to visualize mathematics, I think, only practice is! Mathematics can be solved by doing steps (sequential, and sometimes parallel), and hence continuous practice is very necessary.

In most of mathematics textbooks, last chapter contains the Geometry. Due to frequent strikes, and chakkajaams, last chapters always remain untaught or taught little only; especially in government schools. This trend repeats every year. Thus students feel weakness on geometry. But my secondary level math teacher, Karna sir chose geometry as the first chapter to be taught as he knows the yearly repeated loophole on the system. Due to his excellent way of ‘reversed’ teaching, I dominated geometry in my further exams. Geometry, which covers 25 percent of total weightage 100 in mathematics in SLC, is an easy area to score full marks.

Most of mathematics was invented in 20th century. So one can learn such ‘old thoughts’ easily, as in my ‘simple’ way of thinking, though! I also feel there is lack of extensive research in Mathematics not only in our country but all over the world.

First of all, related formulas should be known. Without that it will be much difficult. For instance, to learn anti-derivative/integration, one must know all the general formulas including those of derivative. It is worth mentioning here is that learning should be followed step by step i.e. first to know all basics then little tough problem and final as challenge. Most students really do not practice mathematics. I often find them trying to remember solution steps looking into solutions from top to bottom.

'Practice, practice and again practice.' Every mathematics teacher surely say this mantra to his/her students. Renowned mathematician Blaise Pascal once told – “Mathematics is such subject which you can learn only when you sit with pen and paper trying to solve the problem.” Interestingly, Pascal found that the sum of three angles in any triangle always 180 in age of just 12.

So all of you who find mathematics very tough, just practice it. Happy learning and finally dominate mathematics!

(Published in The Himalayan Times on 29th July 2013)