7 Tips for Becoming a Math Ninja

Almost everyone struggles in math at some point. I have struggled with math at certain points in my classes, but now I get all A’s in it and I enjoy it! Here are my seven sneaky tips for becoming a math ninja!

Tip 1: Don’t Just Memorize Formulas and Equations

Do you have trouble memorizing formulas? Welcome to the club! Though remembering formulas is necessary with math, it doesn’t mean you have to have difficulty memorizing a new one each time. Understand the thoughts and ideas behind the formula. Ask yourself “Why am I learning this formula?”,  “What’s the formula’s purpose?”, and  “How does it build upon past ideas?” Answering those questions will help you learn your new formulas.

In Pre-Algebra, for example, you have to know how to calculate slope (m) using a formula. Analyze what the formula is trying to do. “What’s its purpose?” and “How is it helpful?” are good questions. Rarely is there a formula in math merely because it looks cool. In the case of slope, it helps you find out the point of a line along the y-axis as it moves across the x-axis.

Analyze the formula (or equation), and ask yourself what each part of the equation means. It isn’t just arbitrary variables and numbers. Each part means something! For slope, the formula is m = (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂-x₁). Each part means something. m is the slope, (y₂-y₁) is the change in rise, and (x₂-x₁) is the change in run. Knowing this puts the formula into your head as “slope equals rise over run”, rather than a bunch of arbitrary letters and numbers.

In the future, formulas will get more difficult (just look up ‘quadratic formula’ and you’ll see what I mean). This concept will help you remember even the most difficult formulas in the most difficult of classes. It may take some time and some research, but it will probably help you understand concepts better.

Tip 2: Take Notes and Study

Taking notes can be your secret weapon in all of your math classes. Taking notes in math is critical for your success! Take notes on formulas, concepts, people, and ideas in math, all of which are things you can be quizzed.

In classes such as Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Pre-Calculus, proofs are given throughout the class. Be sure to copy these down in your notes for future review. Study these like you study formulas.

Of course, you’ll want to study your notes also! Notes can only be so helpful if you don’t use them. Every week or day, you should go over you notes and work on memorization. If you have questions or problems, ask your teacher. You can also create math problems and quiz yourself on them. If you want to really do well, perform some additional research outside of school time. I’ll talk more about this in “Tip 7” later on.

You may also want to take notes on calculator functions. Programmable calculators have functions which will help you solve problems faster, so be sure to write the function associated with a formula in your notebook. You should know the functions on your calculator like the back of your hand. Speaking of calculators…

Tip 3: Have the Right Calculator

Your calculator will be your math sidekick for several years, so make sure you find the right one for you. Ask your teacher which ones are recommended, and then go from there. There are a few different types of calculators you should now about:

• Four Function Calculator (this type just does addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)
• Scientific Calculator (this can do the regular four functions, but it also can do trig and other things. I had a TI 30Xa)
• Programmable and Graphing Calculator (these can allow you to program functions, and they allow for graphing and solving equations. Unlike scientific and four function calculators, these can do calculus for you! I currently have a TI-89 Titanium)

Depending on what type of math class you have, you may want a certain type of calculator. Up to before pre-algebra, you’ll just want a four function calculator. From pre-algebra to pre-calculus, however, you might want a scientific calculator. Finally, if you are in calculus or statistics, a graphing calculator is a must.

Once you have a calculator, get to know it well. You need to understand your sidekick well to get the most use out of it, right? Practice using your calculator often. Look at the guide book for your calculator whenever you have questions or problems. If you have a Texas Instruments calculator, you can find guide books at https://education.ti.com/en/products.

Tip 4: Get to Know Your Teacher

Having a good relationship with your teacher may help you out a lot in math class. Remember, your teacher will probably be with you the entire school year, and the nicer you are, the more likely your teacher will to be nice to you. Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher for help, it is their job, after all, to help you understand math concepts.

How can I get to know my teacher? There are a few ways.

1. Stay after class if you have questions
2. Bring your teacher a gift on Teacher Appreciation Day
3. Be kind to your teacher in class
4. Ask your teacher for additional resources that could help you
5. Start review sessions with your teacher, and invite other students to them

Also check to see if there is a math club in your school. You might not like math, but showing up to a few of these meetings might just help you learn the concepts better (and give you a fresh perspective on them).

Tip 5: Show and Check Your Work

Always show and check your work. Showing and checking your work will not only prove to your teacher that you understand the concepts, but it will help make sure that you get a question right! The best part is that it only takes a few more seconds (and can increase your grade significantly).

For showing your work, you need to list out every step you took in solving an equation. Try not to skip more than one step at a time when you do this. Many teachers will give you only have credit if you get the correct answer, but don’t show your work. They won’t know how you arrived at your answer, so to them, it could just be a lucky guess on your part (or the result of cheating).

After showing your work, you need to check it. Checking your work is completely for your benefit. When you plug in your answer, and it doesn’t work, then you’ll be glad you checked. That means you will have another chance to show your work again, since a non-working answer indicates an error.

Tip 6: Use Flashcards or Make Your Own

When you have formulas to memorize and problems to practice, flashcards can be very handy. Before you start making your own, you should check out some flashcards that are already made:

• Pre-Algebra
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Algebra 2
• Pre-Calculus
• Calculus
• AP Calculus AB and BC
• Statistics
• AP Statistics

Perhaps you only need to review a few formulas and concepts. That would be where it is helpful to just make them yourself. Making flashcards yourself is a simple process. Know the concepts you have trouble with. Then, write each concept on its own card. On the opposite side, show an example of the use of that concept or formula. You could also have the name of a formula on one side, and then the formula itself on the other. If it’s not concepts or formulas that you have problems with, then you can write down practice problems and go over them until you perfect them. You should use whatever style that you think is best when making your own flashcards.

In addition to making your own flashcards, you might want to buy your own sets online, for practice problems that you don’t know the answer to. Here are some good one’s to buy for High School Math:

PARCC High School Algebra I
PARCC High School Algebra II
PARCC High School Geometry

Tip 7: Use Resources

I’m saving the best for last here. The number one way to succeed in math is through practice! Take advantage of all the resources at your disposal. With the internet, you can easily use online websites, classes, and tutors to better your learning experience in math class. Reading and interacting with all resources, whether a physical textbook or an online website or tutor, will help you strengthen your muscles as a math ninja.

When it comes to resources in any class, I completely recommend Khan Academy as the best resource to use. With a tutor-like presentation, great instructors, and thousands of practice problems, Khan Academy has you covered! You can use Khan Academy for SAT prep, economics, college prep, science, career planning, and computer science! There is so much you can do with Khan Academy, give it a try!

Of course, you may hit a brick wall sometimes in your math classes. That is where a tutor would be a good idea. Though Khan Academy is great for math, it isn’t physical and 100% interactive. If you want to interact with and talk to tutors, you can use Princeton Review, Study Point, and many other websites to find specialized private tutors. 

There are many other articles at planandorganize.com that can help you study for your schoolwork. Be sure to check those out! Have fun beating all of those hard problems as a math ninja!

Sources:

https://www.wikihow.com/Pass-a-Math-Class

https://www.wikihow.com/Ace-Any-Math-Class-in-College

https://khanacademy.org/