How to learn Mathematics?

How To Learn Mathematics?

Genreally, people run away when they approach mathematical problems. But mathematics is not as complicated as general people think. When people reach to depth and find beauty of mathematics, then it is doubtless they will find mathematics very beautiful, interesting and wonderful. Here are some important things to remember when learning mathematics.

Learning mathematics is like learning another language. One has to assume that I am leanring a lanugage rather solving tough problems. At first it will be hard but it will get progressively easier. A lot of concepts in mathematics are inter-related, so knowing one helps you understand many others. Being frustrated is not a problem, it is a natural part of the learning process, so don't give up. We should tackle all the basic stuff all at once and spend an hour everyday leanring one of basic things. It needs a regular practice which will ease your challenges.
Some steps for learning mathematics.

Create learning time. Make sure you have at least an hour a day to dedicate to learning mathematics.

Become acquainted with the vocabulary. Keep a mathematical dictionary by your side as you study. Many areas of mathematics require knowing a certain amount of mathematical vocabulary and it is less frustrating to be able to quickly look up the meanings.
Get at least two reference books. This way, you will have two different explanations and one of the explanations may make better sense to you than the other or a combination of both will help you to get it.

Tackle subjects along with their prerequisites. Many concepts are related and knowing one helps you understand the other. If you didn't grasp one concept as well as you should have earlier, set aside a little time to revisit it and learn some more and then combine it with the new concept. Often, the new concept will help the older one to gel in your mind.

Progress through the levels of mathematics. Work your way up to advanced mathematics through this progression: Basic algebra, basic geometry, basic calculus, intermediate algebra, regular calculus, number theory, linear algebra, advanced algebra, combinatorics, analysis, topology.
Practice with many problems. Do as many mathematics problems as you can lay your hands on - even those beyond the class. This will assist you in getting a good feel for the topics and will likely help much of mathematics become "second nature" to you.

By Laxman Nepali

M.ed Mathematics (Fourth Semister)