Math study skills

1. Learn the terminology. Do you know what it means to simplify, evaluate, solve, etc?
2. Learn the notation.  What does it mean to find f(2)? dy/dx? What is s?
3. Practice: You did it two days ago, why can’t you do it today?
4. Take responsibility for your success: Go to class everyday. Study everyday. Get help with what you don’t know.
5. Work out examples: Don’t just stare at them. Write down all the missing steps. If you can’t follow the examples, you will have trouble doing the homework.
6. Take your time: Don’t rush through the exercises. Take enough time so that you fully understand the material.
7. Do more problems: After you get help with a problem, immediately do a similar type problem.
8. Don’t be afraid to try more challenging exercises: You can’t do the hard problems on the exam if you can’t do them on the homework.
9. Form a study group: Meet with the group regularly after you have attempted the exercises yourself.
10. Use other resources: Other textbooks may explain concepts better.
11. Ask specific questions: Instead of saying “ I don’t understand this section” try “ I don’t understand why ln(x + y) is not the same as ln(x) + ln(y).”
12. Try making your own examples
13. Try to understand, not memorize: Unfortunately, there are things you will have to memorize. However, try to relate new information to things you already know.
14. Get help: Use instructors, TA’s, tutors.
15. Learn to differentiate between techniques: Make sure you learn all the techniques for doing a problem; not just the ones you like. Also, practice determining which techniques go with which problems.
16. Learn how to use your calculator: If you need help, talk to your instructor or visit the Learning Resources Center.
17. Make flash cards: Make flash cards to important concepts, formulas, and definitions. On one side, put the concept. On the other side, write an example or two.
18. Study every day: Take some time out of your schedule to study math every day.
19. Change your attitude: If you’ve already decided you are not going to do well, you probably won’t.

Online help

Need more graph paper? Download this handy graph paper maker.

http://pharm.kuleuven.be/pharbio/gpaper.htm

Calculus

archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus/2/formulas.1/index.html

list of differentiation formulas

Statistics

Normal Distribution Calculator (use this calculator instead of the table)

davidmlane.com/hyperstat/z_table.html

Normal Distribution Table

www.csus.edu/indiv/w/wilsonm/SCM%20FL%2006/standardnormaltable.pdf*

Statistics Calculator (normal distribution, t-distribution, chi-squared, binomial, and random number generator)

www.anu.edu.au/nceph/surfstat/surfstat-home/tables/random.php