Having a “math attack”?
Math anxiety:
Also known as numerophobia or arithmophobia, this is an anxiety disorder that makes it difficult to do math problems or work with numbers. It can cause people to feel tense and worry about their math abilities, even if they are strong. Some causes of math anxiety include feeling pressured to answer quickly or taking an exam.
How do we get over this anxiety?
Let’s get one thing straight
If you are preparing for competitive exams like GRE or GMAT, you will need to ace the math section to get a high score in the exam.
If you have a non-math background, then your journey towards acing the math section is going to be tedious.
The problem
Every math sum seems different.
You might be able to recall the formula, but you might be confused about how to apply the formula in the sum.
Solution: How to study math
How will you study math, so that you can ace this section?
My 2 cents.
While working on math,you need to focus on two things..
1. Procedural fluency
2. Conceptual understanding
Procedural fluency builds on a foundation of conceptual understanding, strategic reasoning and problem-solving.
To solve each sum, you need to follow a procedure
Once you do many sums, you will need to remember many procedures. So taking notes will help.
You need to make a note of the formulae and also make a note of the procedure
Let’s take a sum
In a cricket tournament, George scored 50,65,75 and 30 runs in the first four games. To qualify for the next round, he must average 56 for the 5 games. What is the least he should score in his final game to qualify?
Most students will solve this problem like this..
Step 1: recall a formula
Average runs= total runs scored / number of games played
Total runs = average runs x number of games
Step 2: Target total score for the 5 games = 5 x 56 = 280 runs
Step 3: Find George’s score for 4 games = 50+65+75+30 = 220 runs
Step 4: Find the minimum runs required for the 5th game = 280-220 = 60 runs
You need to recall the formula, then you need to prepare a mental road map on how you will solve the problem. After that then start the calculation.
If you follow this way of ‘math thinking’, then you have procedural fluency.
As a student with a non-math background, focus on developing procedures like this for each chapter. If you remember these procedures before the exam date, then there is a high probability, you will ace the math section.
If you are finding it difficult to develop procedures like this.. feel free to ping me. We can have a discussion.
My contact link is here:
LinkedIn profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand/
Another approach to solve this problem:
Without using procedures and just with conceptual understanding you can solve the sum.
Let’s take the same sum
In a cricket tournament, George scored 50,65,75 and 30 runs in the first four games. To qualify for the next round, he must average 56 for the 5 games. What is the least he should score in his final game to qualify?
The concept for the sum above is ‘average’.
You can compare George Runs with the required mean and understand the following
Target mean = 56
George scored 50. That means his score is 6 less than the mean. I.e. 50-56 =-6
George scored 65. That means his score is 9 more than the mean. I.e. 65-56 =+9
George scored 75. That means his score is 19 more than the mean. I.e. 75-56 =+19
George scored 30. That means his score is 26 less than the mean. I.e. 30-56 =-26
Adding the results = -6+9+19-26 = -4
The average of the first 4 games is 4 less than the total average.
So
The runs scored in the last game should be 4 more than the average.
Hence runs scored in the last game is 56+4 = 60.
The first approach involves procedures.
The second approach involves conceptual understanding without procedures.
The second approach saves time. Ideal for competitive exams.
So if you have a non-math back ground, I as a math tutor will first teach you approach 1, then teach approach 2. So you will be exposed to both thinking styles.
When we work on more sums like the one discussed above, you will gain the ability to devise multiple solution strategies rather than follow a standard procedure.
In this way, you will understand math rather than just do math..
If you need help in test preparation, Feel free to ping me..
My contact link is here:
LinkedIn profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand/
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/semanticsGMAT/
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