From: Bob Wheeler Newsgroups: sci.math Subject: Re: How To Study Math Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 17:05:15 -0400 npatel123@hotmail.com wrote: > Hello everyone, I have a question, I am a student, and one of the classes > that I am having trouble with is the math class. The teacher, and the school > system states that "we should study math". My question though is this, just > HOW do I study math? HOW do I study math? Can anyone please give me specific > study techniques please? Thank you. I treasure the advice of Jimmie Savage, my advisor of long ago. He included it in The Foundation of Statistics. "In the first place, it cannot be too strongly emphasized that a long mathematical argument can be understood on first reading only when it is very elementary indeed, relative to the reader's mathematical knowledge. If one wants only the gist of it, he may read such material once only; but otherwise he must expect ot read it at least once again. Serious reading of mathematics is best done sitting bolt upright on a hard chair at a desk. Pencil and paper are nearly indispensable; for there are always figures to be sketched and steps in the argument to be verified by calculation." When first I heard this sentiment, I thought he was joking, but as I matured, it became apparent how good the advice is. I would add one small thing. If after a good try, you do not see a result, seek out another text on the material -- often a mindset is the problem, and a different presentation may help. - Bob Wheeler --- (Reply to: bwheeler@echip.com) ECHIP, Inc.