Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 6: What makes you a good math student
• Part 2 of 6: Learning math at school
• Part 3 of 6: Basic knowledge - Addition
• Part 4 of 6: Basics - Subtraction
• Part 5 of 6: Basics - Multiplication
• Part 6 of 6: Basic Knowledge - Sharing
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Anyone can learn math, whether you're doing higher math at school, or if you just want to brush up on your basics. After discussing various ways to become a good math student, this article will teach you more about what a basic math course looks like and gives you an overview of the most important topics you need to know for the different levels. Next, this article covers the basics of math, useful for elementary school students as well as anyone needing a refresher course in arithmetic.

To step

Part 1 of 6: What makes you a good math student

1. Follow the lessons. If you miss a lesson, you have to learn the theory from a classmate or from a textbook. Your friends can never give you such an overview of the material as your teacher.
   • Be on time for class. Actually, come a little earlier and have everything ready. Have your notebook and exercise book open in the right place, and get your calculator so you're ready when the teacher starts.
   • Only skip a class if you are sick. If you do miss a class, talk to a classmate to find out what material the teacher has covered and what the assigned homework is.
2. Work at the same time as your teacher. If your teacher is explaining a problem on the board, try to solve the problem yourself at the same time. Make notes!
   • Make sure your notes are clear and easy to read. In addition to writing down the exercises, write everything the teacher says about it that will help you improve your understanding of a concept.
   • Also solve the simple exercises that the teacher tells you to do. If the teacher is walking around and asking questions, try to answer them.
   • Participate as the teacher works out exercises. Don't wait for the teacher to ask you a question. If you know the answer, say it and ask questions if you don't understand.
3. Do your homework the same day you finished it. If you work out the exercises the same day, the theory is still fresh. Sometimes it is of course not possible to do this, but make sure you do this as soon as possible after class and of course always before the next class.
4. If you need more help, don't wait. Go to your teacher during his and your free hours or at any other convenient time to ask questions.
   • If more information can be found elsewhere in the school, eg in the library, look for material there that can help you further.
   • Join a study group. Good study groups usually consist of 4 or 5 people of different levels. If you are a reasonably performing student in mathematics, join a group that includes 3 top students so that you can work on increasing your own level. Do not join a study group that contains all students who understand much less about it than you do.

Part 2 of 6: Learning math at school

1. It starts with math skills. As a child you learn to count in primary school. Arithmetic is about basic skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
   • Keep practicing. Doing lots of math over and over is simply the best way to get the basics in. Look for software that can generate many different tasks for you. Also try to increase your speed by timing yourself.
   • You can also find math problems online, and it is possible to download math apps for your mobile.
2. Move on to new topics you need for algebra. After regular arithmetic, you continue to build on the basis to be able to solve algebra problems later on.
   • Learn about fractions and decimals. You learn addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with both fractions and decimal numbers. You will learn how to simplify fractions and what mixed numbers are. Also learn more about the place-value system for decimal numbers and how you can use them for problems.
   • Study ratios, proportionality and percentages. This theory helps in learning how to compare numbers.
   • Familiarize yourself with the basics of geometry. You will learn all geometric shapes and spatial geometry. You will also learn more about area, perimeter, volume and the total area of ​​a spatial figure, as well as about parallel and perpendicular lines and angles.
   • Understand the basics of statistics. When you start out with math, your introduction to statistics is to understand visual information such as graphs, scatter charts, tree charts, and histograms.
   • Learn the basics of algebra. This includes theory such as solving simple equations with variables, learning about properties such as distributivity, making simple graphs of equations, and solving inequalities.
3. Continue in algebra. In the first year that you will be dealing with algebra, you will learn all about the basic symbols used in mathematics. You will also learn the following:
   • Solving equations and inequalities with variables. You will learn how to work out these exercises on paper and how to solve them with a graph.
   • Problem solving. You will be amazed at how many of the math problems you will encounter in the future relate to your ability to solve problems. For example, you may want to use math to calculate the interest you receive from the bank or your stocks. You can also use algebra to find out how long to travel depending on the speed of your car.
   • Working with exponents. When you start solving equations with polynomials (expressions containing both numbers and variables), it is important to understand how to handle exponents. You will also become acquainted with scientific notation. Once you've got the exponents right, you can start adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing polynomials.
   • Solving powers and square roots. If you have mastered this subject, you will know the powers of a large number of numbers by heart. You can now also work with equations that contain square roots.
   • Understand how functions and graphs work. Within algebra you will often have to deal with equations that you have to graph. You will learn how to calculate the slope or slope of a line, how to convert equations to a linear equation with two variables, and how to calculate the x and y zeros of a line using a linear equation.
   • Solve a system of equations. Sometimes you get 2 separate equations with x and y variables to solve, for the x or y of both equations. Fortunately, you will learn many methods to solve this, including graphing, substitution, and addition.
4. Immerse yourself in geometry. In geometry you learn everything about the properties of lines, segments, angles and figures.
   • You will learn a number of theorems and inferences that will help you understand the geometric rules.
   • You will learn how to calculate the area of ​​a circle, how to use the Pythagorean theorem and how to find relationships between angles and sides of special triangles.
   • You will soon encounter a lot of geometry on your exams and exams.
5. Get your teeth into advanced algebra. Building on what you already know, you will deal with more complex topics such as quadratic equations and matrices.
6. Discover trigonometry. You will learn the terms sine, cosine, tangent, etc. Using the trigonometry you will get the practical tools to find out the angles and length of lines; skills invaluable to structural engineers, architects, engineers or surveyors.
7. Another part you may encounter is Analysis. Analysis may sound intimidating, but it is a great tool for understanding both the behavior of numbers and the world around you.
   • Analysis teaches you everything about functions and limits. You will be introduced to the behavior of a number of useful functions including e ^ x and logarithmic functions.
   • You learn to find the derivative of an equation. The first derivative tells you something about the slope of a tangent line to an equation. For example, a derivative provides information about the degree to which something is changing in a non-linear situation. The second derivative tells you whether a function increases or decreases along a certain interval, so that you can determine the curvature of the function.
   • With integrals you can calculate the area and volume under a curve.
   • Analysis in high school goes, depending on the level, up to and including rows, series, differential equations and integral calculus.

Part 3 of 6: Basic knowledge - Addition

1. Start with "+1" sums. Adding 1 to a number gives you the next whole number. For example, 2 + 1 = 3.
2. Understand how zero works. Any number added to zero equals itself because "zero" equals "nothing".
3. Learn standard sums that add two of the same numbers together. For example, 3 + 3 = 6.
4. Learn to solve simple problems. What happens if you add 3 by 5 and 2 by 1. Try to do the "+2" exercises yourself.
5. Go beyond 10. Learn to add 3 or more numbers.
6. Add bigger numbers. Learn about dividing units into tens, tens into hundreds, etc.
   • Add the numbers in the right column first. 8 + 4 = 12, which means you have 1 dozen and 2 units. Write the 2 in the units column.
   • Write the 1 in the tenth column.
   • Add the tens together.

Part 4 of 6: Basics - Subtraction

1. Start with "counting back 1". Subtracting 1 from a number will reduce that number by 1. For example, 4 - 1 = 3.
2. Learn to subtract doubles. For example, you add doubles, such as 5 + 5 = 10. Rewrite this sum backwards into 10 - 5 = 5.
   • If 5 + 5 = 10, then 10 - 5 = 5.
   • If 2 + 2 = 4, then 4 - 2 = 2.
3. Learn the basic sums. For instance:
   • 3 + 1=4
   • 1 + 3=4
   • 4 - 1=3
   • 4 - 3=1
4. Find the unknown numbers. For example, ___ + 1 = 6 (the answer is 5).
5. Memorize the basic subtraction up to 20.
6. Practice subtracting 1-digit numbers from 2-digit numbers without borrowing. Subtract the numbers in the units column and move the number in the tens column down.
7. Practice the place value system to prepare for subtraction with borrowing.
   • 32 = 3 tens and 2 units.
   • 64 = 6 tens and 4 units.
   • 96 = __ tens and __ units.
8. Subtract with borrowing.
   • The problem is: 42 - 37. You try to solve the sum 2 - 7 in the units column. But that doesn't work!
   • Borrow 10 from the tens column and place it in front of the units column. Instead of 4 tens, you now have 3 tens. Instead of 2 units, you now have 12 units.
   • First solve for the first column: 12 - 7 = 5. Then go to the second column, the tenths. Since 3 - 3 = 0, you don't have to write 0. Your answer is 5.

Part 5 of 6: Basics - Multiplication

1. Start with 1 and 0. Any number times 1 equals itself. Any number times zero equals zero.
2. Learn the multiplication tables.
3. Practice single multiplication sums.
4. Multiply 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers.
   • Multiply the bottom right number by the top right number.
   • Multiply the bottom right number by the top left number.
5. Multiply two 2-digit numbers.
   • Multiply the bottom right number by the top right number and then the top left number.
   • Move the second row one space to the left.
   • Multiply the bottom left number by the top right number and then the top left number.
   • Add up the numbers per column.
6. Multiply and regroup the columns.
   • You want to multiply 34 by 6. Start by multiplying the 1st column (4 x 6), but you cannot have 24 in the 1st column.
   • Leave 4 in the 1st column. Move the 2 to the tens column.
   • Multiply 6 x 3, which is equal to 18. Add the 2 you took, making it equal to 20.

Part 6 of 6: Basic Knowledge - Sharing

1. Think of division as the opposite of multiplication. If 4 x 4 = 16, then 16/4 = 4.
2. Work out your sub-problem further.
   • Divide the number to the left of the division sign, or divisor, by the first number below the division sign. Since 6/2 = 3, you write the 3 above the division sign.
   • Multiply the number above the division sign by the divisor. Move the product down below the first number below the division sign. Since 3 x 2 = 6, you move a 6 down.
   • Subtract the 2 numbers you wrote down. 6 - 6 = 0. You can omit the 0 because a number does not start with 0.
   • Move the second number below the division sign down.
   • Divide the number you moved down by the divisor. In this case, 8/2 = 4. Write 4 above the division sign.
   • Multiply the top right number by the divisor and move the number down. 4 x 2 = 8.
   • Subtract the numbers. The result is zero, which means that you are done with the problem. 68/2 = 34.
3. Watch the rest. Often a number does not fit nicely into another number. When you are done subtracting and there are no more numbers left to bring down, the number you are left with is the remainder.

Tips

• Mathematics is not a passive activity. You can't learn math just by reading a textbook. Use online tools or worksheets from your teacher to practice exercises until you understand the theory.

Warnings

• Don't become dependent on using a calculator. Learn to solve problems yourself so that you understand the entire process.

Necessities

• Pencil
• Paper