How to Be Good at Math

Many people feel that they are born not good at math and have no hope of developing in this field. That thinking is simply not true. Research shows that to be good at math, diligence is just as important, if not more, than natural talent. ^{[1] X Research Resources} You can become good at math by studying hard. Practice every day until you understand math concepts. If needed, you can ask someone else for help. Tutors, teachers or anyone who is good at math can help you perfect your skills. You should also develop an optimistic, positive attitude towards math. Many people have a very stubborn attitude about this subject, and tend to think “I’m not good at math now, so I won’t be”. You should understand that this is not true. Most people can get better at math just by being more diligent.

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Have someone else check your work. If you know someone who is good at math you should ask them to look over your solution. You can ask your parents, tutors or friends and relatives who are good at math. ^{[2] X Research Sources}^{[3] X Research Sources}

If the problem is too difficult for you, choose someone who is patient enough and willing to explain it in detail. Your cousins may be very good at math, but they get angry easily and are judgmental. They may yell at you because you don’t understand something. If so then you should ask your sister because she is always calm.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Getting better at math can take a lot of time, and everyone needs help along the way.

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Try signing up for an online course. If you want to learn math outside of the classroom, try signing up for an online course. Universities like Kaplan offer a lot of online courses, and many colleges also have online classes for distance learning students. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Some schools also provide learning resources for a course, such as PowerPoint lectures and session recordings, and are available for free download.
Consider taking a course at your local university that doesn’t require a score test. If you are in financial difficulty, this method gives you knowledge at no cost.

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Visit the math resource center if your school has one. If you are in school, your school may have a math resource center. In the US, many universities have centers for students to learn more math in a one-on-one way. You should check if your school has such a math center. If so, this is a great resource. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If they don’t have a math center, they may have a joint academic resource center to help you study a variety of subjects.
You should also ask if your professor organizes review sessions. If you’re having a hard time with a subject, a review session with your teacher can help you understand it better.

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Try to help others. Sometimes explaining a concept to someone else can help you understand it better. If you’re going to have to take an algebra test and have a friend who’s having a hard time with algebra, offer to help. You can also call for a study group. If someone is not understanding something and you begin to understand, help them. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

When helping you study, you need to explain the problem as clearly as possible. In addition to explaining the solution, you need to explain why.
If you’re starting to feel comfortable with your math skills, you can tutor someone with a lower level of proficiency. Teaching math to others also helps improve your own math skills.

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Ask your teacher for help. Most teachers are very enthusiastic to encourage students to learn. If you want to get better at math, don’t hesitate to ask for help. They may pay more attention to you and help you with math problems after school. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Don’t feel inferior when you have to ask for help. There are many other people who are also struggling with math, and teachers are experienced in helping such students. Teachers want to invest effort to see you succeed.
Be straight to the point when asking for help, and explain in detail. Don’t say “I don’t understand a thing”. Instead you should say “I got it all the way up to chapter three, but this polynomial part is really hard to understand”.

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Hire a tutor. If you don’t feel that your teacher’s extra attention isn’t enough, consider hiring a tutor. Tutors can give you extra lessons a few times a week and work with you to solve difficult math problems. A good tutor can help you enjoy math, and as a result, you will have a comprehensive understanding of math.

If you have a learning disability that affects your ability to learn math, such as dyslexia, you should find a tutor who can work with students with disabilities. Organizations related to your disability may be able to help you find such a tutor. Your doctor can also recommend a tutor that is right for you. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Cultivate the right way of thinking

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Have an optimistic attitude about math. Many people sabotage their ability to learn math because they always believe they can’t pass. If you struggled with math in high school, college, or at any point along the way, you’ll probably think you’re not good at math and simply never can. An upbeat attitude helps keep you motivated and motivated as you progress towards mastering math skills. ^{[9] X Research Source}

A pessimistic attitude only makes it easy to become frustrated. If you think you’re bad at math, when you get a math problem wrong, you’ll find that hypothesis even more confirmed. You often say to yourself “I know I’m not good at this. What’s the point?”.
Approach with the right attitude. If you’re doing bad at math right now, don’t think “I’m bad at math”. Instead, tell yourself, “I haven’t studied math enough, so I have to keep learning. Just keep trying, I can definitely be good at math.”

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Get rid of the idea that you are born bad at math. Many people implicitly think that they were born not good at math. This mindset keeps people from investing in improving math. The argument that many people are naturally good at math is a myth. Research shows that everyone can learn math with little effort. ^{[10] X Research Sources}^{[11] X Research Sources}

It is true that some people have a natural gift for math. It gives them an early advantage and they progress faster at the elementary level. However, most studies show that diligence can enhance math skills just as much as natural talent. In fact, studying hard can yield more results than inherent talent, in the long run.
There are a number of diseases that affect learning ability, such as dyscalculia, which has a negative impact on the patient’s math skills. However, even if you have a learning disability, you can still improve your math skills with proper practice and treatment. Don’t lose your mind. You simply are not bad at math. You just need to practice.

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Have a serious attitude towards math. Another reason people have trouble with math is that they don’t take it seriously. It’s normal for them to feel bad at math, just have fun. While you shouldn’t feel bad about yourself for not being good at math, take it seriously. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Good math skills are beneficial for reasoning skills, and mental math can reduce the stress of everyday life.
Appreciate math instead of despise it. Being good at math is very helpful for you.

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Stay motivated to learn. Practice is really the only way to improve math skills in the long run. There is no magic trick that will make you good at math overnight. You just need to stay motivated to learn, keep learning, and ask others for support when you need it. With an investment of time and effort, you can become a master at math.

Math practice

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Learn in an environment free of distractions. If your math level is not good then you need to make sure the study environment is free of distractions to improve concentration. Before you sit down, you should find a place that is free from outside distractions. ^{[13] X Research Source}

It is a place where there is not much noise or traffic. You can find a quiet coffee shop, or sit at a table in the bedroom.
Minimize distractions in front of you. Disconnect from the internet and put away your phone.
If you like listening to music while studying, you should choose music without lyrics. Music with lyrics or loud music can distract you.

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Make time to practice every day. There’s really no such thing as a secret to being good at math. It’s all about determination. If you want to improve your math score, diligence is key. You will have to practice every day until you understand the concepts behind math. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Follow the class schedule. Find a suitable time of day to study math. You probably have time in the early evening, if so then you plan to study math between 6-7pm after dinner.
Do not study continuously for many hours. You will be stressed when studying for too long, so every night should only study for about an hour.

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Learn how to reason and how to solve a problem. Mathematics is sequential. Many people feel the need to memorize many definitions and formulas, or draw a solution route in their heads before they put pen to paper. This is not effective. Instead you must understand the origin of those definitions. If you understand why and how an equation works, it will be easier to remember it. ^{[15] X Research Source}

The theory in math seems complicated, but you will understand if you try a little harder. Don’t be afraid to ask during math class. Why is there a Pythagorean theorem? On a logical level, how does a quadratic equation work?
Understanding the concept behind it will be more effective than simply memorizing it. If you understand a problem deeply, memorization will not be difficult. You will have many means to check results if you understand the meaning of an equation.

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Solve slowly step by step. When doing math, you need to know how to find the results. Instead of planning ahead to find the solution, simply solve the equation step by step. Don’t think ahead, because taking it slow step by step will help you figure out the solution. ^{[16] X Research Source}

If you need to do division first then focus on that only. If it is followed by addition, then just focus on addition.
Once you’ve solved the problem, you can review the entire problem-solving process. Try to understand the principle and how of that method.

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Carefully review the wrong answer. You can learn a lot from your mistakes. If you find yourself doing it wrong, you should review the whole process. Where and how did you go wrong? Try to review the problem and figure out how to get the correct answer. ^{[17] X Research Source}

When doing math, writing down the solution is very important. Use a pen to write down the detailed step-by-step application of a problem. This way, when an error occurs, you can review the solution process and spot the mistake more easily.

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Check answers. Review the process after solving an equation. Make sure you have calculated all the data correctly and used the correct solution. Checking the results received will increase your probability of success. This also helps you to build the habit of checking answers, and improve your score in the exam. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Checking the answers also helps you better understand the mathematical theory behind it.

Advice

Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you don’t understand something. Others need to ask if they don’t understand.
Don’t delay studying to the last minute if you have an exam coming up. Each school day a little.
Don’t rush to learn math. You need to spend a lot of time on difficult problems.

Steps

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Cultivate the right way of thinking

Math practice

Advice

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