MY ADVICES AND TIPS (GUIDES) ON DEALING WITH CALCULATIONS FOR STUDENTS

 Many times, students come to me to complain of how of all things calculation is their problem, I see students struggle with calculations too often that I really wished there was time for me to advise them and give them practical steps on how they can actually deal with calculations. lots of times, I am either too busy with some kinds of stuff, after a target, or there's is just no chance to do that.

So I took my time to put up this wonderful post to help students and others who issues with calculations. In it are effectual steps you can take.

Talk about calculation, one thing in school comes to the mind, Mathematics! Right?

I guess that’s where you get a whole lot of the calculation stuffs. Fine!

My first advice but not no. 1 is that you go through this carefully

Okay, let's get down to this.

1.    Do more of smart work than hard work

How smart you work is more important than how hard you work.

It is not how many topics you have covered that matters more than how many of the basic topics you really understand.
 In mathematics, virtually everything is interrelated, and understanding one topic may be dependent on understanding another topic that precedes it. With a good understanding in the preceding topic, dealing with the new topic seems a doodle.

Many times I teach students calculations and a lot of time I find out that students don’t seem to comprehend what is discussed because of a weak background knowledge i.e. there was something they needed to know or are expected to know before they start dealing with what is at hand.  So this creates a problem for not only the student in comprehension, but also the teaching in teaching and time management. Most times, I have to go back to building the foundation by explaining the basis just so the class may go on.

A good understanding of the basis of trigonometry like the basic trigonometric ratios i.e. sine, cosine, and tangent, and how the ratios are obtained from a triangle; the right angle triangle and it properties, with regards relationship between its sides i.e. Pythagoras theorem, et al will facilitate understanding other topics with their basis in trigonometry or related to it like angle of elevation and depression, and bearings and distance.

How do you deal with polynomials when you can’t solve a quadratic equation? Wouldn’t solving a quadratic equation be a problem when you can solve a simple linear equation? With that simultaneous equation is a no go area!

I advise you spend a good amount of time understanding the basis, they will help with dealing the complex ones.

Start with good basis, walk, run, jump and fly!

2.    During practice, it is not how many problems you were able to solve and get the answers but how many you understand its solutions

you know someone who said something like if he had a lot of time to chop a tree or wood, he would spend a good amount of time sharpening his axe. that's a wise decision.

Here is the problem with student, when they practice they are more concerned with how many questions they are able to get the answers.

For every problem you solve you should be able to explain how you solved it and why you solved it the way you did.

It is like going to a new place without minding which paths you took except that you reach the place, there is a great probability that if on another occasion you are to go to that same place you won’t be able to locate it because you had lost some important but seemingly unimportant thing like the signboards, buildings, poles et al that could serve as blueprints leading you to where you are going.

This is same as when you see a question you’ve solved before but you don’t just know how to go about it again.

Some questions have more than one approach to solving them, but you choose one over the other, why? You need to ask and answer that question so that next time you see a similar question and, you will be able to choose wisely which is most appropriate for the problem at hand.

This will also help to quickly make decisions on how to answer a question, and increase your speed of operation.

3.    Take time to understand the question before you pick up the pen

I know how uneasy you can get as a student when you come across a question that seems simple and a formula is begging to be applied in your head, but you have to take your time to rationalize. There might be a better, faster and easier way to go about it that will save you time and space than what seems most appealing.

You know signs are very important in calculation; 2 and -2 are two different things. If you mistake one for another, that’s a big problem.

Also, what seems it might be it. You might think you’ve gotten the message but you haven’t.

Relax and take time to go through the question carefully.

4.    Solve the same question using different approach

If there are other ways to solve a problem, try it and see what the end results are.

You may find out that this approach is better than the other, or the limitation in the applications of some formulas, et al

5.    Understand the basis of each topic, start with the simple problems and move on to the tougher ones.

To comprehend topics like indices and logarithm which has some theories or laws in its operations, you need to understand the theories properly before you start solving the questions. If you take your time to build a foundation by studying the theories, you would have lesser or problem with understanding the topic.

Same goes for solving logarithm without the use of a table.

6.    Understand the formula or study the trend of the calculation

In calculations wherein a formula is used, it is very important to understand the derivation of the formula including the individual meanings of the parameters used, where the formula is applicable and where it isn't, because formulas required may change with questions or a change in the parameters considered in its derivation. This is better than simply memorizing the formula which may be forgotten with time.

Here is an example to buttress this.

In calculations without the use of a particular formula, you need to carefully examine the trend in which the calculations were made.

I have also given some blueprints on how to deal with calculations here.

7.    Practice regularly!

There is a lot that I can advise you with, but this is would be one of the most important of it.

I was able to accumulate these by also practicing constantly and relating with study pals in school and from my practical experience as an educator. You don’t become a guru overnight, but with regular practice.

This is very important in mathematics, let not a day pass save that you solve some set of problems or do some logical reasoning.

There might be someone who also needs this, and maybe more than you do. Do them the favour of sharing this with them!

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