braxton_linder

How to get good at math? (Or anything else.) 1. Get comfortable with confusion. In math, growth is driven by the cycle of confusion and clarification. Don't quit the process early because of your fear of failure. 2. Solve problems. Use it or lose it: this applies to mathematical knowledge as well. The single best way to use what you've learned is to solve problems. 3. Ask questions. Never take anything for face value, not even what math professors tell you. Second guess every detail, question every assumption. The benefits are plenty: a deep understanding plus a strong mental workout. 4. Build curiosity and motivation. It's hard to put thousands of hours of practice into math if you are unmotivated and uninterested. I could write essays on this topic alone, but here is the essence: just start. Progress will bring motivation. 5. Find a friend or a study group. Competition and collaboration are two of the biggest catalysts of growth. Finding a study partner will accelerate both of your progress. One might even say that sometimes 1 + 1 = 3. 6. Be patient with yourself. Getting good at math (or anything, really) takes a long time. Not weeks. Not months. Years. It's also incredibely challenging. Failure and slow progress doesn't mean that you're stupid; it means that you are growing. And growing has its pains. 7. Don't give up. Never settle with "I'm just bad at math". There is always a way to push your limits. You can find it.