Two great methods I recommend: a book called, "Becoming A Master Student" buy the latest edition if you can find it, if not any one will be very good.
http://alibris.com sells new and used books
Another book called, "Brain Longevity." by Dharma Singh Kalsa, M.D.
http://www.drdharma.com
I did a search for improving memory and got a dizzying number references. I didn't list all the links because you need to look at what each one offers for your own needs.
2007-12-17 20:44:12
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answer #1
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answered by Jeanne B 7
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Here are some suggestions: 1. Mathematics, more than most subjects, requires a high level of thinking. Try to understand concepts, rather than just memorizing facts and formulas. Try to relate current material to previous material you have learned. Many students make the mistake of trying to memorize all the facts and formulas without understanding any of the logic behind them. 2. If you have trouble remembering a rule, sometimes creating an easy example will help you remember the rule! For example, suppose you forgot which fraction(s) to invert before multiplying, when dividing fractions. You could use an example like 6 divided by 2 equals 3, note that 6 = 6/1 and 2 = 2/1, and observe that 6/1 * 1/2 = 3 but 1/6 * 1/2 and 1/6 * 2/1 are unequal to 3. This would tell you that the second fraction is the one to invert before multiplying, when dividing fractions. 3. Try not to rely excessively on using your calculator. Doing the simpler arithmetic computations without a calculator and using arithmetic shortcuts (e.g. when multiplying by 5, multiplying by 10 and taking half) will help you exercise your mind and improve your overall conceptual understanding of how math works. Also, it is possible to make errors with a calculator such as pressing a wrong button, performing operations in the wrong order, and using the wrong mode. Without having an idea of what the answer should be, you won't know when you made a calculator mistake. Furthermore, calculators have limitations; they can show only finitely many digits and sometimes have to round off; they can produce graphs with only a finite degree of accuracy. 4. When solving math problems on quizzes and tests, get in the habit of looking back and analyzing your answers. Ask yourself if they make sense, or if they are obviously too large or too small. Use efficient ways of checking your answers, such as: i) when solving equations, plugging in your solutions and verifying that they make the equation true, ii) when finding the equation of a line through two points, plugging in the two given points and verifying that both of them make your equation true, iii) finding a second way to solve the problem and making sure both answers are the same, iv) in word problems, making sure that your answer meets all the conditions stated in the word problem, v) when factoring a polynomial, multiplying out your factors and verifying that you get back the original polynomial, and vi) when simplifying an expression, plugging in one or more values of the variable(s) and verifying that in every case, your simplified expression's value matches the original expression's value. 5. When looking over your work on quizzes and tests, watch out for errors with signs and parentheses. Many students make these types of errors. Even though a mistake with a negative sign or pair of parentheses might seem to be a minor detail, it still usually affects the solution. 6. Make sure to show your work clearly on quizzes, tests, and homework. Many teachers will give partial credit for incorrect answers with some correct work, but will also give less than full credit for correct answers with missing or unclear work. 7. In math, not all problems can be solved using just routine procedures, especially word problems. Some problems require several steps. In these more challenging problems, helpful strategies are drawing diagrams, making charts, working backwards, asking yourself what you need to find first in order to solve the problem, and defining one or more variables and setting up equations and solving the equations. Charts are especially helpful for work problems, age problems, mixture problems, and speed-time-distance problems. 8. On quizzes and tests, make sure you answer the question asked. For example, if you use x as a variable when solving a word problem, the value of x is not always the final answer to the problem. Sometimes, the final answer is related to but not equal to the value of x. 9. Try joining a math club if your school has one; this will teach you how to think at a higher level in mathematics. 10. Another way to improve your ability to think mathematically is to try math puzzles or problems from math contests. Lord bless you in your mathematics and engineering studies!
2016-04-10 05:36:08
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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try STUDYING thats the best method. i mean, i study about 8 hours on the night before tests, and thats my choice(yes, i am a nerd and im proud of it)
2007-12-17 20:30:01
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answer #4
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answered by Goo 4
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