How To Read Mathematics Textbook

Trying to read math the same way as a novel or a history text is certain to cause you trouble.

How to read mathematics textbook.

It is equally appropriate for a chemistry or physics textbook so please substitute science for math depending on your class. Let me share with you the first paragraph of my math textbook s preface. Instructors of other courses want students to. Miikka asked me how i read a maths textbook the other day and i didn t have a better answer than badly i ve mostly tried to read textbooks linearly cover to cover and this doesn t actually work i sometimes end up understanding the material but it s usually not until long after i ve finished or given up on the book.

How to learn from a math book reading a math book is different from reading other types of books and reading a math textbook is different from the traditional way students are taught to read textbooks in general. If you do not understand a word you are supposed to keep on reading. T his book is a must read for math teachers. A math book requires a different type of reading than a novel or a short story.

When you start reading you will realize that the book is a powerful criticism on the prevalent. Reading a mathematics text is very different from reading ordinary english. Trying to read math the same way as a novel or a history text is certain to cause you. The flow of a math book is not like the flow of a novel.

The way you read a math textbook is different from the traditional way students are taught to read textbooks in high school or college. It is about how mathematics should be taught. Every sentence in a math book is full of information and logically linked to the surrounding sentences. Reading a math textbook is very difficult.

You should read the sentences carefully and think about their meaning. It might take you half an hour to read and understand just one page. If the example skips any steps make sure you write down each one of those skipped steps in the textbook for better understanding. It is equally appropriate for a chemistry or physics textbook so please substitute science for math depending on your class.

This passage was written with math textbooks in mind. Here are some tips on how to learn math from your math textbook.