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Algebra Study Tips

Kundan Pandey
To say that several students find algebra daunting would be an understatement. In case you find yourself in this unfortunate lot, this post offers help in the form of study tips.

Pro Tip

Algebra is all about numeric and non-numeric equations, but at times, drawing a diagram can really help you understand the problem. Diagrams also offer a fresh perspective if you find yourself stuck in a rut.
The very first hurdle that you need to cross with a disliked subject is to get over the fact that you dislike it. Cribbing about your aversion of algebra is not going to get you any further, and there are chances that you'd end up performing below par.
Therefore, pull up your socks and put in sincere efforts in studying. It will not only save you time, but also help you utilize it better. With these generic pieces of advice aside, let's get down to the actual tips.

Algebra Tips

Practice algebra everyday

'Practice makes perfect', they say, and even if you're not aiming at perfection, you'd be assured of getting better at it. Math, and algebra in particular, is based on logic and formulas. Therefore, the only way to get better at it is to familiarize yourself about its working.
Frequent and regular practice will help you gain confidence in a matter of days. Once you get a grip on the basic concepts, solving equations will get easier, as there are no variations in methods or formulas.

Pay attention in class

Your teachers are in the class to help you. Paying close attention in class will save you the trouble of trying to understand those concepts on your own. In case you have doubts, clear them up with your teacher, who will be more than eager to assist you.
If you're uncomfortable with that, discuss your questions with someone at home, or among your friends.

Group study can help

Provided you're a serious lot of people, studying algebra in a group can be helpful, and not to mention, a lot of fun as well. This way, you get to solve problems together, understand how your friends do it, and teach each other tricks or hacks to solve them quicker.

Go step-by-step

As mentioned earlier, algebra is all about logic. You can only arrive at the right answer by following a logical sequence of steps. In case your answer is incorrect, or if you sense that something is amiss, retrace your steps thoroughly, and you are sure to find the flaw.
That said, if you patiently go about solving the problem, paying close attention to each step, there are little to no chances of getting the wrong answer.

Read the question slowly

The reason why we tend to make mistakes is because we don't pay enough attention to the questions. Questions tend to contain all the information we need to solve the problem. Therefore, make sure that you carefully read the problem and jot down all the information provided in it, so that you have all the tools needed to solve it correctly.
And finally, make sure that you are absolutely confident and positive about taking an algebra test, since half of the mistakes we commit can be attributed to our nervousness. Make the most of your resources and nail your next test.