■ Even if you’re not particularly visual, pictures can often help.
You should try translating a particularly vexing math problem
into a drawing or diagram.
■ Before you even get down to solving a problem, is there any
way for you to estimate the answer or, at least, to estimate
the range within which the answer should fall (greater than 1,
but less than 10)? This is the easy way to at least make sure
you wind up in the right ballpark.
■ Play around. There are often different paths to the same
solution, or even equally valid solutions. If you find one, try to
find others. This is a great way to increase your understanding
of all the principles involved.
■ When you are checking your calculations, try working
backwards. I’ve found it an easier way to catch simple
mathematical errors.
■ Try to figure out what is being asked, what principles are
involved, what information is important, and what is not.
■ Teach someone else. Trying to explain mathematical concepts
to someone else will quickly pinpoint what you really know
or don’t know. It’s virtually impossible to get someone else—
especially someone who is slower than you at all this stuff—
to understand if you don’t!Reading Foreign Language Texts
Foreign language texts should be approached the same way, especially
basic ones teaching vocabulary. If you haven’t mastered the words
you’re supposed to in the first section, you’ll have trouble reading the
story at the end of section three, even if you’ve learned all the words
in sections two and three. So take it one step at a time and make sure
you have mastered one concept, vocabulary list, lesson, and so forth,
before jumping ahead.
Chapter 3 ■How to Read and Remember 59