With calculus being among the most difficult courses a high schooler can take, homework can often be challenging. In this article, we provide seven key strategies that will help you succeed.
1. Start early
Calculus homework requires effort; thus, getting an early start can make a big difference. Here’s why: first, finishing your homework ahead of time isn’t just about getting it done early; it’s about making sure you’ve got it right. You will have time to go back, double-check your work, and fix any mistakes you might have made. Second, you will not be rushing through the tougher problems and will have time to really ponder challenging questions, giving you a chance to understand them better. Lastly, starting your homework early means less stress. Imagine not having to worry about last-minute rushes or cramming everything in at the eleventh hour. You’ll feel more relaxed, and that helps with learning.
To get into the habit of starting early, look over your homework as soon as you receive it. Take a moment to gauge its difficulty and estimate how long you need to finish it. This way, you can plan ahead and master the problems.
2. Keep resources close
Homework is the time for growth, and you should use your notes and other resources to better understand concepts, problems, and their procedures. Have your textbook or class notes next to you. IAC flashcards are also a valuable resource for revising key concepts and learning new ones, and they come with short instructional videos. Briefly review the topics and key formulas as you start your work so you have resources to fall back on when you struggle with a problem or feel unsure at any time.
3. Review worked-out examples in the book or on the IAC app
When faced with a problem you don’t know how to solve, review key concepts and go through example problems on the same topic in your textbook or the IAC app. Most often, the problems you are assigned for homework will have procedures similar to past questions. For this reason, it is helpful to compare each step of your solution to each step of those questions. Practice noticing patterns.
4. Understand and summarize the problem.
Envision a clear summary of the problem that you are working on. What is the topic, or the topics, you can detect in the problem? What is given and what value are you trying to solve for? Write a brief summary. What possible approaches do you recognize? Try several different approaches if you don’t remember exactly what to do. This will allow you to organize your solution and find the correct answer.
5. Check your work.
Once you’ve finished a problem, take a few minutes to check your work for errors. Were all computations accurate? Does your final answer make logical sense within the context of the problem? Make sure to review every step carefully; it’s often the little mistakes that we do not notice. Some strategies for checking your work include trying an alternate method and substituting values and using your calculator to verify the correctness. Taking that extra moment to review your work can save you from potential errors and significantly enhance your understanding of calculus concepts.
6. Ask for help and work with peers.
If you’re stuck, ask for help from your teacher, a tutor, or a classmate. Teachers like to help students looking to learn and improve. Having a study buddy can also make learning more fun and productive through the exchange of understanding, and you can collaborate to complete the homework together. A tutor can also be a useful resource if you are looking for personalized help on specific subjects or are looking to reinforce your understanding of key concepts.
7. Review graded homework and assignments
Lastly, reviewing previous homework will strengthen your understanding of the topics you might be struggling with and ensure you can more effectively answer similar questions. This will help with future assignments as you will be made aware of your shortcomings and be able to address them based on the feedback you receive from your teacher.
Summary
Completing calculus homework can sometimes seem challenging, though using the seven tips outlined above will ensure you can complete your homework on time while making the most of it.
