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aLearner
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Ok, this is a serious question. It seems like some experience will be lost if I don't do this, but like most self-study efforts, it's time consuming. Any suggestions?
aLearner said:Ok, this is a serious question. It seems like some experience will be lost if I don't do this, but like most self-study efforts, it's time consuming. Any suggestions?
Dembadon said:Do as many as you have time for. If it works out to be every single problem, great! However, many students don't have the time to work every single problem, so do as many as you can without compromising your performance in other courses.
aLearner said:Yes sir. Also, why do you think it is necessary to do every problem? Just so I have a logical reason.
And is there anything else with doing a lot of problems that I need to be doing in order to improve my understanding. It seems like doing problems is the only way to really [learn] physics.
Dembadon said:You answered it yourself (in bold)!
Doing physics (or math for that matter) is really the only way to learn it. It's one thing to understand what the professor does during lectures; it all makes sense and looks easy when they work examples on the board. However, it's another thing to be able to put pencil to paper and work problems yourself. The more problems you work, the more you will begin to understand the concepts and how they relate to each other.
Polymath89 said:I have a related question to this one. Do you guys think it makes sense to solve problems to which no solutions are given?
aLearner said:So here's a checklist from what I've collected from everyone's suggestions.
1) Read a section in the chapter.
2) Then, do the example problems for that section without looking at the solutions.
3) After that, look at the solution and see where you agree, but more importantly, where you differ from the solution.
4) Understand why you went wrong, and make a note (mental or physical) about it
5) Look at the problem set and answer the ones relevant to that section. If the problems get too redundant, simply write down the outline of the solution. Skip the ones that you are unable to solve.
6) Check your solutions.
7) Review.
8) If critical thinking questions are present, answer them next
9) Review.
10) Figure out how to solve the problems you couldn't solve from different sources like PF, teachers, mentors, books, etc.
11) If within mathematical ability, work out every theorem, every proof, and make sure you have it down to the bone. If not, skip for now, but make a note of it and get back to it when mathematical ability is improved.
12) Repeat the steps for all the other sections until the entire chapter is done.
13) Review
14) Read up articles related to the chapter
15) Smile, because you now have a very firm understanding of the chapter you just covered.
The frequency at which you work out every problem in a book depends on your personal goals and learning style. Some people may benefit from working out every problem, while others may only need to work out a select few. It is important to find a balance that works best for you.
It is not always necessary to work out every problem in a book. If you are struggling with a certain concept, it may be beneficial to work out more problems for that specific topic. However, if you feel confident in your understanding, you may not need to work out every problem.
Working out every problem in a book can help reinforce your understanding of concepts and improve your problem-solving skills. It can also help you identify any weak areas and give you more practice in those areas.
While reading a book can help you understand the material, actively working out problems can greatly enhance your understanding and retention of the information. It is recommended to both read and work out problems for a comprehensive learning experience.
One way to ensure you are working out problems correctly is to check your answers against the provided solutions or answer key. You can also ask a teacher or tutor for feedback on your work. Additionally, practicing problems with a study group or with a tutor can help identify any errors and improve your problem-solving skills.