Why do we do (homework) problems?

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Understanding and solving homework problems is increasingly recognized as a valuable learning strategy, particularly in subjects that require critical thinking and application of concepts. Engaging with problems before consulting solutions promotes a deeper understanding and controlled learning pace. However, there is a lack of concrete evidence linking problem-solving directly to improved performance, leading to questions about how "performance" is defined and measured in educational contexts. The discussion highlights a desire for clarity on the effectiveness of problem-solving as a learning tool and its potential benefits compared to other study methods.
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It isn't until recently that I have really taken to heart the idea of really understanding and doing homework problems. I feel like I'm learning at a much more controlled pace if I work along with problems in a book (example: solving them before reading the solution), but aside from this, is there any real value to doing homework problems? I have looked up any evidence regarding increased performance by doing problems and returned with nothing on an initial search. Is solving problems the truly best way to learn a subject? What evidence is there for this?

This may be an uninteresting question, but I really want to know if it's beneficial at all or not to solve a ton of problems pertaining to a subject.
 
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Thanks for the response.
 
smashueatu said:
I have looked up any evidence regarding increased performance by doing problems

How is this "performance" measured?
 

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Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
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Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...
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