A Mind for Numbers

A MIND FOR NUMBERS: HOW TO EXCEL AT MATH AND SCIENCE Ch.2 Easy does it  focused v. diffused thinking  Einstellung effect-when you get stuck on a problem or concept due to initially focusing on the wrong thing  take a walk, drive, sleep to go to diffuse thinking  check out youtube, read the book, google it because phrasing something differently can make your mind look at the problem differently Ch.3 Learning is creating  being awake creates a buildup of toxins in your brain -> sleep gets rid of these because the brain cells shrink and allow fluid to pass thru and wash out the toxins therefore sleep is vital  procrastination does not allow for both focused and diffused thinking  spaced repetition-puts things into your long term memory  diffuse activities o meditate o draw o listen to music o walk/gym o dance o sleep o talk to friends o TV Ch.4      

Chunking and avoiding illusions of competence facts -> concept -> application simple recall helps chunking incorporate into real life every day switch up where you study spread X across several days instead of X all day 1 and Y all day 2 know when and how to use a technique (how would I know how to do this problem if it were on the test?) o set up a flashcard o question on front o question with solution on the back  studying time o review lecture notes

o rework example problems o work assigned homework and practice exams Ch.5 Preventing procrastination  we procrastinate about things that make us uncomfortable but the better you get, the more you’ll enjoy it  consider short term vs. long term Ch.6 Zombies Everywhere  the progress of habits o 1) cue-location/time/something that just happened o 2) routine o 3) reward o 4) belief  change a habit by responding differently to a cue  rewards and belief that you can achieve will make the change longlasting  use mental contrasting as motivation Ch.7 Chunking vs. choking  chunking-integrating a concept into one smoothly connected neural thought pattern o 1) work key problem all the way through o 2) do another repetition o 3) take a diffuse break o 4) repeat  retrieval > highlighting Ch.8 Tools, tips, and tricks  reframe your focus o ex) when waking up early, think about how good breakfast will be instead of how tired you are  mental contrasting-imagining your bright future then compare it to where you are now  it is normal to have negative feelings when you start working…it’s how you handle it! o 1) acknowledge the feeling and where it’s coming from o 2) let it pass through you then let it go  change distant deadlines to daily ones  “eat the frog”  plan out playtime  online calendar + paper to-do  studying process o 1) do all the odd problems in a section

o 2) let the problems marinate o 3) make sheets with all important concepts and an example of each problem you want o 4) before the exam, be able to list everything on your sheets: subjects, types of problems in that section, and the techniques Ch.9 More memory tips  pretend you are the concept you are trying to understand  metaphors are very helpful because it makes a connection to preexisting neural structures o create a memorable image  talk to yourself  stores help retain  exercise grows neurons Ch.12 Learning to appreciate your talent  “There are only two ways to live your life – one as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.” Ch.13 Sculpting your brain  myelin sheaths often don’t finish developing until the 20s which is why teens have trouble controlling impulses  Santiago Ramon y Cajal o artist who hated math o became father of neuroscience o Nobel prize winner Ch. 14 Developing the mind’s eye through equation poems  “What, after all, is mathematics but the poetry of the mind, and what is poetry but the mathematics of the heart”? –David Smith  Santiago pretended the microscopic images had living breathing creatures within them o bring abstract things to life by getting to know them Ch. 17 Test taking  homework o did you make a serious effort to understand the text? o did you check your solutions?  test prep o did you consult with the professor when you were having trouble with something? o did you understand ALL of your homework problems? o did you go through the study guide and convince yourself you could do everything on it?

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o did you outline the problems? o did you attend the review session? o did you get reasonable sleep? if nervous, take deep breaths (7-7-7) when possible, blink and shift your attention, then go back with a big picture perspective hard-start-jump-to-easy technique o start with the hardest problem (near the back) o pull away after 1-2 minutes if you get stuck o go back to easy problems