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Simple Tips for Better Maths Results!

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O level A-Math Essential Concepts Workshop Student's Feedback [Including Parent's Comment]


Dear Ms. Ling,
Thank you so much for the photos and looking forward to the work she has done for the past 4 days.
I'm very contented that she has learnt alot from this workshop and my money is worth it. Appreciate you help in motivating and making A-Maths a joyful and interesting workshop for my kid.
Tks, Shoba (Parent of Devyaah)

“I have benefitted a lot from this workshop. Ai Ling has put across alot of different and creative ways to make us understand the complex concepts in A-Maths and make it easier to remember the various formulas. I haven't been getting good results in my school exams but through this workshop, I had learnt the common mistakes I always make and had understood the concepts better. I will really recommend the workshop to my classmates as I think it has been really beneficial for me. Thank You (=”

Nurul Arinie, Regent Sec Sch

“Very good, I understand the concepts better and know how to apply the formulae. I have improved and am happy about it. This programme focuses on the key concepts.”
Bryanesh Balu, Yuan Ching Sec Sch

“I like this workshop very much, I really learnt alot!! I like the way you teach I can understand easily, the story makes us remember the most and all the different types of methods you used to teach us I love them. I will remember it forever. The music make me feel like the environment is good for learning and it prevented me from getting too stressed up. I like the way you help me to recap yesterday's things and your method of teaching us is so special. Thank you!!"

Jonas Tan, Regent Sec Sch

“I came into this course thinking that I wouldn't learn much but I was wrong. I've learnt alot more than I imagined I could in four days. I would definitely recommend this to others. I have learnt a great deal and it definitely has helped me a lot. I've not been for other programmes so I wouldn't know how to compare but this definitely is one to remember. Thank you for the assistance you have given me for the past 4 days. I'll continue to look at A-Math in a new perspective. Thank you for your 100% attention towards us to improve our A-Math”

Devyaah, Whitley Sec Sch

Photos of workshop here

O Level A-Math: Fatal Mistake In Quadratic Equations You Must Avoid [Includes the 'trap' & How to avoid it]


quadratic-equation-common-mistake

This was one of the tricky questions included in quadratic questions pre review (I begin every A-Math lesson with pre review so that students can 'show off' their level of understanding in the concepts we're going to discuss. And as I guess it, everyone falls into the 'trap'

Reasons for students falling into the 'trap'

  1. " .... is always positive, oh b^2 - 4ac >0"
  2. " for all real values of x, so it further supports the fact that b^2 - 4ac >0"

How to avoid falling into the trap

Understand the question clearly

  1. " It is THE quadratic graph which is always positive "
  2. For all real values of x is NOT equal to real roots, it just means for all values of x. (No much significance in our solution)

Structure your solution carefully

  1. Draw (A picture says a thousand words)
  2. Write down the 2 conclusions
  3. List your a,b and c
  4. Solve the inequality

2008 O level A-Math Quadratic Equations are also discussed in the video here.
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Important Equations Everyone Must Know But Never Taught In School


This equation should be taught in all A-Math and E-math classes! (But never taught in school)

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint it goes like this:

What Makes 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?

We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.

How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% ! in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98% !

and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there.

Email courtesy of Nzm

Poll results: What is your Biggest Challenge in Learning Math?


(Click on image for larger view)

A poll on "What is your Biggest Challenging in Learning Math?" is created 6 months ago and I think it is time to review the poll results as shown in the pie chart (One of the E-Math topics syllabus) below:

Out of 142 votes, 41% cite their biggest challenge in learning math to be "No Time to Practice /Lazy to be consistent"

"Cannot see & cannot understand" , "too complicated & confusing concepts" received 21% of the votes respectively.

This poll results are very much inline with my experience as a Math Trainer. No time to practice / Lazy to be consistent is indeed a challenge faced by many students. In fact, Consistency (not said by me only, but also through the mouth of my students) is one of the keys to be successful in any subject or area of your life! The question now is how to be consistent, how to have time to practice.

Before I answer these questions, it is important that you got to understand the reason(s) for being consistent and scheduling time for practice. ( I'm not asking you to practice for hours to face those numbers questions, a mere 15 minutes daily is sufficiently recommended on top of your homework time that is)

Why is there a need to be consistent? I have been doing my school work already.

Give yourself a pat on your shoulder if you have been doing your school work diligently! You should be on your way to achieving what you deserve. But to further build up your confidence on Math, especially new concepts that you have been learning, a little extra effort goes a long way. As mentioned, it is not the quantity of time or questions that really matter. It is the quality. Schedule 15 minutes daily to work on and review on current topics or even previous topics will not only expose yourself to more questions but also build up your skill set. More importantly, you are cultivating a habit of consistency. Just like scoring is a habit, it can be and must be built up. It will not happen overnight.

"Extraordinary people are ordinary people who do extra more than the majority"

Advantages for being consistent

  • You can have time to do what you like during exam period and yet feel prepared for exams while the rest of the world is doing last minute work. Isn't it a good feeling? After all, you have been preparing bit by bit daily.
  • Consistent review and actions pay off handsomely for you when you do not allow doubts to pile up.
  • You feel good daily and great sense of achievement!

How to be consistent (even if you do not like Math) ?

  • Bit by bit daily; start small but keep up the momentum
  • Start now! Have a reminder system to remind yourself about your 15 minutes daily (Handphone alarm perhaps)
  • Reward yourself when you keep up with the habit
  • Have a chart to mark your consistency habit, something you can see daily.

Take actions now! And see for yourself how your consistency habit pays off!

Let me hear from you on how you tackle your challenge in learning Math. Leave your recommendations in the comment section below.

PS: My future post will be discussing about what should be done when you cannot see and understand Math. There is a really simple way which starts with A.