Some General Study Tips

Whether you picked up this book because it was assigned for a class or you have some personal interest in a topic it is always a good idea to take a little time and review good study habits. Not only will they help you learn but in many cases will help make you feel better while you’re doing it.

Engage yourself: Do not be idle in your pursuit of understanding the subject. Make sure you understand every detail of the example problems and try to work through them as they are done.

Ask questions (use resources): Occasionally you may have trouble understanding something. This happens to everyone at some point. Rereading what you were having trouble with is always a good idea but sometimes even this won’t work. There are always outside resources such as teachers, reputable websites, or knowledgable friends are good places to start.

Review Often: Occasionally reviewing past material is always a good idea. You never know when ideas talked about earlier will pop up again and having the material fresh in your mind makes those circumstances easier to deal with.

Take breaks: Studying for large blocks of time has been proven to be a less effective means than studying in small chucks. Taking breaks allows you to cool down and absorb the information you have just learned.

Do the chapter problems: Although there are many example problems and quizzes included, the chapter problems are the most difficult part of this book. If you can master those, you have mastered the chapter.