When learning something new, you neither do it perfectly nor have the correct answers your first time unless you are using the services of experienced custom essay writers. The same thing applies to mathematics. Learning mathematics is all about practice, and you will often make mistakes when learning. It is good to make mistakes when learning mathematics; it helps students to understand concepts better. Since mistakes are diverse, understanding the different types of mistakes is essential so that we can know how to prevent them from happening.
The three types of mistakes in mathematics include
- Careless errors
- Conceptual errors and
- Computational errors
Where the mistakes in mathematics may be varied, I deemed it fit to categorize them into the above three classes.
Careless Errors:
These errors happen because a student is working too fast or is not paying attention to details. Typing figures wrong when calculating, not following the given directions, dropping a negative sign, sloppy handwriting or copying the problem wrong initially can result in these errors.
How to avoid careless mistakes in mathematics?
- Slow down
- Circle important details
- Make use of graph paper
Slowing down seems like a no-brainer, but it is hard for some students. In an exam situation, most students are excited or panicking; they can’t help it but rush. Rushing is a remedy for making silly mistakes. Kids should take it slow and be keen on what they do. Circling important information in the word problems or worksheet will make sure the student follows it correctly. This strategy is most important for word problems with a lot of details hidden in the wording. For kids who have problems with the arrangement, working out problems on a graph paper can be a simple solution to the problem. A graph paper ensures good alignment of numbers when adding up.
With regular practice, high school and college students can reduce careless errors. All they need is enough practice. Working on past exam papers can significantly help. It is easy; time yourself as if in a real exam situation, but this time have in mind that you want to avoid any careless mistake. To get the time for this exercise, you need to place orders at custom paper writers. Their expert writers will handle your assignments, and you will have enough time to perfect your exam skills.
Computational Errors
Computational errors occur due to mistakes in the process of adding up, division, multiplication or subtraction. In a multi-step problem, making a slight computational error means that the rest of the steps will result in wrong answers. A student can save some marks here by showing the procedure and steps followed in completing a problem. Correct steps and procedure prove to the teacher that you understood the concept; you would only lose marks for the answer. That being said, I am not encouraging mistakes in computation. Be careful when doing your calculation.
How to Avoid Computational Errors?
- Slow down
- Check the answer for accuracy
- Make use of your calculator
Slowing down when working out problems will reduce errors in computation. If you are serious enough, computational errors could be a thing of the past. Once you have gone through a long word problem, you tend to be reluctant to check your work. What students forget is that checking one’s work can help spot errors. Feed your answer back to the main equation to see if it’s wrong. If it’s wrong, go back to your working and check for computational errors. If calculators are allowed at your grade level, make use of it to check the computations. If your course involves difficult and lengthy concepts, consider to do my homework with a calculator for computational parts. It’s accurate, and it saves time. While using the calculator, ensure that you do not skip the important steps.
To practice how to prevent computational errors, you will need time. Assignments from different subjects will not let you work on your problems. You need the help of custom essay writers. Let them work on your papers as you use past exams to practice reducing your computational errors.
Conceptual Errors
Using incorrect logic or misunderstanding the concept underlying the question is the cause of conceptual errors. While this is the error that is most difficult to identify, it is the most important to establish and correct. With conceptual errors, all mathematic workings may be correct, but the answer remains wrong since the method or logic is wrong.
Preventing Conceptual Errors
Avoiding a conceptual error is more difficult than preventing a computational or careless error. Additionally, students have different abilities when it comes to understanding concepts. There are a few ways a teacher can prevent conceptual mistakes in the future by enhancing conceptual understanding.
- Use math journals
- Hold math talks
- Explain concepts in different ways
- Introduce concepts in hands-on ways
Allow you kids enough time to understand the why. This understanding helps them connect formulas, concepts, and properties, and retain material. Check out hands-on visual practice for skills intended for early math learners at skittles.
Use different ways to teach concepts. There are always several ways of working on a mathematics problem. By exploring a concept from different angles when teaching, teachers can offer deeper understanding to the students. Besides, while some students prefer one method, others prefer another method.
To allow for discussion, it is recommended that you provide your kids with open-ended questions. Math talks will reveal misconceptions and student’s understandings. These discussions act as avenues where kids describe concepts in their own words; an explanation from one kid can be a light bulb moment for another kid.
Let your kids write in a mathematics journal. Use of math journals makes kids think about concepts as they write. Teachers can understand kids thinking by reading the explanations in the journal.
If you notice the error of concepts from several students, there’s no point of continuing; teach the subtopic again.
