Understanding Mathematics

Some years ago, a survey of 'A'-level maths students indicated that 90% taking the exam had not covered the whole syllabus. This information came as no surprise to those who, like Keith Gregson, were meeting these students as undergraduates in the biological sciences or in engineering. 'While students in schools and universities are well-grounded in learning to pass exams,' says Gregson, 'they can miss out later when they need most to apply that knowledge.' Why? 'They have neither been encouraged nor given time to understand the fundamentals.' This book is written for those of you who are struggling with mathematics, either as first year undergraduates taking maths as a subsidiary to a science course, or students working for S- and A-levels. It is not a comprehensive A-level syllabus text - there are many such books and software courses. There are some students who take to mathematics easily, there are others (the majority) who have difficulty. This difficulty is generally the result of having a hard time throughout earlier education. I know that many of you have been told repeatedly that mathematics is hard. Much of it is not - but mastering it does involve a different approach, memorising a few formulae is not the answer. Success comes from reading, several times if necessary, together with thinking, until the mathematics is understood. Sometimes understanding doesn't come easily. You will need to be able to seek help - ask your fellow students, or tutors, or whoever. This takes effort - from you, but what you put in will pay great dividends, so don't give up without a fight! Attitude of mind is important and succinctly put by Henry Ford - "Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right."Gregson, Keith is the author of 'Understanding Mathematics' with ISBN 9781904761549 and ISBN 1904761542.