How to solve math problems

Jan Mandel

• Start early and spend some time getting familiar with the problem and researching what in the class material, books, and from previous classes might be relevant. The goal is to visualize the problem and the background material from memory, with your eyes closed.
• Keep returning to the problem and the material few times and keep it all in the back of your mind as much as possible. Think about it every time when you have a quiet moment.
• When you have done the above, your brain will have something to work on in the background, and eventually an idea will come to you. Execute the idea.
• When you think you are done, examine your solution in detail and justify every step for yourself very carefully. Look up and clarify for yourself everything you are just a little unsure of. Try really hard to prove your solution wrong. Attack it from every angle.
• Repeat as necessary.