How Engineering Students Can Improve Their Math Skills

For students studying engineering, mathematics is a subject that comes up again and again in every semester and every branch. Whether it is machine design, coding, or planning a big project – mathematics is used everywhere.

But many students are afraid of maths or they consider it difficult. This fear increases further when topics like calculus, differential equations or matrices come up.

If you are also an engineering student and want your mathematics to improve, then you need to work in the right way, with patience and regular practice.

First of all, know where your weaknesses are

Every student faces difficulty in some topic of maths. It is important that you identify which topic you have a weak grasp on.

Do you not understand integration? Or do you get confused with matrices? Do you confuse probability and statistics?

Once you know where the problem is, only then can you move towards improving it.

Take help of online resources

Nowadays there are many platforms on the Internet from where you can study good quality for free or at a low cost.

Some of the major sources include:

  • Khan Academy – where mathematics is explained in easy language through videos.
  • Coursera and edX – where courses from the world’s leading universities are available, in which you can learn engineering maths in depth.
  • YouTube channels – like 3Blue1Brown and Mathologer, which explain difficult topics in a very interesting way through visuals.

By giving a little time every day, you can get a good grip on these platforms.

Practice from good books

If you are used to studying from books, then some famous and useful books can help you.

For example:

  • Calculus by James Stewart
  • Linear Algebra and Its Applications by Gilbert Strang
  • Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Erwin Kreyszig

These books have a detailed description of each topic, along with solved examples and many questions for practice.

A good way would be to take one topic every day, understand it first and then solve questions related to it.

Practice regularly

Mathematics is a subject in which confidence comes only by practicing repeatedly.

Dedicate at least 1-2 hours every day to mathematics. Solve different types of questions of each topic.

You can also practice from old exam papers or download question bank from the Internet.

You can also check the answers of your solved questions with tools like Wolfram Alpha.

When it comes to solving a math problem, user can usually get the answer easily from the number of solutions provided by Photomath.

Do group study

If you get bored studying alone or sometimes do not understand, then forming a study group can be a good option.

Many new things you will learn very quickly studying with a friend. Explaining something to another person enhances your understanding of the same concept.

Once every week, do a group discussion on a topic, ask each other questions, and solve them together.

Do not hesitate to seek help

Many times it happens that we repeatedly make mistakes in a question or do not understand a topic. In such a situation, do not put pressure on yourself and do not be afraid to seek help.

You can meet your teacher, talk to teaching assistants in college or take the help of a good tutor.

Your aim is to understand things, and it is wise to seek guidance from someone when needed.

Use mathematics in real problems

Maths can seem boring if it is limited to books only. But when you apply it in your engineering projects or real life examples, it becomes fun to understand.

Suppose you are making a machine, then calculations like force, speed, temperature will have to be done in it.

Or if you are making an app, then mathematics will have to be used for data analysis and algorithms.

Through such examples, you will not only remember the mathematics, but will also start understanding it.

Read slowly and regularly

Improvement in mathematics does not happen overnight. It requires time, patience and consistency.

You have to understand that even small progress matters a lot.

Take one topic every week and understand it well. If there is an interruption in between, do not stop, take it as a challenge.

Write down your progress in a diary – what you learned, what was difficult and how you can do better next time.

Learn to use software tools

Nowadays, in the engineering world, it has become common to do calculations and analysis with the help of software.

If you learn tools like MATLAB, Python (NumPy, SciPy), or GeoGebra, not only will your maths improve, but you will also find it easier to do technical projects.

With these tools, you can do large calculations quickly, create graphs and charts, and solve complex equations.

Conclusion

Maths is not a scary subject, but a key that opens every door to engineering.

If you want to not only be good in your studies, but also succeed in your future, then you should study it.
If you want to be successful in getting good jobs and projects, then it is important to have a strong grip on mathematics.

To succeed in this, you need to:

  • Identify your weaknesses
  • Choose the right resources
  • Practice regularly
  • Learn from others
  • And be patient in every situation

Only a little improvement every day will make you a strong and successful engineer in the long run. If you found this article useful, then share it with your friends and help others in this journey related to mathematics.

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