How To Make Maths Fun

It's always easier to do get yourself to do something when you enjoy it. It's also easier to do something WELL when you enjoy it. Try to change your perspective of math to improve your marks. Here are some ideas:

1. Make the problems awesome
   If the problems you're solving are cool, or you can pretend that they represent real, exciting situations, then working through them can be much less draining. It'll add a sense of urgency, and it doesn't feel like a chore. Your skills will improve in no time!
2. Give yourself rewards
   Maybe you're just sick of doing one problem after another. To combat this, try giving yourself rewards for completing milestones. Maybe you need to give yourself a square of chocolate for every question you do [probably not one for each part a), b) etc, otherwise you'll very quickly run out!]. Or maybe you could do something you enjoy after each hour of study, like play a math related game (tetris, 2048, or any of the math games on this awesome website). Soon, the rewards will be part of the math, and everything will be a little more pleasant. Now that it's easier to do math, the practice will make perfect.
3. Think of applications
   Sometimes we're thinking "when will I ever use this in 'the real world'?" Trust us, all math can and IS used in the real world, all the time. Pick any concept and there are real applications. CHALLENGE: Submit a question titled "What is an application of X?" (where X is the mathematical concept) on the Q&A section, and the Math Gurus at MyGuruAustralia.com promise that they can show you an example of real world use. Hopefully, if you can see how math is used in reality, you can find some enthusiasm for the material.
4. Imagine the money!
   Math skills are really employable. Here is an article with some facts about pursuing math in your career, and a list of math related jobs. Have a browse through and see if any of them interest you. Although you may not have heard of the job, actuaries perform interesting (and lucrative) risk quantification and analysis. Yes, those are American dollars. According to the Wall Street Journal, in 2009 'mathematician' was the best job. Around 17 of the top 20 also directly use math as part of day to day work. And no, I don't mean arithmetic. Perhaps this financial incentive will give you your reason to excel.

Happy studying!

Article reproduced, thanks to MyGuru.