Practical Tips of Maths for High Schoolers

High School Mathematics has been found to be important in all walks of life. While in some schools it is an optional subject, there are many that have it in the curriculum for all the students of 10^th grade. It has often been seen that many students struggle with Mathematics in 10^th and are unable to comprehend the underlying cause of their struggles. It is true that one cannot suddenly excel in a subject like Maths without having a strong fundamental knowledge of the same. However, if the flaws are brought to the forefront, then they can be corrected with appropriate guidance.

In the following points, you'll find the mention of many such inadequacies that have been noticed in 10^th graders over the years.

• The sum of three angles of a triangle is always 180°.
• If the sum of the three angles of a triangle is not 180° then ask the examiner to get the question rechecked as you'll never get a correct answer in this case.
• Triangles are of three kinds on the basis of sides: scalene, isosceles and equilateral.
• Triangles are of three kinds on the basis of angles: obtuse-angled, acute-angled and right-angled.

• Pythagoras theorem is only applicable if the triangle is right-angled i.e., one of the three angles is 90°.
• The hypotenuse of a triangle is always the longest side and it is the side in front of the 90° angle.

• You'll understand trigonometry better if you thoroughly go through the derivations given in the book.
• It is imperative to learn the trigonometric table and it is to be learnt horizontally not vertically.
• An easy way to learn the table is:

(a) Write the numbers 0,1, 2, 3, 4

(b) Divide each of these numbers by 4 and you'll get 0/4, 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4

(c) Square root each of them and you'll get 0, 1/2, 1/√2, √3/ 2, 1. These are the values for Sine. Reverse it and you'll get the values for Cosine. Use the formula of Sine/Cosine to get the values of Tan.

• If you make a rough figure for a question of geometry, then it will help you to understand the question better.
• You should know the basic rules of congruency of triangles, formulae of mensuration and how to solve basic algebraic equations before starting with class 10^th mathematics.

• The similarity of triangles is not the same as congruency. If two triangles are congruent then it means that they are exactly identical and can also superimpose each other. Similar triangles have the same shape but may not necessarily have the same size.
• If you are still confused about how to find H.C.F. and L.C.M. of numbers, then please go back and get your concepts cleared first.
• You should know the functioning of decimal numbers quite well and should not make silly mistakes such as assuming that 3.05 and 3.5 are the same. If you make such mistakes then you will never get correct answers no matter how much of 10th grade Mathematics you study. So go back and revise these topics well, before beginning with Maths of 10^th grade.

• It is compulsory to draw the four quadrants in the graph and to make appropriate markings for the same. You have to make the four quadrants even though you are using only one. Also, remember to write x, y, x', y' and 0 at the correct places. Marking the origin and the zig-zag if being used, is also very important.
• When trying to find Simple Interest or Compound Interest you must be careful to see whether the time is in months or years.
• Finally, if you are still making mistakes in basic mathematical calculations like fractions, tables or addition and subtraction then I need not even say what you must do or where you are doomed to if you continue doing the same!