Page 111 - A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science

THE LAW OF SERENDIPITY

Remember, Lady Luck favors the one who tries. So don’t feel overwhelmed with
everything you need to learn about a new subject. Instead, focus on nailing down a few
key ideas. You’ll be surprised at how much that simple framework can help.

The way in which musicians improve their ability to play an instrument can also
be applied to learning math in this sense: A master violinist, for example, doesn’t
just play a musical piece from beginning to end, over and over again. Instead,
she focuses on the hardest parts of the piece—the parts where the fingers fumble
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and the mind becomes confused. You should be like that in your own deliberate
practice, focusing and becoming quicker at the hardest parts of the solution
procedures you are trying to learn. 6
Remember, research has shown that the more effort you put into recalling
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material, the deeper it embeds itself into your memory. Recall, not simple
rereading, is the best form of deliberate practice in study. This strategy is also
similar to that used by chess masters. These mental wizards internalize board
configurations as chunks associated with the best next moves in their long-term

memory. Those mental structures help them select their best option for each
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move in their current game. The difference between lesser-ranked players and
grand masters is that grand masters devote far more time to figuring out what
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their weaknesses are and working to strengthen those areas. It’s not as easy as
just sitting around and playing chess for fun. But in the end, the results can be far
more gratifying.

Remember, retrieval practice is one of the most powerful forms of learning.
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It is far more productive than simply rereading material. Building a chunked
library of ways to solve problems is effective precisely because it is built on
methods of retrieval practice. Do not be fooled by illusions of competence.
Remember, just staring at material that’s already on the page in front of you can
fool you into thinking you know it when you actually don’t.
When you first start practicing this way, it may feel awkward—as if you’re a

thirty-year-old sitting down for your first piano lesson. But as you practice,
you’ll find it gradually coming together more easily and swiftly. Be patient with
yourself—as your ease with the material begins to grow, you’ll find yourself
enjoying it more and more. Is it work? Sure—and so is learning to play the piano
with verve and style. But the payoff is well worth the effort!