Learning math – the study of numbers, formulas, structures, shapes, spaces, and quantities – is never easy, and having a strong grasp of it can be even more challenging.
The way it's taught in schools can sometimes make you feel like you don't even want to know more about it because it seems so dry and difficult, but there are many apps that will help you improve your math skills.
Despite the fact that some of them seem like you're just enjoying a game, they all have serious benefits for the way your mind sees numbers and shapes, which can lead to better ideas when solving problems or coming up with new concepts.
1. Before Downloading Apps
While there are some apps that can help you develop skills that will consequently also improve your grasp of mathematics, it's important to note that there are also online resources you can use if you want to focus on a specific math field more. Going to a reputable website where you can find kinematic equations explained in detail, as well as a few hints as to where you can find even more information, is a great way to start.
The same goes for videos: if you look online, there are plenty of them that can give you insights into math. The best part about using online resources is that you have access to a great variety of educational materials, and the only thing limiting your learning capabilities will be your internet connection.
Besides providing valuable information, you can find explanations as to why this kind of knowledge is important, and how it's applied in everyday use. Many people find that understanding the broader context of a formula or structure is what helps them appreciate math, or simply find it more interesting.
2. Chess
Logic is one of the most important skills when it comes to maths. With that in mind, there's hardly a better way to become a better mathematician than to learn how to play chess and play it well – and chess apps are a great way to do this.
Chess is more than just a game about tactics and planning ahead: it's also a great way to learn the ins and outs of every step you take, from how to consider your options when placing a chess piece on the board, up to how you move your hands faster in order to get more pieces on the board.
Chess can teach you that sometimes sacrificing one piece might be the optimal choice in order to get your opponent off-balance, and it's only by learning these skills that you can start using them when solving equations. It's all about thinking ahead, considering your position on the board at every turn, and looking for key details that will help you predict what your opponent is planning to do next.
Besides honing logical thinking, it also encourages you to consider different probabilities – before you move your bishop to C4 in a game, for example, you need to consider what the probability is that your opponent will place their knight on D4.
This helps you to become a better mathematician not only because of the way it encourages critical thinking but also because chess provides valuable insights into probability theory.
3. Math Puzzles
There are tons of apps that you can use in order to find interesting math puzzles, ranging from basic ones about shapes and numbers up to complicated kinematics problems. These games work great because they combine “fun” with learning, and the more you play them, the better your math skills get.
Most math puzzles will let you know how long it will take for you to finish them, so you can play these games regardless of your schedule or free time. The best thing about using apps that provide math puzzles is that they come with tools that help you learn everything faster, regardless of whether you're just planning on brushing up your trigonometry skills, or if you're looking for ways to learn from scratch.
These apps can range in difficulty – some are designed as math kids apps, while others were made with adults in mind, and they usually have different difficulty levels within them as well. Depending on your skill level, you can find apps that will give you simple and easy tasks to solve or more complicated ones.
Some of these puzzles require a lot of thinking and will help you increase your critical thinking skills as well as your overall math knowledge.
4. Spatial Strategy Apps
Space strategy games are a great way to improve your critical thinking skills and even learn more about mathematics. Like with chess, you need to think ahead when playing strategy games – it's important for you to create a plan from the very beginning of how you're going to win.
No matter what kind of game you play, planning ahead will always give you an advantage, and this is especially true in spatial strategy games. At the same time, these games teach you exactly how to look at things from different angles – for example, in most of them you can't win if you don't know how to attack your opponent's weak spots when looking for a way to breach their defenses.
The way that relates to math is that you need to consider different options and find the one that will give you a better shot at winning. It's all about thinking in 2D when playing some of these games, while others require you to also look at things from a 3D point of view.
5. Number Strategy Apps
Number strategy games are great for adults and children alike because they can help you build your math skills from the very beginning. Most of these apps come with different difficulty levels, so it doesn't matter if you're just planning on spending a few minutes learning something new or if you want to study more complicated topics – there's plenty for everyone in this category.
The best thing about number strategy games is that they're fun – you don't feel like you're learning something new every time you pick up your phone to spend a few minutes playing them, but you actually are. This type of game is great for preteens and teenagers as well because it allows them to have fun while also building their math skills from scratch.
There are tons of apps that you can use to improve your math skills, some of them providing more challenging puzzles than others. You just have to decide on how much or how little time you want to spend learning something new each day. After all, the more effort you put into improving your math skills, the better you'll get at it!
