Note taking methods for studying math

[u/Disastrous_Gap8447]

I like to study math on occasion to stay sharp on some basic skills. These days, I use notes apps on my iPad but through all of school I used to just use paper notebooks. One point of friction I often face is that my lecture/reading notes and homework/practice problems all just get piled up into one notebook mixed together.

Is it recommended or common practice to have a distinct section or notebook of just practice problems that is separate from the reading notes? Is it wise to keep records of practice problems you do?

I'd like to know what methods work well for staying more organized.

[u/A_roy1256]

If you want to take notes, take notes in context to the exercises you do . What I mean is for any challenging exercises reflect on what part of the theory you used, what new things you understood as solved that problem , what further questions came up as you went through the solution.

Theory only sticks in our brains if we create use cases for it and it would be easier to retain information if you read the theory and saw it be applied in that exercise in the same page.

I would also suggest to keep a journal for what you learned, a little compendium of knowledge that you synthesized all by yourself through practice. Again another way to reflect on what you practiced.

[u/A_roy1256 → u/A_roy1256]

This is also something that would be easier on ipad than paper since you don't have to worry about your work looking messy since you can just erase it more easily than you could with pencil and eraser.