Trig’s No Joke

Unless you have an incredibly strong passion for math (and hey, if you do, then good for you!) trigonometry is probably not a course you’ll be acing in your sleep. Trig has been stumping students for over 2300 years and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The relationships between lengths and angles of triangles are complex and vast. The relationship between your daunting homework assignments and yourself can be equally vast and just as complex. Fret not, for I am about to reveal everything you’ll need in order to be a successful trig student with a 100% assignment completion rate. (You’ll need to get all that work turned in so that you have a little leeway in your test scores!)

Preparation Is Half the Battle

There are several things you’ll need before you so much as crack open that textbook and scan your first equation. Some of these are easy enough to fetch if you forget to gather them together ahead of time but you’ll likely notice a change in your mood when you can say for certain that you’re fully prepared the moment you sit down to begin. It’s a kind of mental Zen and it will help guide you through your challenging math assignments. So embrace that Zen – keep the following items by your side at all times and you’ll be good to go.

  • Purchase a scientific calculator. Not just any scientific calculator, though. You’ll be wanting a good one. Ask your fellow students which brands and models they’ve gone with and seek demonstrations if possible.
  • Keep a list of common equations handy. Rote memorization is a big part of mathematical success. Study the more frequently-referenced trigonometric equations on a daily basis and keep them all close by when you start your homework.
  • Buy some protractors. You’ll be handling tons of measurements in this class and having the right tools for the job will make it much more manageable. Consider grabbing a few of these so that you’re ever-ready for whatever the book decides to throw at you this time.

Eat Right, Breathe Right, And Remember the Internet

Calculators are important but strong mental clarity is doubly so. Not to get all nutritionist on you all of a sudden, but making smart food choices really can go a long way in how you perform during your assignments. Healthy breakfast “brain foods” like oatmeal and fresh fruit will give your mind that extra kick it needs to tackle the most complicated equations. What’s more, practicing good posture and great breathing techniques won’t just assist you physically – it will make you feel more capable and thus help to ease you into your studies.
Now you’re truly ready to begin plowing through all that homework, but don’t forget your ongoing tools as well. Chief among those is the internet, of course! We live in an age when information is available at our fingertips at any given time. Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself stumped on a particularly hard problem. There are also plenty of free online lessons from high-ranked and highly-rated sites where hard-working professors and math fans will walk you through trigonometric problems step-by-step. You might find these resources to be handier than your textbook, so check them out!