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Is it okay to prioritize problem-solving over theory when studying physics or math?
  • Oh, I’m very well aware of this, I’ve faced these situations in the past, but the thing is, I solve a ton of problems, including medium to hard problems, also after some rigorous practice, I become good enough to visualize the path I’ll take to solve easy problems and become efficient enough to solve them in my head.

    Only the very hard problems, where I have no clue how to tackle them and have to bang my head on the wall for 2-3 hours, get the better of me. I always end up seeing the solution, and then I just take notes and make sure that if the same or a similar problem pops up (which rarely happens), I’m at least able to find my way. But that never happens, I usually end up forgetting the method or approach due to lack of practice. I feel like even if I read the theory very well and learn the derivations by heart, I still won’t be able to complete those problems. Maybe it has to do with reasoning and general IQ, but I’m not sure.

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    Is it okay to prioritize problem-solving over theory when studying physics or math?
  • The thing is that I’ve always struggled with passive learning, like watching lectures or reading theory books, because they don’t keep me as engaged, to make them fun I used to first understand what the lectures trying to teach me and then I'd make notes on my own understanding, but at the same time, I prefer doing problems since it forces me to think actively. I’ll definitely try to stay mindful of the structured material.

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    Is it okay to prioritize problem-solving over theory when studying physics or math?
  • My current goal is more aligned with being efficient at solving problems, especially in the context of exams or competitive settings, so I guess that leans more toward the 'engineer' approach.

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    Is it okay to prioritize problem-solving over theory when studying physics or math?
  • It’s reassuring to hear that focusing on problem-solving isn’t necessarily a drawback, as long as I’m prepared for a wide variety of questions. I think I’ll stick with my method for now and revisit theory selectively when I feel gaps or curiosity arise.

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    Is it okay to prioritize problem-solving over theory when studying physics or math?
  • My immediate goal is to become as efficient as possible at problem-solving, especially for exams or competitions. But I do wonder if this approach might leave gaps in my understanding in the long term.

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  • I have a unique way of studying that seems to work well for me, but I’m curious if it’s a good long-term strategy.

    Whenever I start a new topic in physics or math, instead of diving into the theory or derivations, I first skim through a variety of solved problems to get a sense of the types of questions typically asked. I take notes on the key concepts and methods I encounter, focusing on recognizing patterns across different problems.

    Once I’ve built a mental "map" of the topic through problem-solving, I attempt unsolved problems using my notes and keep adding new observations as I go. By the end, I feel confident about most question types and can solve them quickly. After that, I might revisit the theory with a sense of curiosity, wanting to understand the "why" behind the formulas and patterns I’ve observed.

    This approach has helped me become faster at solving problems compared to my peers. However, I sometimes worry that I might miss out on deeper conceptual understanding, especially for rare, extremely challenging problems.

    The reason I lean toward this method is that I tend to forget theoretical details over time, but problem-solving strategies stick with me much longer. It feels like I develop an intuitive "second brain" for tackling problems.

    So, is this a valid way to study? Or should I switch to the more conventional approach of learning theory first and then solving problems?

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    I can't stand my stutter
  • You can try reading some work of "Prescott Lecky", maybe try to find a copy of his book, "Self Consistency, A Theory of Personality" he was a school teacher and he conducted an experiment on thousand of students, He used a method called 'System of ideas' to cure students of such habits of nail biting and stuttering.

    You can give it a try.

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  • https://bsky.app/profile/amiiillustrates.bsky.social/post/3lcxg6jw3ls2k

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    Credit : https://bsky.app/profile/amiiillustrates.bsky.social

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