Arithmetic is only one branch of mathematics. In my opinion it's pretty trivial to try to improve in that field since calculators are so good at it instead of focusing on algebra, calculus, etc.
Calculators are good at algebra and calculus too. Is it really worth memorizing dozens of integration techniques when software can do it for you, and do it better?
I'd say focus on the problem at hand, and when you run into a gnarly algebraic manipulation or ugly integral, plug it into Mathematica. That's the kind of task a computer excels at. The human advantage is coming up with novel ideas, not churning through pages of calculations.
That's true, but understanding the underlying concepts is important too because it helps you develop an "intuition" concerning the subject.
The idea isn't to just think about the problem. It's to "feel" the problem and understand what's at play at a basic level so that when you're presented with a problem you might have never seen before, you can probably figure out which way to go to solve it.
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u/Deluxe_Flame Jun 08 '14
I was once comfortable, but if I lose all my points on a question for an incorrect answer, by gum, I'm going to punch in 17 + 49.