How Much Time Should You Spend working on a Math Problem

In this video I talk about how much time you should spend working on a math problem. Sometimes problems require tons of time and effort, so how much time should you actually spend? What do you all think? Please leave any comments or questions in the comment section below.

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Thank you:)

[kpenkava]

I have found that a lot of time when I am working on a problem and stop making progress after an hour or two it's better to take a break and come back to it. Otherwise you spend extra time stuck in the same thought process over and over again. Sometimes coming back to it later brings just the new perspective you need to finish or to get further towards where you want to end up.

[absolutelymath]

Yup! Who doesn't like doing math for the sake of doing math

[paradox_]

I usually find it really hard to give up on a problem. It bothers me constantly that I didnt solve it.

[ThrottleJunkie]

There is this one analysis problem I have been working on for years. Eventually I will get it. Eventually I get them all. Math is an addiction.

[TRUCKERTV]

absolutely!!! i recently returned to college. i am learning to learn to the clock because i would spend hours on a problem when i have other problems worth the same amount a points lol. if i cant complete the problem just move on and come back to it if i have time.

[ahuman]

"Just make sure that you prioritize your time don't spend too much time on a math problem"
Andrew wiles : (•_•)

[tommyortega]

Learn to manage time is one of the best skills you can ever learn

[ludwigmuggli]

Watching this video at 3 o'Clock in the morning while sitting on that math problem all day and night long is purely ironic.

[voteforno.]

Depends on the problem too. Routine calculations, even in higher math, might only require a few minutes or a half hour. Straightforward applications of definitions and theorems might take a bit longer. Some difficult intricate proofs might take several hours spread across several days. This has to be true because there were many proofs in graduate school that took me that much time to absorb and the proof was already given. And then of course there are research level "problems" or open ended problems that might take several stages of exploration, conjecture, proof attempts, planning and editing over weeks or months. Andrew Wiles spent years on one problem. So, it depends.

[cowbellcutie]

I am a measly incoming calc 2 student in college but am getting more interested in math as I go along. last semester, during calc 1, I was stuck on a homework problem involving optimization...and in the middle of the night right before I was about to go to sleep, I suddenly understood everything about the problem! it's these eureka moments that fascinate me about math!

[johubify]

This is very true sir.
I am from India, and we have really pressuring math, physics and chemistry from 11th Grade.
We do full blown Calculus in 11th Grade, and we do the concepts that are taught in First year of US colleges.We also cover alot of Thermodynamics, and all other buff topics in Class 11(that are otherwise taught in college).
Then we also have to solve the JEE questions, and many questions from it are so tough that even math majors have trouble solving it.
That does not bother me sir, I love to learn, but unfortunately, because of this, I am not able to spend time on a proof I really like.
The syllabus is really vast and extensive, and the problem is, when I do math, I love to rigorously prove everything, each and every theorem there is(most students just have to mug it up because of the lack of time and the high amount of difficulty due to being exposed to all this stuff so early)

I am stuck on a proof, until it's solved, no matter how hard it is or how time consuming it is.
I struggle with prioritizing time, and this may cost me alot in the coming days.

[abdulrakeebalsarori]

That was such a valuable piece of advice. Thanks so much sir. I am a physics major and I hope I benefit from your life experience! Thanks for sharing all this info with us, sharing is caring.

[melaniebeltran]

I wish I watched this video earlier in the semester >< I feel like I'm soo behind on my linear algebra homework, because I spend so much time on the problems. I feel like it's my perfectionism that gets me working long hours on math with very little to show for it :(

[sukd]

Priceless advice. i have the problem of do i choose quality of the session (specific time with hard focus) or quantity( do i just make sure i have turned over 5 pages today (grasping the skeleton of it by doing a few problems) Thats why testing is good along with formal study, it makes it more important. Thanks for your time.

[boogerie]

Henri Poincare' devoted 4 hours a day to math, 2 hours in the morning, 2 hours in the evening

[brunokalil]

I think one of the reasons why we spend much time on a problem which we're stuck is mainly because of ego, because of our self esteem, we want to prove to ourselves we are brilliant

[mdmoazzemhossain]

That's a very very very good piece of advice.... Worth it in every seance

[chessdominos]

It's not you working on a maths problem, it' s the maths problem that is working on you ...

[bhavishyasharma]

In my 10th standard...i was like mad for maths, and it was great enjoyment for me...but as i moved forward, same was in 11th standard but in 12th I'm aware i can't put time in it out of limit

[csabour]

WOW what a video to watch after i spent 3 days on solving a recursive relation problem... I finally figured it out after making a dozen mistakes. Time well spent though I feel really good about it, but i lost a lot of productive hours on other subjects that i neglected (taking 4 math courses)