Writing Mathematics
Fall 2009
- Spread out your work, and use lots of paper. If possible, write neatly.
o Writing is about communication. Be clear and informative.
o Many problems need to be written out in detail, especially difficult ones.
o Do not do different problems side-by-side on one sheet. It is too crowded.
- Organize your work carefully.
- Don't omit middle steps. Show each step unless it's completely obvious.
- Use
side work. Make it clear and
large.
- Never change an equation once it's written. Altering equations is confusing!
- Rewrite equations. E.g., do not write "/5" on both sides.
- Do
not cancel a fraction unless you rewrite it.
- Never connect two different equations or inequalities with an equal sign!
- E.g.,
writing "5x < 20
= x < 4"
is confusing—it might say "20 = x"!
Better: put "5x < 20" on one line and "x < 4" on the next line.
- Simplify at each step, including reducing fractions and combining like terms.
- Points are deducted if final answers are not simplified.
- Use
improper fractions, not mixed numbers.
- Put
a scale on every graph, when possible. If every mark is one unit, you must mark it that way. Unnumbered graphs lose points.
- Do not approximate, unless specifically asked to.
- Do not convert fractions to decimals.
- Numbers like 3π, √2, ln 5, or e2 can not be simplified
- On rare occasions when you must round, do so correctly. If the next digit is at least 5, round up; otherwise round down.
- Words and sentences are almost always better than symbols.
- Don't write "2x = 6 = 3," but rather "From 2x = 6, we get x = 3."
- Aim
for clarity, not brevity: math is
ideas, not just symbols!
Revised Monday, August 17, 2009. E-mail corrections, suggestions to mmaltenfort@ccc.edu