“The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple.”  — S. Gudder

Introduction

In general, Mathematics has long been considered a difficult subject by many students, especially in Nigeria, from circle theorem and trigonometry to plane solid and statistics, the fear of numbers often discourages students before they even begin. However, here’s the truth: mastering Mathematics isn’t about being naturally gifted. It’s all about you mastering the right strategies, building the right mindset, and staying committed.

In this blog post, let us look at how Chinedu who was not very good in Mathematics master it. Which strategies did he apply? How did he move from fear to fame in Mathematics? I just want you to take your time to read through his story and learn from it by applying the strategies he has used.  

How Chinedu Mastered Mathematics

In the heart of Enugu State, Nigeria, lived a young secondary school student named Chinedu Okafor. Chinedu was an average student—bright, curious, and full of life—but there was one subject that constantly gave him sleepless nights: Mathematics. While his classmates breezed through algebra and geometry, Chinedu would freeze at the sight of numbers. Whenever the Mathematics teacher was in class solving equations it’s as if the teacher was writing ancient script on the whiteboard. Chinedu felt deep down in his mind that he was just not a “Mathematics person.” Anytime he wrote test and examination, Mathematics was always the subject he would have the lowest mark. Most of the time, he felt embarrassed and discouraged.

At some point, he almost gave up. But one day, something changed, during the school assembly, a guest speaker—a former student who had won national awards in Mathematics—shared how he too once hated Mathematics. He ended his talk with a simple but powerful quote:

“Mathematics is not for special people—it’s for those who are willing to try.” The quote stuck Chinedu. He realized he needed to stop telling himself, “I can’t do this.” Instead, he started saying, “I can get better at this.” That was the day he made a decision: he would stop running from Mathematics and start understanding it. He developed a positive attitude towards Mathematics.

What did Chinedu do? He went back to the foundation—primary school Arithmetic and Mathematics, looked for his old textbooks, borrowed his younger brother’s Mathematics workbook, and started re-learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and Multiplication Tables and worked his way up to fractions, percentages, and simple interest and simple algebra. Chinedu made sure he understood each concept and procedure of the mathematics topics he was studying. Before you knew it, his confidence grew in Mathematics, building a solid base by mastering the basics in Mathematics, and it felt good.

Chinedu created a personal timetable for himself. Every day after school, he would spend just 1 hour solving 10 Mathematics problems. On weekends, he increased his practice time to 2 hours solving more than 20 Mathematics problems. He bought workbooks, downloaded free Mathematics apps, and started timing himself on practice questions. Slowly but surely, solving equations became less scary and more exciting. It was no longer a struggle—it was a challenge he was winning. He practiced regularly.

Chinedu didn’t limit himself to classroom lectures, he watched YouTube tutorials, and even joined a Paid Telegram Mathematics Study Group where students shared ideas and resources.

He also made use of the school’s Mathematics textbooks and WAEC and JAMB past questions booklets. Anytime he didn’t understand a topic, he’d search online for simple explanations and video guides. He made sure he utilized available resources.

At school, Chinedu and his friends formed a Mathematics-focused study group. He started learning from peers who explained things in a way that made sense to him. They worked on difficult problems together, and he found out he wasn’t the only one who used to struggle.

The group encouraged each other, and their friendly competition kept everyone motivated. Soon, he wasn’t just following along—he was leading discussions.

Whenever Chinedu hit a wall, he would approach his Mathematics teacher with questions. At first, he was shy, but he realized teachers were there to help. His Mathematics teacher, Mr. Charles, noticed his newfound dedication and became his mentor. He gave Chinedu extra problems to solve and encouraged him to participate in the school’s Mathematics Club.

Chinedu began to see Mathematics everywhere—in calculating transport fare, measuring ingredients while helping his mom in the kitchen, tracking his savings, and even analyzing football scores. This made Mathematics more practical and enjoyable, helping him understand the “why” behind the “how” in Mathematics. He applied Mathematics to real-life situations which enable him to master Mathematics better.

It wasn’t a smooth journey to master Mathematics for Chinedu. There were still tough days; they were Mathematics topics that frustrated him, mistakes that made him doubt himself. But he did remind himself always: “Progress takes time.” He stayed consistent with his timetable. celebrated small wins, like getting all his homework right or helping a friend solve a problem. Chinedu didn’t give up. He stayed consistent and patient.

One year later, Chinedu wasn’t the same boy who feared mathematics. He was now the go-to student when others needed help. Teachers began to notice his growth and appointed him the assistant class tutor for mathematics club. He started representing his school in Inter-School Mathematics Competitions, Cowbellpedia Mathematics Competitions and National Mathematics Competitions. At first, he was nervous—but he applied all he had learned and won second place in his first competition. By Senior Secondary 3 (SS3), he had collected five trophies, four medals, and even featured in Punch Newspaper as a Mathematics Champion. He scored 94 in Mathematics in WAEC and 98 in JAMB Mathematics. Chinedu has totally be transformed in Mathematics.

Today, Chinedu is studying Mathematics and Statistics at University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). He runs an online YouTube channel where he teaches mathematics concepts in Igbo and English Language, helping other students like his younger self overcome the fear of mathematics.

✨Moral of the Story

Chinedu’s story proves something powerful: Mathematics is not about being born a genius—it’s about the right attitude, consistent practice, and using the tools around you.

If Chinedu could go from failing mathematics to teaching it and winning awards, then so can you.

Now, let us explore 8 proven strategies for understanding and mastering Mathematics that has helped Chinedu and will help any student not only pass but excel consistently. Whether you’re in secondary school or preparing for WAEC, NECO, or JAMB, these strategies will guide your journey to becoming a confident, skilled Mathematics student.

The first thing that should come to our mind and we should know is the definition of Mathematics. So many students don’t even know the definition of Mathematics. When you don’t know the definition of Mathematics how do you understand it!

📘 What Is Mathematics?

Mathematics is the science of numbers, quantities, shapes, and patterns. It involves logical reasoning, problem-solving, and the ability to think in abstract ways. Mathematics is foundational to various fields, including science, engineering, technology, finance, and everyday decision-making.

In fact, we solve Mathematics every day. Let us now begin to look at the 8 proven strategies for understanding and mastering Mathematics and Excelling in it.

Can we go! This is it!

8 Proven Strategies for Understanding and Mastering Mathematics and Excelling in It

Strategy Number 1. Develop a Positive Attitude

The first and most important step to understanding Mathematics is developing a positive attitude. Many students struggle not because they can’t learn mathematics, but because they believe they can’t. Negative beliefs like “I’m not a mathematics person” or “Mathematics is too hard” can block learning before it starts.

✅ How to build a positive mindset:

• Begin each mathematics class with affirmations like “I can learn this.”
• Remind yourself that making mistakes is part of learning.
• Celebrate small wins and progress.

A positive attitude creates an open mind—and that’s the first key to unlocking your potential.

Strategy Number 2. Master the Basics

Before you can solve complex equations, you must master the basics. Mathematics is like building a house. Without a strong foundation, everything else will crumble. Go to the foundation and start to build.

📘 Focus on:

• Arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), Multiplication Tables
• LCM and HCF, Factors and Multiple
• Fractions (BODMAS) and decimals
• Percentages, rate and ratios
• Basic algebra

Without understanding these foundational concepts, higher-level mathematics becomes more confusing. Master them, and you’ll find everything else easier to understand.

Strategy Number 3. Practice Regularly

There’s no shortcut to becoming good at Mathematics. Like learning a sport or playing an instrument, you must practice regularly.

🧠 Practice helps you:

• Understand concepts and procedures deeper
• Build speed and accuracy
• Boost confidence

Come up with your Timetable. Set aside dedicated time daily or weekly to solve at least 5 Mathematics questions/problems per day. Start with easier ones and move to more challenging exercises as you grow.

Strategy Number 4. Utilize Available Resources

We live in a digital age filled with resources to help you understand Mathematics better. Don’t limit yourself to your textbook alone.

💻 Useful resources:

• YouTube tutorials (e.g., Khan Academy, Math Antics)
• Educational apps like Photomath or Mathway
• Online learning platforms like Udemy or Coursera
• e-Textbooks and past question booklets

Use a mix of visuals, videos, and practice tests to deepen your understanding.

Join our Online Telegram Class on “THE 7 LANGUAGES OF MATHEMATICS ONLINE CLASS”

Strategy Number 5. Join Study Groups

Study groups provide an opportunity to learn from others, share ideas, and reinforce your own understanding.

👥 Benefits of study groups:

• You’ll gain new perspectives on problem-solving.
• You’ll be motivated to stay on track.
• You’ll learn faster by teaching others.

Find friends, classmates, or online study communities that are serious about academic success and learn together.

Strategy Number 6. Seek Help When Needed

Don’t suffer in silence when you’re stuck. Seek help immediately. Whether it’s a teacher, mentor, tutor, or online forum, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

📌 Ways to get help:

• Ask your mathematics teacher for extra explanations.
• Get a tutor.
• Join Telegram or WhatsApp academic support groups.
• Use online Q&A platforms like Quora or Reddit’s learnmath.

There’s always someone ready to help you—just ask!

Strategy Number 7. Apply Mathematics to Real-Life Situations

One powerful way to boost your understanding is to apply Mathematics to real-life problems. Mathematics isn’t just about exams; it’s all around you.

🔍 Try this:

• Calculate the change when you go shopping.
• Measure ingredients when cooking.
• Track savings and expenses.
• Calculate average scores or percentages.

When mathematics becomes practical and personal, it becomes easier and more meaningful.

Strategy Number 8. Stay Consistent and Patient

Lastly, consistency and patience are the glue that holds all other strategies together. You can’t become a mathematics genius overnight, but daily efforts will compound over time.

🕒 Remember:

• Set realistic goals and track your progress.
• Stay motivated even when it gets hard.
• Don’t rush—mastery takes time.

Celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Consistency turns weaknesses into strengths.

Final Thoughts

Understanding Mathematics is not just about solving equations. It’s about building confidence, developing discipline, and unlocking opportunities. Many students have turned their mathematics struggles into success stories using these exact strategies. You can too. Start today by changing your perspective towards Mathematics. Embrace it, work at it, and let these 8 strategies guide you in every step of the way to understanding mathematics as it has guided Chinedu. It is your turn to start winning Mathematics award and score A1 in Mathematics. It is in you; you can do it.

Great! Here’s a printable checklist and personalized study timetable for understanding Mathematics using the 8 key strategies. Kindly click and download it to make use of it.

1. Mathematics Mastery Checklist (Click HERE and DOWNLOAD)

2. Personalized Weekly Study Timetable (Click HERE and DOWNLOAD)

No matter your level today, you can become a Mathematics success story. Start now. Keep going. The next Math Champion could be you.

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