How much repetition should there be in math homework?

Most of us agree that some repetition helps us to be more fluent in certain problem-solving techniques. It is not a substitute for understanding theory, however. So, how repetitive should homework be?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

REMsleep · 41-45, F

You asked a similar ? Yesterday can I ask the reason behind this question, curious?

33person · 26-30, M

@REMsleep I am a graduate math student and will be a professor, and I have been obsessed with this issue ever since I was 10. I have had teachers in that time who have given very repetitive homework and teachers who have given almost none. I have found that I tend to do well in classes where there is repetitive homework, but I have not had such a class since high school. Ever since then, I have been assigned a small number of very time-consuming problems.

REMsleep · 41-45, F

@33person I believe that at college level especially a graduate degree in any type of math there is no need to do hours upon hours of repetitive problems. That is for the students who are adults to do on their own. They have other classes and jobs etc. You should already have study skills and a good foundation by that time. It is important that the concepts are second nature to you and that you know how to go about solving the problems. Familiarity with theorems and all that. So longer problems that are more complex would be expected. Also no prof/TA has time to grade all of that. Now if you were teaching remedial college algebra to fresh out of highschool kids then a bit more repetition might be in order but not on the level of highschool.

eMortal · M

@REMsleep don't bother. He's looking for someone or just trolling.