Developig My math skills

Based on my experience and coaching candidates, people often struggle with the math question because they jump to trying to solve/equation instead of focusing on 1) understanding the question 2) coming up conceptually with an understanding of what is asked. 

I always advice my candidates to 1) rephrase the question to make sure they understand it and most importantly to get some time to think about 2) translate the question in an intuitive business problem vs a math one. 

For example, many candidates would think of breakeven as an equation of formula but intuitively it is I need to cover my fixed cost and I make X by product so I need to sell Y products.

I would be happy to help you live with an example for free.

Hi Hilde,

This is a very common struggle for candidates. 

Sharing my perspective having also struggled with math. I majored in the arts/social sciences in college, and I felt that math was all along not my ‘strong point’. Unlike you, I struggled even with the calculation at the start. 

• First of all - you must have a solid foundation of the basic functions (+ - / *) → having this will take away alot of the stress or pressure to make calculations. It is great that you already are strong in calculation so keep that up
• Next, in terms of improving the quantitative reasoning or thinking, the only way you get better at this is to train your brain to work that way
• What worked for me was to start forcing myself to think and reason quantitatively in as many scenarios as possible in life, and come up with ‘formulas’ to try and get to a quantitative answer or solution to a situation or problem or question
  • E.g. if I was deciding which credit card to sign up for, how would I quantify this decision? e.g. maybe considering cost of annual fees, upside of redemption points etc
  • E.g. if I was deciding between going MBA versus staying in my job, how would I decide on this quantitatively?
  • E.g. you are facing a long queue at the supermarket - ask yourself a hypothethical question of how many additional counters would be needed to reduce the queue/waiting time by [50%]

Hope this helps - it's definitely possible to get better at this, based on my experience :)

Hi Hilde, yes there is ton of material:

"Case in Point" by Marc Cosentino: This book provides a comprehensive guide to case interviews and includes a section on the quantitative aspect. It's a valuable resource for improving your overall case-solving skills.

Khan Academy (khanacademy.org): Khan Academy offers a range of math tutorials, including algebra and other relevant topics. The interactive lessons can help you strengthen your mathematical foundation.

GMAT Math Resources: The quantitative section of the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) often involves problem-solving and data sufficiency questions, which are similar to case interview scenarios. Consider GMAT prep materials for additional practice.

MIT OpenCourseWare (ocw.mit.edu): MIT provides free access to a variety of courses, including those in mathematics. Reviewing relevant courses might help you build a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.

YouTube Tutorials: Search for specific topics on YouTube, such as "business math" or "quantitative reasoning." There are numerous educational channels that break down mathematical concepts with visual explanations.

Hi Hilde!

Reach out and I can share some drills. 

However, from my experience of working with candidates one by one, usually, it's the technique that they're getting wrong, not that they haven't had enough exercise already. 

So do get some feedback on the HOW you approach math problems rather than the speed at which you do them. For instance, most candidates fail to break down the problem effectively and to focus on communicating with the interviewer, both of which are critical for a successful interview. 

Best,
Cristian

Hi Hilde,

Some tips:

• Practice on Rocket Blocks
• Do online drills on PrepLounge: https://www.preplounge.com/en/mental-math
• Google “math drill sheets” and print them to do it on paper

Don't forget to also practice under time pressure.

Best,

Alberto

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Check out my latest case based on a real MBB interview: Sierra Springs

Hey Hilde,

I personally love rocketblocks! (only for math, NOT for frameworking)