Thinking+About+Our+Thinking

**Thinking About Our Thinking**

Ninth grade was when I first learned about significant figures, and this was a completely new concept that I struggled to do well in. By the end of the year, I was able to understand and properly use significant figures. Going into Chemistry this year, I knew significant figures would be an important part of the course, and my first encounter with it this year was easier than I expected it to be. I guess it was because I had the prior knowledge and comfort with the subject that helped me out and made significant figures seem easy, but at the same time this comfort can do me harm.

Being too comfortable in something usually results in me making many careless mistakes, especially when it comes to numbers. When taking the webassign quizzes, I noticed that it took me a few tries to get the questions involving significant figures right. I found that I was taking my understanding and knowledge of the concept for granted. Before the test I made it a point to study the rules of significant figures, especially the rules involving addition, subtraction, and multiplication. I realized that these rules were relatively drilled into my head already and that I knew them very well, I was just overlooking their importance and rushing through the questions. During the test, I made it a point to think about my thinking, and think thoroughly about the problem I as presented. Using this habit of mind, I learned to pay caution to detail and to give my full attention in something that I struggled with earlier. This skill helped me do well on the problems in the test, and I was able to get the correct answer that I didn't before.