What impression of the mathematical pursuit do we often give students? Answers are pre-known (they are at the back of the book or are in the teacher’s mind), all can be accomplished in a fixed amount of time (quizzes and exams are usually timed), and the goal is to follow a pre-set intellectual path (as dictated by a curriculum). Open research and problem-solving tasks, on the other hand, usually possess none of these features! Persistence and perseverance are key skills absolutely vital for any success in original intellectual endeavors.

Read more about this strategy here: Problem-Solving Strategy Essay #7: Perseverance is Key

Find other problem-solving strategies you can use on the MAA American Mathematics Competitions and other competitions here.