Questions tagged [mnemonic]
Questions related to memory devices that help learners recall larger pieces of information, especially in the form of lists like characteristics, steps, stages, parts.
37
questions
4
votes
1answer
93 views
Mnemonic to remembering that inverse limits are limits and direct limits are colimits
Sometime ago I had trouble remembering that right adjoints preserve limits (and so left adjoints preserve colimits). But ever since R. Vakil suggested that we use RAPL as a mnemonic to Right Adjoint ...
1
vote
3answers
93 views
How do you reverse a percentage change?
Is there any simple way to know how to reverse a percentage?
For example if I have 100 and it goes down by 10% I end up with 90. If I then add to it by 10% I end up with 99, not the 100 that you ...
0
votes
0answers
11 views
A question regarding the equivalent criterion of continuity.
We know that a function $f:X\to Y$ is continuous iff $f(\overline{ A})\subset \overline {f(A)}$ or iff $f^{-1}(B^0)\subset (f^{-1}(B))^0$ or iff $\overline {f^{-1}(B)}\subset f^{-1}(\overline {B})$....
4
votes
2answers
157 views
What lies behind the definitions of split monics and epics?
Is there an easy way to memorize the definitions of split monics and split epics, and not to confuse the domains/codomains of the arrows from those definitions?
For example, is there a mnemonic rule?...
0
votes
0answers
54 views
Mnemonic for Remembering Epic vs Monic
I am trying to remember which arrows are epic (epimorphisms) and which arrows are monic (monomorphisms), but the terminology is very confusing. What is a hint/mnemonic for remembering which is which?
...
1
vote
2answers
89 views
Is there a reason why we call $\mathrm{Hom}(A, -)$ covariant and $\mathrm{Hom}(-,B)$ contravariant?
I have trouble remembering what it means to apply the covariant or contravariant Hom functor.
For example, when I see $\mathrm{Hom}(A, -)$, I always forget if I am going to reverse arrows or not.
...
1
vote
2answers
93 views
What would be the best way to memorize the 10 by 10 multiplication table?
Hear me out before you start downvoting please. I have a learning disability so no matter how hard I try I can’t memorize the table. Please give some tips/hints on how to memorize the table. Thanks in ...
0
votes
1answer
69 views
Mnemonic for cubic discriminant?
I sort of doubt there is a good one out there, but I thought I'd ask. I'm looking for a mnemonic for the general discriminant of the polynomial $ax^3+bx^2+cx+d$, which is
$$b^2c^2-4ac^3-4b^3d-27a^...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Am I the only one constantly forgetting the Eisenstein criterion? [closed]
Do you guys have tricks to remember the Eisenstein criterion? I constantly forget it and I am looking for some logic in it to never forget it again.
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Mnemonic for Integration by Parts formula?
The Integration by Parts formula may be stated as: $$\int uv' = uv - \int u'v.$$
I wonder if anyone has a clever mnemonic for the above formula.
What I often do is to derive it from the Product Rule ...
1
vote
0answers
122 views
How to remember which is lower/upper semicontinuity?
There are several ways in which continuity can be formulated as two conditions - in a way such that one of them is lower semicontinuity and the other one is upper semicontinuity. (See below for ...
1
vote
1answer
173 views
Mnemonics for typical integrations
I am supposed to mug up these integrals for my upcoming exams:
$$\int\sqrt{a^2-x^2}dx=\frac{x}{2}\sqrt{a^2-x^2}+\frac{a^2}{2}\sin^{-1}\frac xa+C$$
$$\int\sqrt{x^2+a^2}dx=\frac{x}{2}\sqrt{x^2+a^2}+\...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
Memorize inequalities about floor function
Let $n \in \mathbb{Z}$. Prove that:
1.$\lfloor x \rfloor \le n \to x \lt n+1$
2.$ \lfloor x \rfloor \lt n \to x \lt n$
3.$ \lfloor x \rfloor \ge n \to x \ge n$
4.$\lfloor x \rfloor \gt n \to x \ge n+...
11
votes
4answers
17k views
How to remember which function is concave and which one is convex?
I always struggle to remember when a function is convex and concave:
Do you have a particular trick to help you remember this?
My trick is based on the Spanish phrase "No cabe", pronounced ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Mnemonics for linear algebra
Sometimes formulas in linear algebra are not easy to remember. Some usefulness for the process of remembering can provide application of mnemonics.
Do you know some useful mnemonics for this ...
3
votes
1answer
132 views
Epsilon-Delta Quasi-Limerick
Is this sufficiently logical to commit to memory? Any suggested edits?
If $x$ is within $\delta$ of $c$,
so $f$ is in $\varepsilon$ of $T;$
work $f$ minus $T$ to $x$ minus $c$;
choose $\delta$ as $\...
3
votes
4answers
4k views
Mnemonic for derivative/integral of $\sin x$ and $\cos x$
I'd love to know if anyone has a good mnemonic for answers of the following:
$$\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}x} \, \sin x$$
$$\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}x} \, \cos x$$
$$\int \sin x \,\mathrm{d}x$$
...
1
vote
6answers
327 views
Sine and Cosine Derivatives
The derivatives of:
$$\frac{d}{dx}\sin(x)=\cos(x)$$
$$\frac{d}{dx}\cos(x)=-\sin(x)$$
I currently trying to teach a friend of mine calculus, because he does not know it yet. He keeps forgetting ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
How can I remember whether finite or countable cartesian product of countable set is countable
I always forget this result
Is cartesian product of countable set countable under finite or
countable cartesian products?
Is there a good way to remember this? Like a proof sketch where the ...
4
votes
3answers
8k views
How to remember sum to product and product to sum trigonometric formulas?
They are:
\begin{align}
\cos(a)\cos(b)&=\frac{1}{2}\Big(\cos(a+b)+\cos(a-b)\Big) \\[2ex]
\sin(a)\sin(b)&=\frac{1}{2}\Big(\cos(a-b)-\cos(a+b)\Big) \\[2ex]
\sin(a)\cos(b)&=\frac{1}{2}\Big(\...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Index notation of tensors and mnemonics
I've been trying to learn to manipulate tensors but I've got probably too comfortable with all the matrices in my Linear Algebra course, that it gets really difficult beyond rank-3 tensors. So, ...
12
votes
2answers
6k views
Easy way of memorizing or quickly deriving summation formulas
My math professor recently told us that she wants us to be familiar with summation notation. She says we have to have it mastered because we are starting integration next week. She gave us a bunch of ...
50
votes
12answers
378k views
Easy way of memorizing values of sine, cosine, and tangent
My math professor recently told us that she wanted us to be able to answer $\sin\left(\frac{\pi }{2}\right)$ in our head on the snap. I know I can simply memorize the table for the test by this Friday,...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the good way to remember the signs of the rotational matrix?
Recall rotational matrix in (x,y) is given by:
$R = \begin{bmatrix} \cos(\theta) & -\sin(\theta) \\ \sin(\theta) & \cos(\theta) \end{bmatrix}$
For the life of me I cannot remember if the top ...
14
votes
5answers
5k views
How to remember trig identities?
Suppose I have a trig function $T: \Bbb{R} \rightarrow \Bbb{R}$. I want to be able to derive four basic properties:
$$T(x) \cdot T(y)$$
$$T(x) + T(y)$$
$$T(x+y)$$
$$T(cx)$$
where $c$ is some scalar....
2
votes
7answers
2k views
Remembering that $\sin^2(\theta) = 1/2 - 1/2\cos(2\theta)$?
How do you remember this for integrals?
It doesn't seem obvious and I can never remember it when I come across it in integrals.
5
votes
9answers
819 views
Memorizing the identities $\cos {\pi \over 3}=\sin {\pi \over 6} = {1 \over 2}$
I memorized $\sin {\pi \over 4} = \cos {\pi \over 4}= {1\over \sqrt{2}}$ easily by using the diagonal inside the unit square.
I am having great trouble memorizing the identities $\cos {\pi \over 3}=\...
4
votes
2answers
3k views
Are there examples of when the ILATE mnemonic for choosing factors when integrating by parts fails?
Is it possible in some cases that using the ILATE rule does not yield an explicit antiderivative but making another choice does yields one? If so, please give examples.
12
votes
5answers
2k views
Top 10 math mnemonics
If you study undergraduate medicine, mnemonics are almost indispensable - there is so much factual material to learn. I was never given any mnemonics in my time as a maths undegraduate. But Robert ...
13
votes
5answers
3k views
Injection vs. Surjection: Mnemonic to remember which is which
What are some mnemonics to help one remember that Injection = One-to-one and Surjection = Onto? The only thing I can think of is 1njection = 1-1.
4
votes
4answers
1k views
How to remember a particular class of trig identities.
Please how can I easily remember the following trig identities:
$$
\sin(\;\pi-x)=\phantom{-}\sin x\quad \color{red}{\text{ and }}\quad \cos(\;\pi-x)=-\cos x\\
\sin(\;\pi+x)=-\sin x\quad \color{red}{\...
4
votes
0answers
481 views
Remembering numbers while performing calculations mentally
Specific question: how can I improve on mentally performing calculations like these :
$$(78-59)\times23-8\%\times(270+130)$$
$$[2\text{digit}+-2\text{digit}]\times2\text{digit}+-x\%\text{of}[3\text{...
3
votes
2answers
148 views
Mnemonic for centroid of a bounded region
The centroid of a region bounded by two curves is given by:
$ \bar{x} = \frac{1}{A}\int_a^b{x\left[f(x)-g(x)\right]dx} $
$ \bar{y} = \frac{1}{A}\int_a^b{\left[\frac{(f(x)+g(x)}{2}(f(x)-g(x))\right]...
1
vote
1answer
770 views
What makes this mnemonic device work for multiplication?
I stumbled across a mnemonic device related to multiplication, outlined on this wikipedia page. I see that it does work, but I'd like to know why. It works as follows (from the wikipedia page):
...
11
votes
8answers
1k views
“How I wish I could calculate pi” analogs…
You might know the mnemonic for $\pi$ in the title or even this more elaborated one:
Sir, I bear a rhyme excelling
In mystic force, and magic spelling
Celestial sprites elucidate
All my own ...
93
votes
9answers
11k views
What are Some Tricks to Remember Fatou's Lemma?
For a sequence of non-negative measurable functions $f_n$, Fatou's lemma is a statement about the inequality
$$\int \liminf_{n\rightarrow \infty} f_n \mathrm{d}\mu \leq \liminf_{n\rightarrow \infty}(...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
Remembering multiplication of these two numbers: $7 \times 8 = 56$ and $9 \times 6 = 54$
I have almost mastered multiplication table up to 9x9 however, I'm having problems with the following two.
7 x 8 = 56
and
9 x 6 = 54
For some reason my brain thinks that 56 and 54 are somewhat the ...
