Forgetting Formulas in Mathematics

[@laszayar]

Man, I'm a 15 yo in Canada getting into calculus on my own (still in sec 5). I just love everything about math, and your channel has been such a gold mine for both learning math, getting wisdom, and self improvement advice. God bless you, you're doing amazing work!

[@potatogaming6613]

do you have competitive exams in your country to get admitted to the top schools/colleges for undergraduate studies

[@bravingbrivatebrian]

You have a bright future

[@user-vg4cg4uw9c]

I was a returning student as a physics major and ran into that problem. This was fifteen years after graduating high school. What made it worse was getting a teacher who felt "they should know this stuff". This was a summer precalc course, so the material was crammed, too. lol

[@JeffRyman69]

I am a retired 77-year old with a Ph. D. in Nuclear Engineering. I took quite a few math classes, beginning with algebra, geometry, and trigonometry in high school (no calculus in small high schools in the 1960s), through calculus, ordinary differential equations, complex variables, linear algebra, partial differential equations, and a little numerical analysis, by the time I finished grad school. I haven't worked full time since 2012 but I am presently reviving some software I wrote in the 1980s that solves the Boltzman transport equation for gamma rays by the Monte Carlo method and I still do a little consulting work (some gratis) that involves gamma radiation transport, and the buildup and decay of radionuclides in nuclear fuel. I find that what I still remember (even from high school) are the things I used over and over. I can still do trigonometry and quite a little analytic geometry without looking in references because I worked on calculating organ volumes and random sampling routines for geometric organ models in human phantoms. For those things I don't remember long term, I learned a long time ago in grad school that understanding the principles involved is more important than memorizing facts or formulas, so I can just look up what I need, perhaps followed by an hour or two spent going over the material in a textbook or two.

[@TheCosmicGuy0111]

My man got the hidden formula

[@Nobel747]

Yes for me when I study calculus and forget some trig identities I go backward and spend hours to review what gaps I have then move forward, I find this the best way to learn and works with me very well. What I have discovered is psychologically mind does not want to feel idiot by moving backward but I think smart people know how to overcame this feeling.

[@Deep_3_1_1]

You look radiant today, sir! ✨

[@robappleby583]

I keep a little notebook with noteworthy results in it, from trigonometric equalities to common integrals to matrix formulas etc. the fact that I wrote them down myself and continually refer to the notebook means that they gradually percolate into my brain.

[@julians9763]

Some of us have just been encouraged by the math Sourcerer to refresh our memories with as many Mathematical formulas whenever possible. For the students who aspire to graduate as Maths teacher, you should be encouraged to delve deeper into mathematics. You never know when you might be asked. questions, that " I don't know " is not a suitable answer.

[@poojalohumi1598]

Also tends to happen when one is stressed or under pressure!

[@stickman1695]

I agree but for some reason my memory goes into overdrive when I'm on a test and I can do problems way faster and more accurately than on homework

[@poojalohumi1598]

@stickman1695 I would suggest giving something like a 'mock test' at home prior to any upcoming tests. Put a time limit, and mimic the same environment as the exam hall. Because test taking is also an art in itself.

[@rubinahaque4942]

Math anxiety

[@BehindthesafetyofLinux]

I would also add, do your readings in your textbook for the appropriate material covered by the class. The textbooks will touch on every concept you require to do a problem outside of very basic algebra. Way more detailed than you will receive in any lecture. The purpose of the lecture is more to provide an intuitive explanation of concepts. The entire first chapter of most calculus books is a review on limits alone. The new stuff doesn't really start until you are proving epsilon for delta or vice versa. Also, do lots of the work problems from the textbook. The more you use it, the less likely you are to forget it.

[@sohybali2696]

I found this entirely intriguing. Why on Earth do student have to know the formulae? Why don't professor allow students to use mathematical handbooks instead?! We all know that we will always forget most of the equations we have studeid. My opinion is to allow students to use handbooks, and to grade them based on their solutions step by step.

[@RaV-ru7eb]

Its like gym but for the brain (like concept of MuscleMemory) ... dude...

[@joeblow1688]

I recall my College Physics Professor telling me "I don't expect you to memorize equations. I expect you to know how to use them". That allowed me to totally focus on understanding the concepts, by working more problems and not memorizing formulas. The formulas I began to actually remember, because I was working more problems!

[@ThePapatinas]

Estoy estudiando mi maestría en Ciencia de los Datos y me paso algo muy similar con el Algebra lineal y las matrices. Me sentía muy tonto repasando nuevamente algebra y viendo mil cursos por que sentía que era el único en la clase que lo necesitaba. Pues descubrí después que la mayoría lo hicimos, no era el único y las personas que las personas que no lo hicieron en su respectivo momento llego la bolita de nieve tan grande que ahora no entienden nada. Estudio también Japones y es algo que hago todas las clases, repasar algo que vi antes. Como consejo que no solía hacer era siempre tener mis notas de clases super bien pulidas e identificadas, así con facilidad puedo retroceder, recordar y avanzar. Ahora justo estoy por empezar a repasar calculo por puro gusto y para seguir entendiendo si ya en Maestría! y como dice es algo muy normal, no todos somos matemáticos que utilizamos las formulas o los conceptos a diario. Es normal olvidar, pero lo que no es normal es no ponerte a repasar.

[@studentstudent5044]

Exactly what I needed as I’m just starting a course in advanced micro economics!

[@dangeerraaron]

The ones burned into my memory: Slope of a line, point-slope formula, and midpoint of a line. I have to look up geometric ones beyond a square haha.

[@brentsrx7]

This guy needs to be the world's math teacher.

[@bellamylawx9479]

I feel dumb when a teacher skips steps on a formula or uses uncommon symbols without explaining them or like the example of the video use a formula that I haven't used in so long bc I never encountered it in years. I end up feeling bad and wondering what should I study? What should I review? The attitude of some teachers makes it worse, makes me feel like quitting

[@PhillipRhodes]

1. Is this normal (to forget stuff you haven't used in a decade)? YES. It's perfectly normal. What would be abnormal would be if you DID remember all of those formulas. 2. What to do about it? Simple: Spaced Repetition using Anki. Create an Anki deck and plug in all those generic formulas, rules, equivalences, identities, etc. (the stuff from inside the covers of your textbook is a good start). Review daily and let the Anki algorithm dictate what you review on any given day. Do this consistently and "remembering formulas" will never be a problem again. (Note: and you add to the deck as you encounter new "stuff" you want to keep memorized)..

[@Animaxv9]

Sorcerer looking way to happy for me forgetting that one formula they thaught in 5th grade

[@CrazyShores]

YOU CAN DERIVE THE VOLUME OF A SPHERE, either using geometric techniques (like the ancient greeks), or via a triple integral! If you can't derive it, it's your problem, you have to remember it!!

[@krisnna2504]

Hello, I love your videos

[@supratimsantra5413]

My cordial tribute towards your valuable teaching and motivating vidioes of mathematics and statistics. Thanks you so much sir

[@roro-vp1xk]

Are you a professor in math? Great video

[@reinerheiner1148]

Are you not allowed to look at quick reference book containing formulas?

[@Starlesslight]

My high school physics teacher gave me some good advice. Don't try to memorize everything. Learn how to derive what you need.

[@WalnerkTutorialesPC]

Jeff bezos ?

[@victorvaldebenito8225]

I always forget the Taylor series for exponential, sine and cosine XD

[@Thetruestar-i8x]

I feel very dumb

[@josephgrossenbacher7642]

if you're "good" at calculus then it's no big deal when you forgot the sphere-volume-formula ... just figure it out with your calculus skills ...

[@klyetruman7285]

I'm in calculus one now, it is tough but practice makes perfect.

[@pawankumar0573]

❤❤

[@rinaaa.5044]

Hi

[@parki5074]

Not a math student, so if this is non-sense to you, don't get mad. Isn't it the whole point of learning math is to understand things, instead of memorizing it? If you understand you would be able to figure it out on your own and if some exam or else problem could be solved simply by looking at a formula there is no point in learning it at all? I have a bit of programming background, usually it's not wrong to google anything if you can figure it out by googling it.

[@logicwizard783]

This also confuses me about what mathematicians say about that topic. Like I guess if you're never going to solve application problem, then having no understanding might help some people who learn better by just rigorous problem solving, but for me personally, I actually find it easier to remember formulas when I analyze the proofs and logic connected to the development of those formulas, and they stick with me very easily. Which is why something like calculus comes very naturally to me

[@elia0162]

yeah but university doesn't reward understanding the concept but what you memorized

[@PhillipRhodes]

> Isn't it the whole point of learning math is to understand things, instead of memorizing it? No. Nobody has the time, inclination, energy, etc. to re-derive everything from first principles every time they need to do something. Of course you don't want to *only* memorize stuff, but there's always going to be stuff you want to memorize, because it would be stupid (waste of time and energy) to NOT memorize it. You want to free up your mental energy for the hard-stuff, not re-deriving the formula for the volume of a sphere, or something equally trite.