How Much Mathematics Should a Student Memorize?

As Chinese we are good at memorizing poems since young (think of reciting 唐诗300首 – no sweat! ).
By chanting in Hokkien I remember complicated trigo formula:)
Cos 3A = 4Cos^3 A – 3.Cos A
($ 1.3 = $4.3 -$3 with $ =Cos in Hokkien sound).
Once I performed this ‘memory power’ in a lecture hall with me called up by the professor to solve a Physics problem. Halfway in the computation we need to open up the “Cos 3A”, the prof asked the whole class to help me, but I wrote the above down quickly on the white board to the awe of the class. Guess what, when the prof saw it, instead of praising me I got a scolding ! He said “Do not keep unnecessary things in your head”. The prof is a French, he did not know I have Hokkien language advantage… haha.
Anyway, joke aside, try to memorize minimum, go by first principle so that you will never ever forget iin whole life (yes, I remember them now after 40 years).

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Author: tomcircle

Math amateur

2 thoughts on “How Much Mathematics Should a Student Memorize?”

  1. I’m not sure what the “latex” formula is about, but the cos3A formula is fabulous even in English. (My students must have the cos3A formula memorized for a specific test.)

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