Understanding the purpose of a complicated math formula makes it much easier to remember. [3] X Expert Source Grace Imson, MAMath Instructor, City College of San Francisco Expert Interview. 1 November 2019.
For example, in the equation 4x2+6x+2=0{\displaystyle 4x^{2}+6x+2=0}:a=4{\displaystyle a=4}b=6{\displaystyle b=6}c=2{\displaystyle c=2} Plugging these values into the equation: x=−6±62−4(4)(2)2(4){\displaystyle x={\frac {-6\pm {\sqrt {6^{2}-4(4)(2)}}}{2(4)}}}
For example:x=−6+62−4(4)(2)2(4){\displaystyle x={\frac {-6+{\sqrt {6^{2}-4(4)(2)}}}{2(4)}}}x=−6+62−328{\displaystyle x={\frac {-6+{\sqrt {6^{2}-32}}}{8}}}x=−6+36−328{\displaystyle x={\frac {-6+{\sqrt {36-32}}}{8}}}x=−6+48{\displaystyle x={\frac {-6+{\sqrt {4}}}{8}}}x=−6+28{\displaystyle x={\frac {-6+2}{8}}}x=−48{\displaystyle x={\frac {-4}{8}}}x=−12{\displaystyle x={\frac {-1}{2}}}So, the first root of the equation is x=−12{\displaystyle x={\frac {-1}{2}}}
For example:x=−6−62−4(4)(2)2(4){\displaystyle x={\frac {-6-{\sqrt {6^{2}-4(4)(2)}}}{2(4)}}}x=−6−62−328{\displaystyle x={\frac {-6-{\sqrt {6^{2}-32}}}{8}}}x=−6−36−328{\displaystyle x={\frac {-6-{\sqrt {36-32}}}{8}}}x=−6−48{\displaystyle x={\frac {-6-{\sqrt {4}}}{8}}}x=−6−28{\displaystyle x={\frac {-6-2}{8}}}x=−88{\displaystyle x={\frac {-8}{8}}}x=−1{\displaystyle x=-1}So, the first root of the equation is x=−1{\displaystyle x=-1}
The lyrics are:x equals negative b,plus or minus the square root,of b-squared minus 4ac,all over 2a.
The lyrics are:X equals opposite b,plus or minus the square root,b-squared minus 4ac,divided by 2a.
Write down the lyrics of the song so that you remember it. Even better, make a video of yourself singing it. Then you can listen to the video during your study sessions and sing along with it. You could also post it to YouTube or another website so that it can help others who are also trying to remember the formula.
For example, if your sister’s name is Becky, your friend’s name is Ann, and your dog’s name is Cody, you can memorize “Negative Becky, plus or minus the square root of Becky squared minus 4 Ann-Cody, over 2 Anns. ”
For example, you can associate a negative/minus sign with being sad, and a positive/plus sign with being happy. You can associate a radical sign with an umbrella, and a fraction with a subway. The variables can stand for the first letter in the name of a person or animal. For example, for the quadratic formula you could make up the following story: “A sad bison approached an umbrella that could have been happy or sad. Underneath the umbrella was a square bison and four sad alley cats. They all stood over a subway where 2 aardvarks were dancing. ” Write down your story so that you can re-read it as you try to memorize the formula.
For example, to remember the first part of the formula, −b±{\displaystyle -b\pm }, you could use the name “Negbee, Prime Minister” and visualize what such a leader might look like. To remember b2{\displaystyle {\sqrt {b^{2}}}}, you could say the phrase “Square Root Beer Square” and visualize a square made out of Root Beer wearing glasses.
