I'm always amused when formulas and procedures are referred to as 'cheat sheets'. After all, aren't they just the essentials in math? Then again, the whole idea of cheat sheets bring up another point, should formulas be memorized? Should students be given the formulas for tests? After all, they're quite accessible and don't we want students determining which formula to use as opposed to memorizing them? Is that the skill that's important?
Here are a few of the essentials:
- Calculus Cheat Sheet
- Perimeter, Area and Volume of Shapes and Solids
- Order of Operations
- A Variety of Common Math Formulas
Have an opinion? We'd like to hear it.
Comments
The slope formula…the distance formula…the midpoint formula – ARGH!
With all those x sub 1s and y sub 2s, these formulas or maybe they’re equations..HMMM…anyway, get all jumbled and misapplied.
As an adjunct Math prof, former engineer and ‘Robin the Math Lady’, I help people to build Math Confidence through metacognitive strategies.
How much does a cheat sheet help? If Math = formulas, then it would indeed be cheating. But problem-solving is so much more. In engineering school, our open book untimed exams with only 3 problems would take 6 or more hours and a ‘C’ would be welcomed with open arms! Some profs allowed just one piece of paper. It took days to craft a crowded cheat sheet chock full of problems (ok, opportunities) with a 0.5mm mechanical pencil. This process helped us know our strengths and weaknesses for maximizing potential on our exams (ok, assessments).
Now as a prof, I encourage homework and classwork on cheat sheets for reference points
so that learners can size up the challenges and tackle them under peak performance conditions (tests). Cheat sheets boost confidence, performance and enjoyment of Math and learning!
http://mathconfidence.blogspot.com/search/label/cheat%20sheets