There are many ways to remember the expression SOHCAHTOA. Just writing it out and using it a lot creates the familiarity that you need, but there are other things that you can do, too.
1 ~ Make a poster of it and place it over the bathroom mirror for a few days.
2 ~ Repeat it, mantra like, for 10-20 second bursts while you do something rhythmic like walking, running, swimming, or riding a bike.
3 ~ Learn an acronym. The Greek word “akros” means “tip,” so acronyms are words or expressions usually made from the first letters (tips) of other words. For example, many people remember the colours of the rainbow … Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet … by learning the “man’s name,” ROY G BIV.
Although Sin(x) = Opp/Hyp, Cos(x) = Adj/Hyp, and Tan(x) = Opp/Adj has the acronym SOHCAHTOA, this need not stop us from creating other acronyms for the same expression:
You can search the Internet for more (there is quite a variety and something to suit all tastes), but why not make up one of your own? The more outrageous and funny it is, the easier it will be to remember.
4 ~ Of course, you could always chant SOH-CAH-TOA to music! You might try one of these songs that I found on YouTube (or make up one of your own):
The first is a rather addictive song by Jonathan Mann, the second is Gettin’ Triggy Wit It based on Will Smith’s Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It, the third uses Bruno Mars’ Nothing On You, and the fourth video will remind you of Lady GaGa’s Poker Face. They may give you some good ideas.
Having said all that, you CAN invest too much time in all the ‘learning tricks’ … while the best learning is to simply write and use it as often as possible. In other words, if you solve quite a few simple trigonometric problems you will not only remember SOHCAHTOA, but will also remember what it means and how to use it (and why).
From the beginning of my schooling I had struggled with Mathematics. Highly discouraged by my results, I grew to eventually hate Maths and lost all motivation to improve. Then part way through year seven my parents decided to send me to Crystal Clear Mathematics. Graeme was able to quickly identify areas I needed to improve and explain Maths in a way that finally made sense to me. I was able to understand Maths. This in turn then affected my confidence in my own ability.
Since working with Graeme I have gone from failing to significantly improved results. I now get As & Bs both in examinations and for assignment tasks. Graeme is patient, kind and his tutoring is individualised. He was so helpful and I am grateful for his help.
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