How best to learn? How to get 100%?

[IneedA]

Homework Statement: I see people saying to understand concepts instead of memorizing.
Relevant Equations: Barely gonna start calculus-based physics. My question is how do i understand concepts and when do i know i have understood them fully? I would like a step by step to this with no room ambiguity or imagination. A video would be amazing. I would like examples, too. Like show where a concept is learned and used to solve difficult problems that would like otherwise be impossible to solve or something like this.

Basically like, if it was your job to make a C student get an A in calculus-based physics. What would you tell them to do if you wanted to guarantee they would get an A?

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PF.

if it was your job to make a C student get an A in calculus-based physics. What would you tell them to do if you wanted to guarantee they would get an A?

It's hard to make such a guarantee, but there are some things you can do to improve your chances of doing well. One of the biggest ones is to do as many problems as you can. Spend the time to do the work and do lots of problems. If you aren't willing to spend the time to put in all that work, then you probably aren't really interested in doing well in your classes.

 

[sbrothy]

I know apsiring doctors use mnemonic tricks like The memory Palace because they have to learn so much by rote. I'm not sure that'll work with mathematics though; but as someone else said: if you're looking for shortcuts you may be on the wrong path.

The best of luck though.

 

[sbrothy]

Well, as usually I stand corrected:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rote_learning

 

[Mark44]

I'm not sure that'll work with mathematics though; but as someone else said: if you're looking for shortcuts you may be on the wrong path.

Maybe you're referring to something like this:

whether there was in geometry no shorter way than that of the elements and he replied, “There is no royal road to geometry”.

 

[symbolipoint]

Basically like, if it was your job to make a C student get an A in calculus-based physics. What would you tell them to do if you wanted to guarantee they would get an A?

First thoroughly review study Intermediate Algebra, and Trigonometry; maybe also extend into "College Algebra". Next,...., I will leave that for later, or maybe for somebody else to respond.

 

[kuruman]

NEVER use AI tools to get answers. If you do, you will not gain the confidence that you can solve problems on your own and without help.

When you get stuck, go to a real person (teacher, fellow student, physics forums) who can get you unstuck and, most importantly, diagnose why you got stuck and what to do in order not to get a stuck when something related comes up again. That's called learning. AI gives you answers but it does not teach you how to get answers on your own.

 

[Mark44]

I'm not sure that'll work with mathematics though

As is stated in the wiki page you cited, rote learning is useful for certain foundational concepts. In arithmetic, it's crucial to know what are referred to as addition facts such the sums of single digit numbers, as well as the "times table." In trig, rote knowledge of at least some of the identities is also very important, although if you know that $\sin^2 \theta + \cos^2\theta = 1$, you can derive the other five circular trig identities. It's also useful to have a few of the derivative formulas and integration formulas under your belt.

 

[sbrothy]

Maybe you're referring to something like this:

Well, I had the distinct feeling that rote learning wouldn't help you learn mathematics (as it wont help you learn figure-skating). Music scales perhaps, but that a very limited usage:

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/memory/why-rote-memory-doesnt-help-you-learn/

 

[symbolipoint]

when symbols arranged on the page express precise meaning

edit: I guess I should say more than that.
Symbols written on a page in a purposeful ordered way are a transcription of language.
I know the thought may still be incomplete but that's all I feel I can say on it right now.

 

[Mark44]

Well, I had the distinct feeling that rote learning wouldn't help you learn mathematics (as it wont help you learn figure-skating).

Generally speaking, I agree with the above. However, it's important to have certain facts hard-wired, such as the examples I cited earlier.

 

[sbrothy]

Yes, I agree in almost all STEM-disciplines there are a lot of rules to remember, like right-hand and left-hand rules of electromagnetism for instance. And a ton of others. Remembering them is not the whole story though. If you don't actually use them you don't internalize them. If it was that easy I'd just read Penrose's "Road to Reality" and be done with it!