Most American children who sat through piano lessons will recognize the mnemonic device I used as the title for this post: Every Good Boy Does Fine is how we learned the notes on the treble staff (EGBDF). This little phrase is an example of a mnemonic device, which is a type of memory aid that can be very useful in GED prep.
Another widely known mnemonic we’ve discussed here recently represents the order of operations used to evaluate algebraic expressions: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. This stands for parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction (PEMDAS); processing these operations in the correct order is essential to getting the correct answer. For example:
30 – 5 x 4 + (7 – 3)2 ÷ 8
Begin with the parentheses: 7 minus 3 equals 4. Then process the exponent: 4 squared equals 16.
30 – 5 x 4 + 16 ÷ 8
Next, multiply: 5 times 4 equals 20. Then divide: 16 divided by 8 equals 2. Lastly add, then subtract, from left to right:
30 – 20 + 2 = 10 + 2 = 12
If you had simply moved from left to right without considering the correct order of operations, you would have gotten an incorrect answer that probably would have been included as a trap for careless test-takers!
Another REALLY useful GED mnemonic is one that represents the triangle inequality theorem: The length of one side of a triangle must be bigger than the difference and smaller than the sum of the other two sides. Bigger than the Difference, Smaller than the Sum (BDSS) can be remembered as Big Daddy Says So.
Another tip is a way to keep straight the formulas for circumference and area of a circle. Cherry Pie is Delicious; Apple Pies Are, Too:
C = π d A = π r2
My last tip of the day is making a DiRT box, a trick for remembering the rate formula. This also works for speed, and if you change the letters can be used for other three-part formulas. Draw a box with three parts, as shown:
Label the three parts with the variables from the rate equation, distance, rate, and time in the order shown: DRT. Now cover up one variable with your hand. What you see is the equation for that variable; cover the d and you get rt; cover the r and you get d over t. The DiRT box is an easy way to remember formulas, provided you enter the variables in the correct order!
There are many more mnemonic devices to help you on Test Day, as well as variations on the ones I’ve listed here. Use whatever you need to help you recall the rules, equations, and formulas you need to rock the GED!
