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Contents contributed and discussions participated by daninguelph

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Understanding symbols and variables - 0 views

started by daninguelph on 14 Oct 14 no follow-up yet
  • daninguelph
     
    In my third year Quantum Chemistry course, I recall a learning moment. The instructor was gifted a helping us see through the complex mathematics. A whole new set of symbols are introduced - many of them from the Greek alphabet - and the novice learner can't help but feel that there is something significant (that they must be missing) about calling a wavefunction "psi". I remember him writing out complicated integrals and then regrouping them with new variables. In particular I remember him using the variable "happy face" and the integral of "happy face dee-happy face" is just one-half happy-face squared! He regrouped variables and invented new units. The "zunk" was an important unit of energy when solving atomic problems. His ability to structure the lesson to help us see complex mathematical operations from multiple viewpoints really aided in our organization and construction of our understanding of the concept.
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