Trigonometry is a mathematics branch that studies triangles and their relations. Trigonometry is used in high school and introductory college mathematics to study triangles, solve equations, and graph the relationships between their three angles.
Although an interesting subject, trigonometry may seem very complex and overwhelming for beginners. The required continuous focus during class can become a challenge for them.
What do we do when we want to cheer up or lighten up our mood? We turn to humor. Even as children the cartoons seemed so funny and made us smile. How would it be to use the same to teach children a subject like Math?
A happy child with a relaxed mind understands better and is more interactive in class. A few jokes can serve as the ice breaker and open up a healthy communication channel between the educator and the learner.
Let us look at a few jokes based on trigonometry that can liven up the class atmosphere and make learning more enjoyable.
Learning trigonometry through humor: Does it help?
Jokes and humor ease the class’s atmosphere and help relax the mind. Once the stress of learning is reduced, the student tends to concentrate better and learn more efficiently.
Jokes also sharpen the mind and help remember the Math concepts better as jokes depend on their use of puns to illustrate how one or more mathematical principles, such as sine, cosine, and tangent, can be combined.
Research[1] suggests that humor produces psychological and physiological benefits that help students learn. Humour can change a difficult situation into a relaxed and comfortable one.
Humour results in a dopamine release that stimulates motivation and long-term memory. Therefore humor can improve retention in students, which is a great skill used in learning.
It is suggested that smiling and laughter cause a release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that relieve pain and stress when they are stimulated. Endorphins released also stimulate the frontal lobes of the brain which increase the attention span.
This increase in the attention span helps the student to understand concepts better.
Funny jokes to lighten up the mood in trigonometry class
1. Why am I making trigonometry jokes?
Cos I can.
2. My sister refused to go to the beach
as she will get tan lines.
3. My teacher frowned at me when I handed in my trigonometry test paper
I don’t think that’s a good sine
4. While discussing trigonometry, two mathematicians had a disagreement over the best method for measuring angles.
It turned into a protracted argument.
5. Why did the skeptic do poorly in Trigonometry?
He refused to see the sines.
6. What did the angle say to the other angle?
We make a right angle.
7. I asked my sister if she can help me understand what is 1/cos(θ) in trigonometry.
She replied she was busy so Secant. (she can’t)
8. Can an English major learn Trig?
Cosecant! (Course he can’t)
9. What do you call an insect that’s not feeling well?
A secant (sick ant)
10. I always failed my trigonometry test
as I was never very good at Sine language.
11. What do you call a researcher who is good at trigonometry?
A sinetist!
12. Math puns are the first sine of madness.
13. Why did the student need to get a guardian to help them with their trigonometry homework?
They needed someone to cosine.
14. I always prayed before my trigonometry tests.
I was hoping for a sine from above.
15. A nerd was invited to compete in the Trigonometry Mathletic Competition…
he said: “Sine me up!”
16. Why do you always follow your instinct when doing trigonometry?
Because you might have secant thoughts and go off on a tangent.
17. What do the home mortgage and trigonometry have in common?
you have to sine and cosine.
18. What does trigonometry have in common with a beach?
Answer: Tan Gents
19. If trigonometry scares you…
Just call out for your guardian angle.
20. Worst trigonometry joke I know.
Actually, I won’t bother telling it; it’s too obtuse.
That’s it.
Humor is a great way to learn trigonometry. It can help one relax, and make learning fun.
It can help to relieve some of this stress and make the process easier. Jokes or funny anecdotes can be used to help you more easily remember key facts and concepts from your subjects. It can also be used to create new, more interesting study techniques and strategies.
When you incorporate a fun element into your studying, you will find that the process becomes much less daunting and much more enjoyable. This can lead to improved study habits and a stronger overall academic performance. Some students may be intimidated by subjects that they don’t entirely understand the concepts behind it. When you are using humor as a study technique, you can feel more empowered to try and understand the material.
Reference:
- Stambor, Z. (2006, June). How laughing leads to learning. Monitor on Psychology, 37(7). https://www.apa.org/monitor/jun06/learning
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,