PC2174
PC2174: Mathematical Methods in Physics I
Textbook for the course:Mathematical Methods For Physics And Engineering
by K. F. Riley, M. P. Hobson, S. J. Bence
Working Life
Rules of Thumb
Shopping I
When shopping don't try and look for specific items, you will never find them.Shopping II
After a hard day's shopping, the perfect item was always to be found in the very first place you looked.Sitting down
People who work sitting down always get paid more than those who work standing up.Hierarchies I
The cream rises to the top. So does the scum.Hierarchies II
The only important information in a hierarchy is who knows what.Exams-multiple choice
In a multiple-choice situation, never change your first guess - it is always the best. When in doubt, always pick D on a multiple-choice test.Exams - revision I
The less time you took to remember something, the quicker you will forget it.Exams - revision II
The more studying you did for an exam, the less able you will be able to decide which question to answer when you're actually taking it.Raising a hand
When a teacher needs someone to volunteer an answer, raise your hand at the same time as the class genius. If you time it correctly, neither of you will ever be picked.Running a restaurant
If a customer likes your restaurant, he'll tell two other people. If a customer hates your restaurant, he'll tell seven other people.Behaviour
If someone says "it's not the money, it's the principle" then it's really the money.Negative questions
If you ask a negative question, you will get a negative answer.Hotel selection on the basis of risk
Pick a hotel room between the third and sixth floors. Three floors puts you above street attacks and random shootings while six floors is low enough for a fireman's ladder to reach if the hotel catches fire.Classics
A classic book is one which everybody praises but nobody reads.Self-defense
When you are being attacked by several assailants at the same time, respond to the largest one first by sticking your fingers in one or both of his or her eyes. This will frighten the others enough to give you time to run away.Job titles
The longer your job title and description, the less important you are in the hierarchy.Managers
Anyone can make a decision given enough facts. A good manager can make a decision without enough facts. A perfect manager can operate in perfect ignorance.Receiving tips
The most generous tippers are men out on dates with women who aren't their wives.Copying data
Always make a copy of everything on your computer. If it's really important, make two.Filing
If you file it, you'll know where it is but never need it. If you don't file it, you'll need it but never know where it is.Newspapers
If you don't read a newspaper on the day you bought it, bin it. You'll never go back and read it again.Convincing others
If you cannot convince them, confuse them.Enemies I
Friends come and go but enemies accumulate.Enemies II
It's far easier to forgive an enemy after you've got even with him.Friends I
You can still consider someone your friend if you know their home phone number by heart.Friends II
Friends are people who know all about you and still like you.Obeying orders
If you are given two contradictory orders, obey them both.Principle of business
Marketing says yes. Finance says no.Shopping in sales
At a sale, the only dress you will want to buy is the one not in the sale.Schools
Girls do better at single-sex schools. Boys do better at mixed-sex schools.Getting lost
If you don't care where you are, then you aren't lost.Archaeologists
An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she is, the more interested in her he will be.Company names
The longer the name, the smaller the company.Systems
New systems generate new problemsTheft
To steal from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.Car incidents
There will be no witnesses when a car backs into yours when you aren't there. There will be multiple witnesses when you back into someone else's car.
Paul Lim (phylimhs@nus.edu.sg)