biology

Pocket Ref

Pocket Ref is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Pocket Ref rather than just read about it. In short: Pocket Ref is a general-purpose pocket-sized reference book composed of various tips, tables, maps, formulas, constants and conversions, compiled by Thomas J. Glover.

Key takeaways

Pocket Ref belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Pocket Ref to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Pocket Ref from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Pocket Ref is a general-purpose pocket-sized reference book composed of various tips, tables, maps, formulas, constants and conversions, compiled by Thomas J. Glover. It is published by Sequoia Publishing, and is currently in its fourth edition at 864 pages in length, released in late 2010. It contains references, tables, and instructional guides on such varied subjects as automotive repair; carpentry and construction; chemistry and physics; computers; physical, chemical, and mathematical constants; electronics; money and measurement conversions; advanced first aid; glue, solvents, paints, and finishes; hardware; mine, mill, and aggregate; plumbing; zip codes; rope, cable, and knots; steel and metals; surveying and mapping; and various other topics. The Pocket Ref has been featured on the television series MythBusters. In the "Shop 'til You Drop" episode, Adam Savage noted that "nearly everyone" had asked him about the little black book. The book can sometimes be found imprinted with the name of a store or other third party on its front cover. Although the Pocket Ref is printed on very thin paper, its page count is still limited by the publisher's desire for it to fit in an average shirt pocket, so a more comprehensive work, at 1280 pages, DeskRef, has been published. Other books by Glover include Pocket PC Ref, Deskref, Handyman In-Your-Pocket, Pocket Do It Yourself Source, Measure for Measure and Tech Ref. Comparable books include AutoRef by Glover's sometimes-coauthor Richard A. Young, and Pocket Partner "a comprehensive collection of vital information for law enforcement personnel" by Dennis Evers.

Reception Nick Stockton, writing for Wired, included it in their list of favourites.

References

External links Pocket Ref - Sequoia Publishing

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Pocket Ref

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Pocket Ref claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Pocket Ref before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Pocket Ref ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Pocket Ref

In research: Pocket Ref appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Pocket Ref in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Pocket Ref is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1989 non-fiction books, 2010 non-fiction books, Reference book stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Pocket Ref outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Pocket Ref in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Pocket Ref means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Pocket Ref out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pocket Ref in simple terms?

Pocket Ref is a general-purpose pocket-sized reference book composed of various tips, tables, maps, formulas, constants and conversions, compiled by Thomas J. Glover.

Why does Pocket Ref matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Pocket Ref?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Pocket Ref.