This makes me think of people who would try to "memorize" for e.g. science tests. They were ok as long as they could plug and chug, but they couldn't derive an

This makes me think of people who would try to "memorize" for e.g. science tests. They were ok as long as they could plug and chug, but they couldn't derive anything on the spot. I'm wary of tickling my ego, but I recall not entirely seldom forgetting a formula, and so simply starting with other stuff and deriving it in the margin or on scratch paper. I think many of the instructors liked that, as well, as it showed a more conceptual grasp.