Simplified method for trace anomaly calculations in $d<~6$

We discuss a simplified method for computing trace anomalies in dimensions $d<~6.$ It is known that in the quantum mechanical approach trace anomalies in d dimensions are given by a $\mathrm{}(d/2+1\mathrm{})\mathrm{}$-loop computation in an auxiliary 1D sigma model with arbitrary geometry. We show how one can obtain the same information using a simpler $\mathrm{}(d/2\mathrm{})\mathrm{}$-loop calculation on an arbitrary geometry supplemented by a $\mathrm{}(d/2+1\mathrm{})\mathrm{}$-loop calculation on the simplified geometry of a maximally symmetric space.