|
I like the common core math stuff, it feels a lot like how I do math in my head, as others have said. But I also see a lot of "it's important to understand why math works." I don't necessarily agree. As a physics major I use a shitton of math and quite frankly, I don't particularly care why Green's Theorem (or it's 3D counterparts Divergence and Stokes') work, I only care what they can do for me and how to use them. I consider math like a toolbox. I don't care how a wrench was made or who invented it, I care that when I put the boxy end on a bolt and turn it, it tightens the bolt.
|
#
¿
May 31, 2014 02:10
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Jul 16, 2025 16:09 |
|
|
Gulzin posted:And physics is a tool of the engineers. And engineering is the tool of the plumber. We should all just be plumbers! It must not matter why physics works the way it does. I don't care how my wrench is made and all that bullshit. You're a little hostile about this and that's kind of cute. I'm not saying it doesn't matter, period. I'm saying that, for me at least, it's secondary to functionality and applicability. I've done plenty of "this is why it works" in multivariable calc and vector calc, and I think it's fair to argue that it helps (and may even be necessary) for learning how to apply mathematical methods. That said, once I clocked my A and sold the textbook, I stopped remembering or caring about any of the why. You say this makes me a lovely physicist, but I'd challenge you to find anyone in the field not directly involved in education that can, for example, demonstrate derivation of Gauss' law off the top of their heads. As for all the "real math" careers you linked, congratulations on making high speed trading and other wonderful contributions to the sum of human knowledge possible, I guess?
|
|
#
¿
May 31, 2014 03:16
|
|