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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 12:14 pm
(This post was last modified: October 29, 2016 at 12:17 pm by Alex K.)
I keep forgetting that I'm a math teacher now. Still haven't gotten quite used to the idea. Many of my students hate math, and I consider it my personal mission to convince them that it is great.
One thing I have to say though, what you encounter under the name of Mathematics in high school is not yet quite the real deal. The real thing is much better, grander than I can grasp, goes deeper than I can imagine, and never seems to end. I could spend the rest of my life exploring algebra, differential geometry and algebraic topology, maybe even prove some new theorems, and wouldn't get bored. It's insane. It's like this infinite elegant architecture that we just find lying before us.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 12:20 pm
(October 29, 2016 at 12:14 pm)Alex K Wrote: I keep forgetting that I'm a math teacher now. Still haven't gotten quite used to the idea. Many of my students hate math, and I consider it my personal mission to convince them that it is great.
One thing I have to say though, what you encounter under the name of Mathematics in high school is not yet quite the real deal. The real thing is much better, grander than I can grasp, goes deeper than I can imagine, and never seems to end. I could spend the rest of my life exploring algebra, differential geometry and algebraic topology, maybe even prove some new theorems, and wouldn't get bored. It's insane. It's like this infinite elegant architecture that we just find lying before us.
That was poetic lol. I like it! 
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 12:26 pm
(This post was last modified: October 29, 2016 at 12:27 pm by Alex K.)
(October 29, 2016 at 12:20 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: (October 29, 2016 at 12:14 pm)Alex K Wrote: I keep forgetting that I'm a math teacher now. Still haven't gotten quite used to the idea. Many of my students hate math, and I consider it my personal mission to convince them that it is great.
One thing I have to say though, what you encounter under the name of Mathematics in high school is not yet quite the real deal. The real thing is much better, grander than I can grasp, goes deeper than I can imagine, and never seems to end. I could spend the rest of my life exploring algebra, differential geometry and algebraic topology, maybe even prove some new theorems, and wouldn't get bored. It's insane. It's like this infinite elegant architecture that we just find lying before us.
That was poetic lol. I like it!
To many mathematicians, it is in fact poetic, the aesthetic beauty of mathematical structure the purest beauty there can be. I know a few religious mathematicians who think that the mathematical edifice they study allows them to get a glimpse of God's perfection. There seem to be a lot more religious mathematicians than physicists. Maths is pure beauty, physics is messy and uncertain. One of the most brilliant math professors I had frequently spent his lunch breaks giving out Gideon bibles in front of the food court
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 12:37 pm
(October 29, 2016 at 12:14 pm)Alex K Wrote: I keep forgetting that I'm a math teacher now. Still haven't gotten quite used to the idea. Many of my students hate math, and I consider it my personal mission to convince them that it is great.
One thing I have to say though, what you encounter under the name of Mathematics in high school is not yet quite the real deal. The real thing is much better, grander than I can grasp, goes deeper than I can imagine, and never seems to end. I could spend the rest of my life exploring algebra, differential geometry and algebraic topology, maybe even prove some new theorems, and wouldn't get bored. It's insane. It's like this infinite elegant architecture that we just find lying before us.
I agree!
I understand it up to a certain point, but then I just shrug my shoulders. I know some things are a certain way, but I haven't the foggiest why. I know you're "allowed" to do certain things, but I couldn't begin to explain. I've seen a couple of proofs of these kind of things before, and they were massively complicated to the extreme and weren't required for the exam. We actually had a stand-in guy for one of the lectures and I don't think he understood it either. He was just copying it all off a piece of paper and couldn't answer my questions very well.
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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 4:42 pm
(This post was last modified: October 29, 2016 at 4:43 pm by Jesster.)
Math has definitely served me well since high school. I am a bit of an artist (though terribly out of practice right now) and geometry has been invaluable to me. I was going to an art school for a bit and I was able to correct some of my professors who were incorrectly teaching their students geometric applications in art. I also taught them a few tricks they never thought of. Heck, I've even been able to apply trigonometry a few times. People never realize how useful that math education will be, and it amazes me that very few artists that I know had any idea how to use it. Most of them just hated and refused to use math and I can't wrap my head around that.
Alex K: maybe you can use that anecdote to inspire some of your more artistically-inclined students.
I don't believe you. Get over it.
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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 5:08 pm
@ Jesster
What did you use the trig for? Perspective would be my guess?
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 5:09 pm
(October 29, 2016 at 7:28 am)Vic Wrote: I... I just think it's kinda fun. It gives me a tiny brain orgasm when I arrive at natural numbers.
I can relate.
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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 5:17 pm
(October 29, 2016 at 12:14 pm)Alex K Wrote: I keep forgetting that I'm a math teacher now. Still haven't gotten quite used to the idea. Many of my students hate math, and I consider it my personal mission to convince them that it is great.
One thing I have to say though, what you encounter under the name of Mathematics in high school is not yet quite the real deal. The real thing is much better, grander than I can grasp, goes deeper than I can imagine, and never seems to end. I could spend the rest of my life exploring algebra, differential geometry and algebraic topology, maybe even prove some new theorems, and wouldn't get bored. It's insane. It's like this infinite elegant architecture that we just find lying before us.
Those are great words. Well said, sir. As a self-taught student of mathematics, my adventure in math learning can be summed up as follows:
My mathematical journey has been quite wonderful. I’ve been a lone eagle soaring high and deep into an endless horizon filled with wonder. At times, my explorations were dauntingly frustrating, but nevertheless, the knowledge and insights gained from them became invaluable companions guiding me in my quest to expand my field of vision; making me less oblivious to the beauty continually surrounding us all. Hence, I could never cover the entirety of the intangible territory of mathematics in a lifetime, nor could a fleet of our finest minds; yet, I continue to explore it, not out of a desire to map its entirety, but to uncover something wonderful and unique; thus, enabling me to be a part of it in my own way.
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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 5:21 pm
I like maffs because it starts with an m. and it has two effs in it.
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RE: Why Do You Like Math?
October 29, 2016 at 5:27 pm
(October 29, 2016 at 5:08 pm)Alex K Wrote: @Jesster
What did you use the trig for? Perspective would be my guess?
Yup, perspective drawings. I'm pretty sure I've used it somewhere else, but I can't quite remember where.
I don't believe you. Get over it.
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