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math - memorization or understanding

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 0:19

Or, is math just for aspergers cases. I mean, when I did intro algebra it seemed like completing the square, long dividing polynomials, etc. were all just mindless memorization. I'm taking more math above this intro stuff, just to see if it gets any more interesting.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 1:18

It depends on how it's taught.  If you're in America, you're fucked.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 6:11

the higher the math  the funner it is to solve it, math is not hard all you have to do is practice. and find your mistakes.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 9:09

math is like sudoku
except that sudoku is for people whose has been rotted by television

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 10:45

>>1
At university you will get told why stuff works (i.e. proofs of theorems).

Here are some elementary proofs you should look up as an introduction to real math: 
the square root of 2 is irrational
the real numbers are uncountable
there are infinitely many primes

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 10:48

At university you will get told useless stuff (i.e. proofs of theorems).

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 11:39

It starts getting interesting when you do topology, ie the stuff that requires imagination.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 12:23

>>6
Useless if your only goal is passing exams.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 15:12

>>8
Useless if your goal is something other than becoming a mathematician but the school makes you take it anyway.

>>2
If it's taught, it sucks, period. The only way to enjoy it is to learn it yourself, which pretty fun but also very time consuming.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 16:46

>>9
Useless if your goal is something other than becoming a mathematician but the school makes you take it anyway.
If you only bother with education in function of it getting you a job, you have no business being at a university anyway. Stick to a trade school and stay out of the way of the rest of us.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 19:38

>>10
in function of it
wat.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 21:45

Speaking of math being interesting, does anyone have a branch of mathematics they find particularly interesting? I'm a math major in my first year and am looking for reading material.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 22:36

>>11
Grammatically correct. Upgrade your parser.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 22:50

>>12
Topology.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 23:18

>>14

Any suggestions for a starting point? Papers/Books to read?

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-02 23:55

>>9

Taking a theoretical class in university for an applied job after graduation? Nonsense!

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-03 11:59

REMEMBER ONE THING!


You are not at university only to get the knowledge but hopefully to understand it to a level that nobody elses has ever reached before so that you can gain new knowledge.

That's science.

In German, it literally means "to create knowledge" .


Therefore you better try to understand it instead just memorize some signs that can be replaced any time.

Name: AnOnYmOuS2U 2008-12-04 6:12

>>17
You sir, are an idiot.
First off, knowledge of anything lies stagnant in the mind while that which it had derived from continues on throughout its own existence beyond that which you have known it. Things change, knowledge doesn't unless it is challenged by a living creature, such as those of humans. To be the most knowledgeable person on this planet, you must accept that you can truly know nothing. For the moment you believe it true, it changes and now is false. Research this, or don't research this; that is the question. What the fuck have you done lately?

Name: AnOnYmOuS2U 2008-12-04 6:13

...and OP, if you want to memorize something, it better be something usable in every situation. Rather than have one response for every situation, make choice the habit and self-awareness will come out by free-will. Oh...too much for little brain to follow...I'll just leave this here.

Name: AnOnYmOuS2U 2008-12-04 6:19

If you really want to know something, it better be true all the time or it will change and become false when you aren't paying attention to it closely.

What can be still last that beyond knowledge divided by light and united by darkness?

Must we finally accept that which can be known will change, and that which changes must be alive, so too are we alive, then true it must be that we must change and accept that change and all change that will come from that which lives and moves. The paradox of life creeps upon you and strikes when your back is turned. Let that which is ignorant be ignored, save that which is alive, for in the moment that we perceive this lie as truth, the paradox of life will be known as belief and every moment thereafter known as faith.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-04 20:05

>>18
you sir, are an absolute idiot, reading your emo-shit made me laugh.
i think you don't understand why you are at the university besides getting some paper....

besides you post complete irrelevant bullshit for this topic.

but i am too tired to give you, a bad troll or an
a complete idiot, a proper answer.

Name: look a me, i am an assburgers 2008-12-04 20:07

>>18
>>20

also go back to your shithole from where you came , with your pseudo-philosophical-emo-shit :)

Name: AnOnYmOuS 2U 2008-12-05 0:20

>>21
>>22
Thank you for your responses, I've detailed them for my experiment.
It is called the processes of the Devil...you two fit the bill. Thanks.

Name: remember me 2008-12-05 5:24

>>23

Also thank you for your respone.

I have noticed it under the category "pretentious, hypocritical people with assburgers-syndrom".

Thanks emo.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-05 6:54

this    >>23 >>20  

seems like a real homosexual.

Name: AsSisTaNt 2u 2008-12-05 10:48

Professor, you forgot a post!
It's okay, I picked up >>25 after you left. Should I file this under the "Devil" folder?

Name: AnOnYmOuS 2U 2008-12-05 15:31

>>26
Actually, AsSisTaNt 2u, I think we should file this particular one under Fregoli syndrome. This one believes that everyone that he meets is the same person.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-06 20:31

Getting back on topic; I have a terrible memory and can barely remember what day it is without looking at my watch. I manage to get 100% in most math-related assessments by understanding the logic behind it, rather than trying to memorise it. A lot of my peers just try to remember everything, which works for them and they generally manage to pass.

Different people do different things in different ways.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-07 6:56

>>28
Though your "method" (correct approach) is how math ought to be taught. 'Bad teaching' is plastered all over already, so I need not repeat its downfalls.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-07 12:13

Now I know that the current way to teach maths is bad,but think about-to really 'get' maths,you would have to study longer.And many advances in our time wouldn't be here,because some dude couldn't 'get' trig for example.I think it's an adaptation of cultural evolution.Kind of paradoxical-the subject of maths,nature,forces us to not understand it.Of course,it helps some people,but the many people whom she doesn't help makes it harder for them.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-10 17:43

>>1

haha, you sure understand nothing of math.

Name: Anonymous 2008-12-10 20:00

Try finite math in community college for the true meaning of suck.

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