Math

Linear equations are fun. Do you do statistical tests also? Well, if the books are done correctly, then audits shouldn't be feared.[/COLOR]

We're independent auditors, their books don't always correlate to what we find. :D
 
I hate math... it's terrible... it makes me want to jump off a bridge... especially algebra. Statistics in college freshman year made me want to cry... :mad: That's how I feel about math... :ugh:
 
I hate math... it's terrible... it makes me want to jump off a bridge... especially algebra. Statistics in college freshman year made me want to cry... :mad: That's how I feel about math... :ugh:

It's ok, even I occasionally get burned out from it, my head feels so darn pressured (not a headache), good intense physical activity alleviates it. Then there's JD... :P
 
Hello folks! This thread will be purely about math. Let's start this thread off by first sharing why you like or hate math. I shall start us off.

I love math because math helps one improve his/her critical thinking skills. Math helps us understand more of this world. Math has been instrumental in making objects like cars, houses, clothing, technology, etc.

critical thinking? from math? no. it's problem solving.

you combine both math and reading (typically philosophy)... and you get what? a critical thinking. math won't help you understand why the world is different unless you're talking about a gravitational difference between Mars and Earth and calculating a rate of descent
 
Math is not my forte....my boys ae good at it tho'....and some of their friends cannot even subtract or add!...

Yeah, I know what you mean. Too many kids these days cannot do simple mental math as they rush to the nearest calculator to do some really simple computations.

We're independent auditors, their books don't always correlate to what we find. :D

Yeah, that's the case if businesses want to hide their illegal acquired profits!

I hate math... it's terrible... it makes me want to jump off a bridge... especially algebra. Statistics in college freshman year made me want to cry... :mad: That's how I feel about math... :ugh:

Some people like statistics the best because there are a lot of problems that are actually applicable to life, especially probability like what was talked about earlier in this thread.


critical thinking? from math? no. it's problem solving.

you combine both math and reading (typically philosophy)... and you get what? a critical thinking. math won't help you understand why the world is different unless you're talking about a gravitational difference between Mars and Earth and calculating a rate of descent

Problem solving requires critical thinking. A student has to apply critical thinking skills in order to realize and understand how to approach a problem then apply problem solving skills to solve the problem whether it be algebraically or geometrically or even using higher order math like Trigonometry or Calculus.

All too often students are not using their critical thinking skills in order to analyze the information they are given and come up with the equation(s) to solve. This is also important, especially when it comes to mathematical modeling.

One good example is when a word problem contains information that is not necessary to solve the problem and when students don't apply critical thinking, they will just assume the number(s) have to be used in the equation/computation. Consider the following problem: Bill weighs 93 pounds. Tom weighs 120 pounds. Anna weighs 87 pounds. Which boy weighs the most? Most students would assume 87 pounds have to be used if they don't carefully analyze the problem using critical thinking skills (i.e. what is the problem asking you to do? What do you already know? What don't you need to know?).
 
Yeah, I know what you mean. Too many kids these days cannot do simple mental math as they rush to the nearest calculator to do some really simple computations.



Yeah, that's the case if businesses want to hide their illegal acquired profits!



Some people like statistics the best because there are a lot of problems that are actually applicable to life, especially probability like what was talked about earlier in this thread.




Problem solving requires critical thinking. A student has to apply critical thinking skills in order to realize and understand how to approach a problem then apply problem solving skills to solve the problem whether it be algebraically or geometrically or even using higher order math like Trigonometry or Calculus.

All too often students are not using their critical thinking skills in order to analyze the information they are given and come up with the equation(s) to solve. This is also important, especially when it comes to mathematical modeling.

One good example is when a word problem contains information that is not necessary to solve the problem and when students don't apply critical thinking, they will just assume the number(s) have to be used in the equation/computation. Consider the following problem: Bill weighs 93 pounds. Tom weighs 120 pounds. Anna weighs 87 pounds. Which boy weighs the most? Most students would assume 87 pounds have to be used if they don't carefully analyze the problem using critical thinking skills (i.e. what is the problem asking you to do? What do you already know? What don't you need to know?).

I disagree.

trigonometry or calculus as "higher order math"? LOL. those math subjects do not require critical thinking... just a very good problem solving skill. these subjects will not help you figure out a pattern formula for stock market valid for the next quarter. You'll need something like Applied Mathematics... Numerical Analysis... because these are problem solving + critical thinking.

Critical Thinking is where you have to think outside the box... outside the logic... outside the norm... because math alone cannot do that as it will not compute.
 
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Box Multiplication
Despite being the true australian, I understood the full ASL video clearly as blue sky and I definitely learnt something new about box multiplication. Thanks Authentic! :thumb:
 
I disagree.

trigonometry or calculus as "higher order math"? LOL. those math subjects do not require critical thinking... just a very good problem solving skill. these subjects will not help you figure out a pattern formula for stock market valid for the next quarter. You'll need something like Applied Mathematics... Numerical Analysis... because these are problem solving + critical thinking.

Critical Thinking is where you have to think outside the box... outside the logic... outside the norm... because math alone cannot do that as it will not compute.

I disagree with you, Jiro. The point I am attempting to make is that critical thinking skills in mathematics is a surefire way to exercise the intellectual muscle. This holds true especially for the advanced mathematical equations and problems, some of which do not immediately yield the desired pass/fail response. This is also especially crucial with math word problems as students must think critically about the numbers they need to sort through and discard those which are not needed then construct equations that that would lead to the solution that would answer the question. I know this because I did research on math word problems myself. :)

I shall expound more on math word problems since they require the most critical thinking. I remember having a teacher who one day at the beginning of the class gave a math word problem on the board and this was for a topic that was not even taught on yet. The teacher challenged us students to work together and formulate an approach and use the approach to reach a desirable solution.

With higher order math, math word problems require more abstract thinking. Take abstract algebra for an example. Basic Analysis was yet another perfect example as that class was challenging!

Anyway, let's move on. Here's a fun problem for you to solve, Jiro (don't use the Internet to find the answer!).


Prove the square root of 3 is irrational.
 
I disagree with you, Jiro. The point I am attempting to make is that critical thinking skills in mathematics is a surefire way to exercise the intellectual muscle. This holds true especially for the advanced mathematical equations and problems, some of which do not immediately yield the desired pass/fail response. This is also especially crucial with math word problems as students must think critically about the numbers they need to sort through and discard those which are not needed then construct equations that that would lead to the solution that would answer the question. I know this because I did research on math word problems myself. :)

I shall expound more on math word problems since they require the most critical thinking. I remember having a teacher who one day at the beginning of the class gave a math word problem on the board and this was for a topic that was not even taught on yet. The teacher challenged us students to work together and formulate an approach and use the approach to reach a desirable solution.

With higher order math, math word problems require more abstract thinking. Take abstract algebra for an example. Basic Analysis was yet another perfect example as that class was challenging!
Basic Analysis? Abstract Algebra? You considered those as "higher order math"?????? well maybe you are just learning these math courses. keep it up! I've stopped at Differential Equation level so you've got around 5 more years to go so keep it up! make me proud! :thumb:

Anyway, let's move on. Here's a fun problem for you to solve, Jiro (don't use the Internet to find the answer!).

Prove the square root of 3 is irrational.
seriously? why are you still talking about some high school stuff? now you know how I know you know nothing yet but keep it up! when you'll get to where I am, you'll see what I mean.

btw - I don't even need to google this because I still remember this like an hour ago. a square root of 4 is rational but a square root of 3 is not because it goes into a decimal form and ends in endless form.
 
Basic Analysis? Abstract Algebra? You considered those as "higher order math"?????? well maybe you are just learning these math courses. keep it up! I've stopped at Differential Equation level so you've got around 5 more years to go so keep it up! make me proud! :thumb:

Any math course higher than Calculus is considered higher order math. 5 more years? This is yet an ill fated assumption you made. I already have a math degree plus dozens of high level math courses taken at the masters and doctorate level.


seriously? why are you still talking about some high school stuff? now you know how I know you know nothing yet but keep it up! when you'll get to where I am, you'll see what I mean.

btw - I don't even need to google this because I still remember this like an hour ago. a square root of 4 is rational but a square root of 3 is not because it goes into a decimal form and ends in endless form.

I was merely making the point that critical thinking skills are applicable at all math levels. Critical thinking is defined as a disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence. Once again, this is applicable to all math levels because students when tackling math problems have to make rational decisions on how to approach a problem based on the evidence given which is the information given in the problem(s).

Of course, we know the square root of 4 is rational and the square root of 3 is not because it has no repeating numbers after the decimal. However, the point of proving square root of three is irrational is the ability to use critical thinking and problem solving in which you prove that it cannot be expressed as a ratio of integers a and b.

That's one of the beauties of logic! Speaking of Logic, have you ever taken a Logic course?
 

Any math course higher than Calculus is considered higher order math.
right. trigonometry and algebra aren't.

5 more years? This is yet an ill fated assumption you made. I already have a math degree plus dozens of high level math courses taken at the masters and doctorate level.
online?

I was merely making the point that critical thinking skills are applicable at all math levels. Critical thinking is defined as a disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence. Once again, this is applicable to all math levels because students when tackling math problems have to make rational decisions on how to approach a problem based on the evidence given which is the information given in the problem(s).

Of course, we know the square root of 4 is rational and the square root of 3 is not because it has no repeating numbers after the decimal. However, the point of proving square root of three is irrational is the ability to use critical thinking and problem solving in which you prove that it cannot be expressed as a ratio of integers a and b.

That's one of the beauties of logic! Speaking of Logic, have you ever taken a Logic course?
what? hardly a critical thinking problem at all! that's like saying - why does a person always get a fever when getting sick? because a fever usually occurs when you get infected by an unknown host and the body is fighting it off. that's not critical thinking. :roll:

you really haven't seen the big picture yet. have you ever tried applied mathematics?
 
I took calc 3 and i think its called differential equations? Might have name wrong...dis t have to but i have always liked math.
 
I took calc 3 and i think its called differential equations? Might have name wrong...dis t have to but i have always liked math.

Calculus III is one class while Differential Equations is another class.

Basically, Calculus III covers same things as Calculus II, but in three-dimensions. Also, line integrals are usually covered. Differential Equations covers first order equations, mathematical models, linear equations of second order among other topics.

That's great you have always liked math. :)
 
After differential equations I had to take vector analysis, which covered divergence, curl, surface integrals, and other things for field theory (like functions on real and imaginary axis). I wasn't in EE or physics, so the field theory stuff wasn't so useful to me. The prof really didn't like engineers, so it wasn't fun (talked down to us and singled us out more).

The guy I had for differential equations was funny. He got so excited, he'd go off writing on the chalk boards, sliding them up and down, his voice got higher, and one by one, people stopped taking notes and he never noticed because he was so into it.
 
I took calc 3 and i think its called differential equations? Might have name wrong...dis t have to but i have always liked math.

no. it's 2 different courses. at some schools - it's Calculus I-III while other schools do Calc I-IV. Diff. Eq. comes after Calc III... then Multivariable Calc.... then blah blah including Numerical Methods and Number Theory and then some more
 
Sorry i was trying to recall the name of the class. I know they are different. Sorry for the confusion.
 
Here's a funny math joke:

An engineer, a mathematician, and a physicist are staying for the night in a hotel. Fortunately for this joke, a small fire breaks out in each room.

The physicist awakes, sees the fire, makes some careful observations, and on the back of the hotel's wine list does some quick calculations. Grabbing the fire extinguisher, he puts out the fire with one, short, well placed burst, and then crawls back into bed and goes back to sleep.

The engineer awakes, sees the fire, makes some careful observations, and on the back of the hotel's room service list (pizza menu) does some quick calculations. Grabbing the fire extinguisher (and adding a factor of safety of 5), he puts out the fire by hosing down the entire room several times over, and then crawls into his soggy bed and goes back to sleep.

The mathematician awakes, sees the fire, makes some careful observations, and on a blackboard installed in the room, does some quick calculations. Jubliant, he exclaims "A solution exists!", and crawls into his dry bed and goes back to sleep.
 
Hm.. Maybe I'm wrong but thought that 'basic analysis' is before Calculus. In high school I took Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trig then a course called Analysis. I did well with the first three but did horribly with Analysis (I don't know if this would be considered "pre-calc" or what.. don't think so...). my sister I think took either Pre-Calc or Calculus instead. I like math okay but it stresses me out big time- I don't really know why. I do know I have trouble with transposing numbers sometimes. Add in the stress of timed tests and yep I froze big time. Doing math takes me a long time lol. In college I passed the math tests for determining what courses to take in freshman year. I then chose Topics in Math (no I still have no clue exactly what it was about- the teacher I had was Deaf and full ASL- me a lowly freshman who JUST started learning ASL...). I failed that class and wound up having to take Geometry (grades were about on par with HS I think).

I would love to go back to school and get a degree related to Computer Programming as I am a QA tester but all those math classes required just freak me the hell out and worries me that I'll fail 'em all :(.
 
Hm.. Maybe I'm wrong but thought that 'basic analysis' is before Calculus. In high school I took Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trig then a course called Analysis. I did well with the first three but did horribly with Analysis (I don't know if this would be considered "pre-calc" or what.. don't think so...). my sister I think took either Pre-Calc or Calculus instead. I like math okay but it stresses me out big time- I don't really know why. I do know I have trouble with transposing numbers sometimes. Add in the stress of timed tests and yep I froze big time. Doing math takes me a long time lol. In college I passed the math tests for determining what courses to take in freshman year. I then chose Topics in Math (no I still have no clue exactly what it was about- the teacher I had was Deaf and full ASL- me a lowly freshman who JUST started learning ASL...). I failed that class and wound up having to take Geometry (grades were about on par with HS I think).

I would love to go back to school and get a degree related to Computer Programming as I am a QA tester but all those math classes required just freak me the hell out and worries me that I'll fail 'em all :(.

Some high schools do offer really basic Analysis or even Math Modeling courses. Did you attend Gallaudet?

A major of Computer Programming tends to only require Calculus I as the math course you must take and pass. You won't need to be fearful you'd fail the math courses you would need to take as long as you can come on here and ask for help. I along with other math experts here will alleviate your fears. :)
 
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