Math

[Avengardh]

So...I am at school and I decided to come post at the forum.
This semester I am not taking any math and continuing on with the disgusted faces from the people I keep telling this exert; I will like to declare that I am in Math-withdrawal...and it's so bad that I checked out a Linear Algebra book and I am taking notes about it (ooo, matrices).

So, after that nice little rant, what are your comments about math? How much math have you taken so far? Did you always dislike/like math? Have you ever had math-withdrawal? Ok, perhaps you don't have to answer the last one...but go ahead anyway ^.^

~*Aven*~

[Sam172]

I used to have math-withdrawl until it started getting really complicated in year 10 (14-15 years of age). I used to enjoy playing with algebra and making things work. I liked it :-)

Then we started learning stuff I thought we would never use that started to confuse me. I now hate maths with passion. That evil old teacher who looked like death reincarnated (really, she looked half dead and wraith like...) used to work us so hard and now I hate it.


But i've finished it now for ever :D

[file cabinet]

math can be interesting but to me it doesn't have enough practical uses.. I do like "problem solving" type things.. I did take math in college twice but I didn't do the homework so I didn't have enough practice to be able to do well on the tests so I failed both times..
math itself is too boring...

[Crazy]

I hated math in high school. I don't think it was the actual math, but the teachers that wanted to try to pound the same principle in my head for three days when I already understood it before they started teaching it. So I was already so far ahead of the curriculum that by the time we got to it, I was bored to death of the concept. Then they wanted me to do the problems over and over and over again, and (gasp) show my work too. I quit at algebra and never looked back.

[Johnny]

I found math to be quite difficult while attending school as well. Though I'm not sure I was much better with language and arts, I enjoyed them to a much greater degree.:D

[int]

Yea, math in high school didn't work (faaarrr too redundant and slow), but college calculus, math for econ majors (pretty much calc 2.5), probability, stats, and finite math were all a lot of fun for me.

[Melody]

Math is the only thing I have in this world. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/tocca/msmsgsIconCry.png

I am beginning tensor calculus/differential geometry. I am pretty much self-teached. I regularly check out math books from the library and have a stack of them of my own. I agree about high school math. Too slow and needlessly detailed.

Before high school, I was not interested in math. Then, one fateful day, my freshman algebra math instructor wrote an equation on the board with two unknown variables. All of a sudden, something clicked in my head and I was really thoughtful and became very interested. My last great orgasm. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/tocca/msmsgsIconCry.png

I have found many practical uses for math. Since I was young, I have wanted to become a videogame programmer/designer, but my family could not afford a computer (I was seventeen when we finally got one,) so I made do with a graphing calculator. So for a few reasons, I have been led to being knowledgeable about math. Recently, it has become more enjoyable, because I am not just recycling what other people have made, I am creating my own things. For example, recent tomfoolery with genetic algorithms:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/tocca/samuraishowdown.png

(exerpt from development document)

i r smort
*licks his lips*
mmm peanut butter

[CosmicDust]

I took up to multivariate calc, linear algebra, and ODE's in college; no math since. The rest I learned in physics classes, or have had the computer do for me.

I was generally pretty good at math. Not a whiz, but good enough to ace my college courses in the subject. I wasn't good enough to get a 4 on the Calc AB and place out of Calc 1, though. I got a 3, which was better than I expected - I thought I'd get a 2. So when my mom told me that Calc and English were tied for my lowest AP scores (I was living with my dad over that summer while my mom was going through her second divorce and living with friends until she secured a promising boyfriend), I said, "What, I got a 2 in English?!" (A 3 was what I expected in English, and what I got.)

[Claverhouse]

I hated all mathematics at school, and ignore it now. It took me three years to work out the easiest thing in the world --- long division; when I could have understood it in a week if a teacher had actually explained it to me one to one.

I was good at algebra though, but I don't think that counts ( more like logic ). The main principle has stood me in good stead for all things apart from it's application there: 'What you put on one side of the equation must also be placed upon the other also'


Claverhouse :ph34r:

[Claverhouse]

Math is the only thing I have in this world. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/tocca/msmsgsIconCry.png

For example, recent tomfoolery with genetic algorithms:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/tocca/samuraishowdown.png

(exerpt from development document)

You really ought to check out Tom Lehrer. B)


:rofl:


Claverhouse :ph34r:

[Birdsnest]

Math was not naturally my strong point, ever. When in elementary, it gave me a lot of head and heartache, really disliked it. In Highschool, it wasn't much better, I vaguely remember a little geometry and basic algebra. In college, it took several attempts but I finally got through basic algebra. Once I understood the basics and realized it was just about memorizing formulas, I began to understand and get it.

One teacher went so far as to tell us not to be afraid of math and that it required that you study it for a few hours a night. (I actually had to learn to study with math, which I didn't have to do with other subjects). Took basic and a more advanced college algebra, which had some calculus, radicals, linear regression, graphs and functions, polynomials, rational, logarithmic, nonlinear equations, binomial theorem, probability, multivariates, and the use of a graphing calculator, and we did a few of those mandelbrot formulas. I studied Accounting which really isn't that much math, but did require that you learn to do charts and learn excel spreadsheets and the use of statistical formulas in excel. I liked probability and statistics the best because it seemed I could actually use that information in real business applications. I am not brilliant at math, and I surprised myself that I got through that actually. Accounting, is mostly adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.

[Melody]

No! Math is not memorizing formulas! A! I cannot even memorize the quadratic equation. I think you took the wrong approach in learning it. I have learned it "from the ground up." This way the core ideas do not leave me. For example, even if I cannot remember the quadratic equation, I know in general what it is doing, so I can derive it if need be. Hilariously, I got past a lot of math and engineering classes that way. I rarely did homework and never studied (I still do not study for anything,) so when a test was in front of me, I just derived what I needed on the spot. :rofl: This becomes more difficult with higher mathematics. >_>


You really ought to check out Tom Lehrer. B)
I did a search. You mean the musician? I'm gonna listen to some songs.

I suck at arithmetic, but I consider it a tiny subset of mathematics.

[CosmicDust]

Is "A!" short for "F'in A!"?

[Melody]

nope nope

It is like the derivative of Ahhhhh!!

f(x) = Ahhhhh!!

d(f(x))/d! = A!

It is like screaming "Ahhhhh!!", but being cut short before you reach the 'h'. As if someone has punched you in the neck before getting that far. Although "F'in A!" sounds good. If we integrate...

f(x) = F'in A!

int(f(x),!) = Fuckin'! Ahhhhh!!

[CosmicDust]

Gotta love the nerd humor.

[int]

I'll say. I can't believe that made sense on the first read. :)

[jimkopelli]

Speaking of math nerd humor... Anyone ever seen how to prove that Winston Churchhill was a carrot? All you gotta do is prove that 1=0... I'll get it posted when I have the chance... stupid network, with its disconnection of my dorm...

[int]

Heh. I just looked it up. Too many "Divide by 0" flags hurt my lobes.

Besides, one only has to play with language to make 1=0...Something along the lines of "2 numbers are commonly used in the binary system. Name one."

You could then say either 1 or 0. And since both have equal value in regards to the answer, 1=0.

[Google Monster]

lol

[libertarianjim]

As Jimmy Buffet said: Math sucks.

Not fair, actually. I do quite a bit of statistics, although it took me longer than I care to admit to "get it."

[Sugaraddict2702]

I like math, in elementary school I constantly aced all my maths tests, in high school I'm still doing pretty well, but it takes a lot of studying. I'm taking 6 houres a week, which makes it sort of my major (though that doesn't really exist here), but I've been blessed to have a really good maths teacher for two years, who made the class interesting enough for me to actually pay attention.
I don't agree that maths don't have a practical use: you need them constantly in physics and chemistry, even economy. Can't really see how one would manage to get that stuff without knowing some basic maths? :huh:

Ellen*

[jimkopelli]

There's another way to make 1=0, a math way... and then you can use that to make the great orator rabbit food.
Suppose we let: A = B

Then-- Multiplying both sides by A, we get: 2A = AB

Subtracting 2B from both sides, we get: 2A - 2B = AB - 2B

Factoring, we get: (A - B)(A + B) = (A - B)B

Dividing both sides by (A - B), we get: (A + B) = B

And since A = B, we can substitute B for A: (B + B) = B

Simplify, and we get: 2B = B

And then: 2 = 1

Finally, subtract 1: 1 = 0

[jimkopelli]

Then... Take 1=0. Take Winston Churchhill. Take his waist measurement, and multiply it by the equation. Waistsize now equals 0. Multiply the number of heads C has by the equation. # of heads now equals 0. Multiply the number of leafy tops C has by the equation. Now C has one leafy top. Multiply whatever C's photon wavelength is (the color of light he reflects) by the equation, and remember it. Multiply the equation by 640nm (which just happens to bright orange), and compare. Both equations equal 0, so they also equal each other. C's photon wavelength now equals bright orange. Take the equation and multiply by 2. 2=0. C has two arms, so no arms. Two legs, no legs.

Winston Churchhill has no head, a leafy top, no arms or legs, is bright orange, and tapers to a point. Clearly, he is a carrot.

[int]

Fun. :)


A*A != 2A though. A * A = A^2.

Plug some numbers into the equation and it breaks done at the second step.

[Birdsnest]

Is this what you are talking about? Not memorizing, but, this, I!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0691023565/qid=1093975623/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/002-9496466-3043230

Review
Any young person seeking a career in the sciences would do well to ponder this important contribution to the teacher's art.


Book Description
A perennial bestseller by eminent mathematician G. Polya, How to Solve It will show anyone in any field how to think straight.
In lucid and appealing prose, Polya reveals how the mathematical method of demonstrating a proof or finding an unknown can be of help in attacking any problem that can be "reasoned" out--from building a bridge to winning a game of anagrams. Generations of readers have relished Polya's deft--indeed, brilliant--instructions on stripping away irrelevancies and going straight to the heart of the problem.

[Salad]

i took two years of calc in high school, got fives on both ap tests. i hardly ever studied and walked into the bc test fully unprepared for a third of the material.

in college- i have not taken a single math class in three years in college due to the fact i didn't need credit past calc two.

no withdrawals

some people would call that a waste of natural ability

i don't

[Slider]

I'm with Jimmy Buffett on this one (and probably a lot of other stuff too). I've loathed it since first grade. Equations are not puzzles. They're a jumbled mess of numbers with foreign symbols. Why is it fun? There is only one right answer for everything, why is that appealing? I never understood it and it always bored me to tears. They put me in advanced math, I dunno why . . . in HS I used to read books during math classes. And I only had one good math teacher my entire life (and that was in college). Most of them have absolutely no sense of humor and they jaw on endlessly in a monotonous voice about God knows wot - probably something to do with numbers. One teacher liked to call on me all the time, probably b/c she knew I had no idea wot the answer was, and I eventually got fed up with it and started saying "nevermind" and going back to reading my book without weird numbers. She didn't like me too much.

[BritainOphira]

I actually like math, even though due to lack of decent teachers I have basically taught myself along with random friends and strangers since 6th grade. It seems to come naturally so I don't have to worry too much about studying for hours upon end, though that could change as the last math class I had was geometry (last year, first semester). Sadly enough I have had both math withdrawl and math over-load. (I attempted to compensate for the withdrawl by learning about ten chapters over two nights before a local competition. I had some of the scariest/creepiest dreams, all of which were math related, for the next month or so...)

[int]

I hated geometry. Sure it was in HS, but I still want nothing to do with it. Although it helped me to be a better pool player. Hmmm...

<edit> Or maybe that was just due to the fact that I spent too much time in bars and pool halls [playing music and sneaking beers] while I was taking that class).

<goes to contemplate past />

</edit>

[flan2dave]

I find it deeply satisfying to fiddle around with a few ideas/equations, get lost in the symbols for some time, and come up with at least a few neat results or curiousities (and by curiousities, I mean just more questions I don't know the answer to ;) ). This type of thing I've been able to do recently because I've spent sufficient time reading and exploring outside of class. It's really the key. Wacky thinking and odd questions always helps. Class is the proverbial two edged sword, it will dull your mind but provides necessary practice and knowledge. The nice thing about higher math, there's so much less need for memorizing. Well, there was never any need (school is so bad when you think about it). I can't bring myself to put in the necessary effort for a sure A in my math or any classes because it's such a waste (B for balance). I'm not allowed to say this if the reason is because I'm spending too much time online, so watch me! ;)

Physics provides a nice motivator for mathematical questions. I had a few things this week to fiddle around with thanks to a day of physics lecturing. Of course, history is riddled with important developments that arised from trying to explain physical phonemenon. Today is no different, despite the pressure to stay close within one discipline. I don't know, doesn't really matter to me, as long as it's interesting. One of the ways I know I've reached an adequete level if I understand something well enough, then think "ok, what happened if I add/change this, how would I analyze it now?" For this to happen I have to be going at my own pace, unpressured, otherwise my subconcious will resist any such thought because of its association with pressures and so on. Again, in this regard, school makes no sense! A few mentors, yes, to inspire and lead you to interesting topics, and a few friends that enjoying sharing their various discoveries, big and small. But I ramble about ideal things now, this is virtually never the case, and as many people have proved doesn't necessarily need to be the case (Riemann raised in stark poverty comes to mind, even worse the Indian mathematician who extended the decimal approximation for pi during his time).

The class I'm taking now is Linear Algebra. Our professeur seems a bit too focused on the direct teaching of the subject, you know, making sure everybody gets a fine grade. My Calculus teacher of last semester held lectures far more stimulating, not to mention the influence he had in directing my interests over the summer that lead to my present state. Anyways, I poke and prod each day during the Linear Algebra teacher's office hours, whatever is on my mind, if nothing in particular I'll settle on clarifying something during the lecture, just so I can be there every day, get into the habit, and so on. I'm a bit surprised by the conversations, whereas my Calculus teacher would just start pouring his interests and knowledge out with hardly a push whatsoever, the same way I do when I'm around somebody and I'm in a chatty mood, this Linear Algebra teacher is, as I said before, focused on the straight-forward teaching: she explains everything in detailed, easy to follow manner. No talk of unified theories or far out science, favorite theorms, etc./whatnot. Something I would do if I were in their position I believe. So I'm kinda surprised, not what I was expecting, maybe I haven't brought up the proper subjects, or haven't delved deep enough into the class subject itself. Not sure.

btw, Melody, you are now my official INTP forum source of mathematical inspiration. ;) Just seeing somebody fiddling around with symbols I've never seen urges me to learn more. Self-teaching can be really enriching because it forces you to organize all the information your personal, unique way. Sometimes I enjoy "going back to the basics," look at a few old things with fresh eyes, maybe try to imagine a little harder what the abstraction means qualitatively, maybe putting it in a new context. Primarily because I missed doing it the "right" way the first time when the subjects were taught in class. I'm still absorbing what was taught in my last calculus class.

[int]

I have found many practical uses for math. Since I was young, I have wanted to become a videogame programmer/designer, but my family could not afford a computer (I was seventeen when we finally got one,) so I made do with a graphing calculator. So for a few reasons, I have been led to being knowledgeable about math. Recently, it has become more enjoyable, because I am not just recycling what other people have made, I am creating my own things. For example, recent tomfoolery with genetic algorithms:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/tocca/samuraishowdown.png

(exerpt from development document)



It's funny how similar those equations are to some stats equations we had to solve in my stats for econ class. :mellow:

[Melody]

btw, Melody, you are now my official INTP forum source of mathematical inspiration. ;)
8O





I have found many practical uses for math. Since I was young, I have wanted to become a videogame programmer/designer, but my family could not afford a computer (I was seventeen when we finally got one,) so I made do with a graphing calculator. So for a few reasons, I have been led to being knowledgeable about math. Recently, it has become more enjoyable, because I am not just recycling what other people have made, I am creating my own things. For example, recent tomfoolery with genetic algorithms:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/tocca/samuraishowdown.png

(exerpt from development document)



It's funny how similar those equations are to some stats equations we had to solve in my stats for econ class. :mellow:

The words "I'm pregnant" come to mind for some reason. O_O

[int]

rofl. :)

[paladinoflunaria]

I'm a senior in highschool, and I'm taking Calc II and Multivariable Calc, and I have a block scheduled for some kind of math, but I'm not sure what yet (anyone have some suggestions?). I've been on the Missouri team for ARML twice and I'll go again this year, so I think it's safe to say that I find mathematics interesting. I'm way too lazy to do anything, though. It took about all the energy I have to write up the classes last year. Meh.

[Jezebel]

My highest math education was a remedial algebra class in college. I only took what I had to take in order to graduate in high school.

I was a college level algebra tutor for a while after I left college, which was a higher level class than I ever made it to. I think I learned more doing that than I ever learned in any class, and it was also a lot more interesting. I had to make sure I understood how everything worked so I could explain it. But my motivation was money and not just a sudden interest, and I don't consider myself anymore math inclined.

[int]

I bought "The Millenium Problems" by Keith Devlin today...should keep me busy for a while. :)

[Star Cannon]

UGH NO! No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no... did i mention: NO?!
I abhor math. I can do it, my brain refuses to see numbers as they are: numbers. I look at one problem, see the problem next to it, get confused, and end up starting over again because some stupid process in my muddled head cannot seem to FOCUS on one math problem.

Incredibly redundant. I could have fallen asleep last year in Algebra 1A. The teacher was incredibly boring and I had no interest whatsoever in studying for the end of the year test, which I passed with an either a 'D' or a 'C'. Sorry, But I'm going to major English, Music, Art, or Philosophy. And minor any combination of the four. Math is simply to concrete for my mind.

[int]

I wasn't interested in math until I had a good teacher, which was in my second semester of college when I took college algebra. It was actually a boring class until he put a problem on the board for extra credit. I came up with a couple solutions using Pascal's Triangle and the binary system.

Then I had a pre-calc class that I ended up dropping because the instructor was a Japanese guy that learned english in Scotland. Nobody could understand a thing.

The following semester I took Calc 1 at a community college where the teacher broke down every problem to make it relevant for each individual student (the class was really small). That class was awesome, even though I fell behind.

I took "Math for Economics" twice, which consisted of lots of calculus. Both teachers stunk and the amount of tedious work was ridiculously absurd. Teachers can make all the difference. Unfortunately the university system doesn't always allow for the choicest crop.

[paladinoflunaria]

Star Cannon wrote:

But I'm going to major English, Music, Art, or Philosophy. And minor any combination of the four. Math is simply to concrete for my mind.

Did you know that music is actually a left-brain pattern of thought? Actually, English and philosophy are also done by the left brain. With the exception of art, all of those things are concrete. Haven't you ever noticed that people who are good at math are also generally good at music and/or philosophy? Pascal, Descarte, Einstein (all INTPs too :D); see the pattern?

I'm not sure if English and Math go together. I'm good at both, but the stereotype says otherwise.

This reminds me (short rant ahead... argh!). I can't stand people who say that they stink at math but their good at history, or good at science, etc. Even saying, "I'm good at science." is dumb. Most of what you do in anything is memorize. Math is different- it requires this thing called reasoning.

Granted Bloom's Taxonomy (I love Bloom's Taxonomy) applies to science, history, and math, math has a much steeper learning curve.

Why don't people just say, "I have inferior reasoning skills, but I have a mediocre memory."

[CeSoirNoir]

All I have to say is that I'm HORRIBLE at math. It has always been a struggle for me. Of course I believe it may be because I never wanted to learn it and didn't spend lots of time studying my math books.

[Slider]

Star Cannon wrote:

But I'm going to major English, Music, Art, or Philosophy. And minor any combination of the four. Math is simply to concrete for my mind.

Did you know that music is actually a left-brain pattern of thought? Actually, English and philosophy are also done by the left brain. With the exception of art, all of those things are concrete. Haven't you ever noticed that people who are good at math are also generally good at music and/or philosophy? Pascal, Descarte, Einstein (all INTPs too :D); see the pattern?

I'm not sure if English and Math go together. I'm good at both, but the stereotype says otherwise.

This reminds me (short rant ahead... argh!). I can't stand people who say that they stink at math but their good at history, or good at science, etc. Even saying, "I'm good at science." is dumb. Most of what you do in anything is memorize. Math is different- it requires this thing called reasoning.

Granted Bloom's Taxonomy (I love Bloom's Taxonomy) applies to science, history, and math, math has a much steeper learning curve.

Why don't people just say, "I have inferior reasoning skills, but I have a mediocre memory."

[MacGuffin]

Barbie said it best:

"Math is hard!"

[Johnny]

Barbie said it best:

"Math is hard!"

Ken, to be sure, is a good listener.

[Johnny]

There's another way to make 1=0, a math way... and then you can use that to make the great orator rabbit food.
Suppose we let: A = B

Then-- Multiplying both sides by A, we get: 2A = AB

Subtracting 2B from both sides, we get: 2A - 2B = AB - 2B

Factoring, we get: (A - B)(A + B) = (A - B)B

Dividing both sides by (A - B), we get: (A + B) = B

And since A = B, we can substitute B for A: (B + B) = B

Simplify, and we get: 2B = B

And then: 2 = 1

Finally, subtract 1: 1 = 0

In assuming that A=B, I'm not clear that it follows that A=1 and B=0. A-B=0 if A=B, and that would be dividing by zero in the division step. Is that legal in algebra? :sombrero:

[indczn]

Yo uare correct Johnny. That example is wrong because of the division by 0 you pointed out.

[Johnny]

Why don't people just say, "I have inferior reasoning skills, but I have a mediocre memory.".

Beats me, but let's give it a shot. Heard any good musical solos or compositions from Einstein, Pascal, or Descartes?

[Niflheimian]

Why don't people just say, "I have inferior reasoning skills, but I have a mediocre memory."

Math has never been my forte, but I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that my mind has poor reasoning skills.
At the risk of stating the obvious, other factors (besides reasoning ability) contribute to performance in a math class: interest level, attitude, teacher, environment, etc.

[glassmoon]

I found this thread by searching the forum for math and INTp's and I was struck to find that only few people here said they are good at math.
It might be interesting to make a poll about math skills...

[airjaw]

I never excelled at math in school but I'm fairly confident I could
excel if I had the motivation to study.

I guess the actuarial examination will really test my skills: my discipline to study as well as my reasoning abilities.

[de groz]

No! Math is not memorizing formulas!

I agree. Basically the only way I excelled at math in high school was by memorizing. That method kind of went to shit after algebra and anything that required thinking. This was due to poor teachers and I suspect most people learn this way.

I'm interested now in a few books, mainly The Language of Mathematics: Making the Invisible Visible (Devlin). Have you read it?

I want to "get" it, not just memorize formulas--anyone can do that.

[omnirook]

So...I am at school and I decided to come post at the forum.
This semester I am not taking any math and continuing on with the disgusted faces from the people I keep telling this exert; I will like to declare that I am in Math-withdrawal...and it's so bad that I checked out a Linear Algebra book and I am taking notes about it (ooo, matrices).

So, after that nice little rant, what are your comments about math? How much math have you taken so far? Did you always dislike/like math? Have you ever had math-withdrawal? Ok, perhaps you don't have to answer the last one...but go ahead anyway ^.^

~*Aven*~

I'm dyslexic, and I had an enormous amount of trouble w/math in school. Then I met and fell in love with and lived with a "math geek" for years. He was able to explain math to me, so that I finally understood it. He's no longer in my life, but math remains a passion. Pure math, as opposed to applied math. Lord Bertrand Russell's "Principles of Mathematics" is virtually a Bible for me, and I've been patiently ploughing through his "Principia Mathematica" for years - 4000 pages, written in a very peculiar style, a beautiful torture that I remain patient with because nothing is so pure, so refined, so liberating because it soars so high as pure mathematics. Kurt Godler is a hero, of course - he routed Lord Russell's last-ditch epistemological effort (The Theory of Types) to over-turn Immanuel Kant. Lord Russell very nearly wound up in a mad-house after a 17 year-old self-taught boy mopped the floor w/The Theory of Types ... I love math!

[jread]

I still hate math, though I am enjoying statistics this semester. It's not really math, though.

[Justin05]

Math is very interesting to me. I have noticed the 3/5 ratio in a lot of things. The vitruvian man. The way we can measure human proportions. And it feels kickass to solve a problem and come up w/ new ways to do it. Math rocks. It should not be feared. I am in a Statistics class right now and excited about it. But that's just statistics, logic...blah.

If you are having math withdrawal then start picking up some interesting math books and puzzles and learn it on your own. If it fascinates you, than live for it and don't let it live alone.

[ben from below]

Math is one of the few things that make me want to live forever. Hated it as a kid, because I probably knew more than the teachers, and I hated the teachers. Inept teaching is likely the major factor in why so many people are "math phobic." I got past that b/c my high shool calculus teacher was great; an interesting guy who clearly had a deeper understanding. Also, i saw all the cryptic symbols used in more advanced math, and i just had to figure out what it all meant.

i've had plenty of math classes in college, up through undergrad level Differential Geometry and Algebraic Topology. i'm a PhD student in physics, though i'm pretty much uninterested in anything experimental, taking the theoretical route, so i always turn back to math. It truly is my love.

[omnirook]

Math is one of the few things that make me want to live forever. Hated it as a kid, because I probably knew more than the teachers, and I hated the teachers. Inept teaching is likely the major factor in why so many people are "math phobic." I got past that b/c my high shool calculus teacher was great; an interesting guy who clearly had a deeper understanding. Also, i saw all the cryptic symbols used in more advanced math, and i just had to figure out what it all meant.

i've had plenty of math classes in college, up through undergrad level Differential Geometry and Algebraic Topology. i'm a PhD student in physics, though i'm pretty much uninterested in anything experimental, taking the theoretical route, so i always turn back to math. It truly is my love.

What of Crowley have you read? Do you understand "0 = 2"?

[Lucy]

I've had math withdrawal. I had it after I dropped out of university in final year and was working as a photocopy assistant in a university library. My job was depressing but I couldn't think of anything else I could do, and it allowed me time to read math books from the library. I taught myself group representation theory.

Eventually I came back to university and now I'm doing a PhD in math (algebra related to mathematical physics). I only have a year to go : (. I don't want it to end...

[Lucy]

Barbie said it best:

"Math is hard!"

That's what makes it so addictive...

[Lucy]

I found this thread by searching the forum for math and INTp's and I was struck to find that only few people here said they are good at math.
It might be interesting to make a poll about math skills...

The correlation between people thinking they are good at math and actually being good at math is pretty weak and there are lots of confounding factors.

(For example. on average men who are of average math ability rate themselves as above average, but many women who are actually above average rate themselves as below average).

The problem is that people who don't know how to do something usually don't know they don't know.

And the people who know how to do it don't realise most other people don't.

So I don't think this poll would be accurate.

[ben from below]

Lucy, what specific brand of physics are applying algebra to, if i may ask?

[Kljoki]

I LOOOOVE math! I love it, I love it, I love it!!! It's so liberating for me. I even made my own numbers :ph34r:. They rock!!!
There are so many things one can do in math. I'm looking forward to a life long exploration :thumbup:

[charred_heart]

Recently, it has become more enjoyable, because I am not just recycling what other people have made, I am creating my own things. For example, recent tomfoolery with genetic algorithms:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/tocca/samuraishowdown.png

(exerpt from development document)

i r smort
*licks his lips*
mmm peanut butter :wtf:
I wanted to learn math so I could better understand the code behind game engines but alas high school math has scarred me for life...

[Lucy]

Lucy, what specific brand of physics are applying algebra to, if i may ask?

I study Yangians of Lie superalgebras, which are a type of quantum group that describe symmetries in quantum integrable systems (like "Calogero-Sutherland models"). They usually go in the "high energy physics" section on the Arxiv, but I don't understand what it all means - I just do the algebra.

I'm doing a course in Mathematical Physics in July, so hopefully I'll learn then...

[airjaw]

Lucy I wasn't even sure if that was English.

[Architectonic]

:wtf:
I wanted to learn math so I could better understand the code behind game engines but alas high school math has scarred me for life...

There are all sorts of math (and programming for that matter..) ebooks available on the web if you know where to look.