Orwell wrote:
ryan93 wrote:
I suck at maths. I'm okay at playing with linear algebra, and probabilities, but I'm awful enough when it comes to something highly abstract like calculus (and it is abstract, despite it's uses

). Though the fact my mathematical education has continued into college implies I suck at a higher level than the majority of the populace

I don't understand how calculus is abstract- it seems like the most intuitive and physically concrete form of mathematics I can think of. Linear algebra would have to be at least as abstract, usually more so.
The ideas behind it, like differentiation, integration, the squeeze theorem, are intuitive, but at soon as you start applying them to complex enough functions (x^(4x^2 + 5)) you loose a lot of the intuition. That, and the fact that halfway through semester two we still havn't seen a single proof for any of this stuff

Linear Algebra is at least a lot more tangible; Markov Chains and simultaneous equations relate to real world phenomena through pretty basic math, while Functions can be derived/integrated easily enough, but it rarely makes much sense how one function led to another. But that's probably just me

Quote:
here is my favorite quote from R. A. Heinlein:
Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house.
I like it
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The scientist only imposes two things, namely truth and sincerity, imposes them upon himself and upon other scientists - Erwin Schrodinger
Member of the WP Strident Atheists