[quote=Dervish]
I use semi-complicated math at work fairly often (calculating things like dosages and contact time for chlorine and what have you), and I have always done well at math in school, but man, I found it such a dry and boring subject. I was always much more predisposed towards history, English, and science.
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Most people at my school (which, admittedly, heavily favours sciences in terms of number of students taking each subject) feel the opposite - that humanities like History and English are unbearably dull. Do you think either your teachers or school had a large impact on you feeling that way? And, considering you enjoy your job, which involves lots of maths, do you think it's just the way it was taught rather than maths in itself that you thought was boring?
I use semi-complicated math at work fairly often (calculating things like dosages and contact time for chlorine and what have you), and I have always done well at math in school, but man, I found it such a dry and boring subject. I was always much more predisposed towards history, English, and science.
[/quot]
Most people at my school (which, admittedly, heavily favours sciences in terms of number of students taking each subject) feel the opposite - that humanities like History and English are unbearably dull. Do you think either your teachers or school had a large impact on you feeling that way? And, considering you enjoy your job, which involves lots of maths, do you think it's just the way it was taught rather than maths in itself that you thought was boring?
[quote=Hank]
I'm sure it's a fascinating subject (the only constant, unwavering language in the universe) but I am very, very bad at it... which means I don't like it.
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What about physics and "pop-science", as it's called, how'd you feel about that? That doesn't really require you to be a natural mathematician, just to take an interest. An example would be the way the Higgs Boson's discovery was reported in the news - it wasn't reams of technical data or any such thing.
I'm sure it's a fascinating subject (the only constant, unwavering language in the universe) but I am very, very bad at it... which means I don't like it.
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What about physics and "pop-science", as it's called, how'd you feel about that? That doesn't really require you to be a natural mathematician, just to take an interest. An example would be the way the Higgs Boson's discovery was reported in the news - it wasn't reams of technical data or any such thing.
[quote=Aragorn]
I'm decent at math(Passed both Algebra and Geometry with B's). But I prefer Physics. And ironically, I despise English(Although I love to write and read. College reading level since 5th grade yo)
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Why do you prefer physics, when it's simply mathematics applied to the world about us? Is it the abstraction of maths versus the more obvious practicality of physics, or something else?
I'm decent at math(Passed both Algebra and Geometry with B's). But I prefer Physics. And ironically, I despise English(Although I love to write and read. College reading level since 5th grade yo)
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Why do you prefer physics, when it's simply mathematics applied to the world about us? Is it the abstraction of maths versus the more obvious practicality of physics, or something else?
[quote=ImANargleHunter]
I'm taking my math and all my sciences. This year we did gravitational pull and circular motion and kinematics and all that stuff. I didn't mind it, but I much prefer quantum theory.
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I feel quite similarly about my coursework this year, which covers virtually identical areas. What is it that draws you to quantum theory and particle physics?
I'm taking my math and all my sciences. This year we did gravitational pull and circular motion and kinematics and all that stuff. I didn't mind it, but I much prefer quantum theory.
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I feel quite similarly about my coursework this year, which covers virtually identical areas. What is it that draws you to quantum theory and particle physics?
[quote=Antarctic Termite]
I've still got three school years of math/meth to go, but at this stage, I'm surprised to find that it's one of my best subjects marks-wise, and it's still quite interesting. I'm not sure what'll happen to that thought after this year, when I'll presumably change teachers from the wonderful guy I have now, but I get along quite well with meth at the moment.
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The teacher you have makes such a difference in subjects like this. I was always a wee maths geek, from before I started school, but there was a time I hated it for a few years after I had a terrible teacher who made every lesson something to be dreaded. So, your enjoyment of maths isn't exactly an intrinsic thing, but more dependent on whatever the circumstances surrounding it are in the moment?
I've still got three school years of math/meth to go, but at this stage, I'm surprised to find that it's one of my best subjects marks-wise, and it's still quite interesting. I'm not sure what'll happen to that thought after this year, when I'll presumably change teachers from the wonderful guy I have now, but I get along quite well with meth at the moment.
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The teacher you have makes such a difference in subjects like this. I was always a wee maths geek, from before I started school, but there was a time I hated it for a few years after I had a terrible teacher who made every lesson something to be dreaded. So, your enjoyment of maths isn't exactly an intrinsic thing, but more dependent on whatever the circumstances surrounding it are in the moment?
[quote=monstahunta]
I loved math while in high school. Then I took a couple of years off from school to enter the work-force. I started to rapidly lose my math skills.Now I'm in college, and math is getting easier again, but I'll never like it as much as I did before. My problem solving, and critical thinking skills increased while my math skills deteriorated, but it's probably growing more mature, and having new experiences that made that happen. I still don't rule out the possibility that distancing myself from math helped though. Considering math is abstract, and intangible, and I didn't start thinking about abstract concepts again until I started learning computer programming.
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You feel leaving mathematics behind helped your problem solving and critical thinking skills, then? Personally, I feel the opposite, but everyone reacts to things differently and has different experiences of subjects. Does abstraction and a focus on the theoretical/hypothetical not potentially aid your problem solving skills?
I loved math while in high school. Then I took a couple of years off from school to enter the work-force. I started to rapidly lose my math skills.Now I'm in college, and math is getting easier again, but I'll never like it as much as I did before. My problem solving, and critical thinking skills increased while my math skills deteriorated, but it's probably growing more mature, and having new experiences that made that happen. I still don't rule out the possibility that distancing myself from math helped though. Considering math is abstract, and intangible, and I didn't start thinking about abstract concepts again until I started learning computer programming.
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You feel leaving mathematics behind helped your problem solving and critical thinking skills, then? Personally, I feel the opposite, but everyone reacts to things differently and has different experiences of subjects. Does abstraction and a focus on the theoretical/hypothetical not potentially aid your problem solving skills?
[quote=mbl]
I don't particularly love or hate math, but I will probably be working with the complex maths for the rest of my life.
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Why's that? Will your intended career involve it..?
I don't particularly love or hate math, but I will probably be working with the complex maths for the rest of my life.
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Why's that? Will your intended career involve it..?
