Old, Retired People Suck Bigtime
So, this weekend, I had the chance to be a grader in S. Arizona's 25th MathCounts competition and they had a photographer from the AZ Daily Star there. I REALLY prefer the Tucson Citizen to the "Red Star" (as I lovingly refer to the Star). It just infuriated me tonight to read the article on the winners and see the comment(s) from some soured old man. Reading his diatribe sickened me to the core as he bashed modern science and made mockery of his own words by first praising the sciences for their progression and then condemning it by claiming no less than science was asymptotically approaching rock bottom in comparison to his beloved and elitist portrayal of the modern mathematician. The fellow's lack of comprehension of the sciences and engineering which he openly mocks are somewhat vexing to me... and while he thinks he comprehends modern science, he has no clue whatsoever the "algorithms" developed by mathematicians in the present day and their applications in science. Obviously this man missed the boat. That or he's too busy sulking in his own ineptitude of the sciences.
I also didn't like the degrading choice of words he used... though I admit he does write with such poetic flair that would go unnoticed by the untrained eye.
So Mr... if you're out there and reading. I daresay I bite my thumb in your general direction... and please, lay down the chisel if you've any shoulder left on that block.
... and for cripes sakes, can't we just encourage kids for TRYING? Eeesh.
Link to Comments
Comment by Peter V. (#4711) - February 3,2008 @ 10:05AM
This is a great idea to get the kids interested in math. The kids who are inclined to it will take off into the wild blue yonder if they are given half a chance, because mathematics is fundamentally exciting, visceral even.
Dare we ask why "competition" is the only motivation that occurs to the promoters. The "fastest calculator" is not the best mathematician in professional practice. Arithmetic is NOT Mathematics, it is only a tiny subset of Math that uses number tricks called "algorithms," most of which are literally Medieval, and all of which are rendered totally obsolete by modern electronic calculators.
Mathematics is an extremely efficient Thinking Process that can be performed "elegantly" or "crudely" in the opinion of other mathematicians.
Mathematics has long been known as "the Queen of the Sciences" because it is the most efficient way of thinking in any Science. It is not the ONLY way of thinking, just the most efficient way, and the most error-free.
"Hands-on" people like Engineers and Applied Physicists tend to use "crude" methods of Math for three reasons: They have no clear idea of exactly what they are looking for; they are in a hurry; and they are NOT expert mathematicians.
The best mathematicians produce the most elegant mathematics. The process may take a decade or more for any given project, but the result is the super-distillation of all that thinking down to a single line of mathematical terminology followed by a "QED" (Quod Eratus Demonstrandum" which is Latin for "bingo, it is proven."
Mathematics is far more efficient than words in any given discussion where logic or numbers are paramount. A high point in my academic career was showing a Philosophy professor after class that two-board-fulls of words he had written to describe a philosophical logic problem could be condensed to three lines of modern Mathematical Logic.
Engineers and Applied Physicists tend to be mathematically competent in whatever field of mathematics covers their specialties. For example, mathematical Logic (invented in the early 19th century) is at the heart of all Digital Computer designs.
Mathematics is farther ahead of the "human technical progress curve" than any other field. I would venture a reasonable estimate that mathematicians are running about two CENTURIES ahead of the engineers. That's why real top-level mathematics is totally incomprehensible to lay people. It seems to have no practical use. But history shows the use will come with more advanced technical understanding.
So if you really want to know what will be a hot engineering topic in the early 23rd century, look at what today's highest level mathematicians are doing. Good luck...
You might wonder what practical use would a "math team" be in the real world. Well in the old days, before computers took over around 1950, the big problems were solved by teams of mathematicians each working on a part of the problem just like computer software does now. You might say that mathematicians in grandpa's day were "human computers."
Everybody in the science game who is older than 65 can remember the "slip stick" slide rule, carried proudly in a scabbard at the hip. And happy was the young engineer or scientist who had acquired a log table with six or seven digit accuracy. I remember the feeling of awe in the early sixties to see electronic calculators produce 8-digit numbers in less than a minute.
Comment by jadewik - February 3,2008 @ 9:56PM
I had the opportunity to volunteer as a grader for MathCounts this year. It was a really exciting experience. I especially enjoyed getting the chance to watch the "Countdown" round, where the top 10 kids entered a head-to-head competition. Many of those bright minds could correctly answer algebra, trig, and geometry questions before half of it was even read aloud!
At this level, it's very exciting to see those kids excel in the fundamentals of math which are the building blocks of all mathematical study and number theory. It's nice to see these young minds-- the posterity of science-- have so much support from their family, friends, and teachers. I, for one, am glad that they can enjoy learning, and have fun in a competition while spending time socializing and playing with their friends between test-taking.
It's also nice to see that this year had the best turnout in the history of S. Arizona MathCounts to date. This program has really grown in the past 6 years and it's great to see parents and teachers encouraging children to excel in mathematics and, in turn, the sciences. Perhaps these kids will be the propellant that launches science and engineering exponentially into the 23rd century as each forthcoming generation is encouraged to learn at age 11 what people in previous generations learned as seniors in high school.
Kudos to all those kids who spent their Saturday in the labor of mathematical love-- you guys are great!
I also didn't like the degrading choice of words he used... though I admit he does write with such poetic flair that would go unnoticed by the untrained eye.
So Mr... if you're out there and reading. I daresay I bite my thumb in your general direction... and please, lay down the chisel if you've any shoulder left on that block.
... and for cripes sakes, can't we just encourage kids for TRYING? Eeesh.
Link to Comments
Comment by Peter V. (#4711) - February 3,2008 @ 10:05AM
This is a great idea to get the kids interested in math. The kids who are inclined to it will take off into the wild blue yonder if they are given half a chance, because mathematics is fundamentally exciting, visceral even.
Dare we ask why "competition" is the only motivation that occurs to the promoters. The "fastest calculator" is not the best mathematician in professional practice. Arithmetic is NOT Mathematics, it is only a tiny subset of Math that uses number tricks called "algorithms," most of which are literally Medieval, and all of which are rendered totally obsolete by modern electronic calculators.
Mathematics is an extremely efficient Thinking Process that can be performed "elegantly" or "crudely" in the opinion of other mathematicians.
Mathematics has long been known as "the Queen of the Sciences" because it is the most efficient way of thinking in any Science. It is not the ONLY way of thinking, just the most efficient way, and the most error-free.
"Hands-on" people like Engineers and Applied Physicists tend to use "crude" methods of Math for three reasons: They have no clear idea of exactly what they are looking for; they are in a hurry; and they are NOT expert mathematicians.
The best mathematicians produce the most elegant mathematics. The process may take a decade or more for any given project, but the result is the super-distillation of all that thinking down to a single line of mathematical terminology followed by a "QED" (Quod Eratus Demonstrandum" which is Latin for "bingo, it is proven."
Mathematics is far more efficient than words in any given discussion where logic or numbers are paramount. A high point in my academic career was showing a Philosophy professor after class that two-board-fulls of words he had written to describe a philosophical logic problem could be condensed to three lines of modern Mathematical Logic.
Engineers and Applied Physicists tend to be mathematically competent in whatever field of mathematics covers their specialties. For example, mathematical Logic (invented in the early 19th century) is at the heart of all Digital Computer designs.
Mathematics is farther ahead of the "human technical progress curve" than any other field. I would venture a reasonable estimate that mathematicians are running about two CENTURIES ahead of the engineers. That's why real top-level mathematics is totally incomprehensible to lay people. It seems to have no practical use. But history shows the use will come with more advanced technical understanding.
So if you really want to know what will be a hot engineering topic in the early 23rd century, look at what today's highest level mathematicians are doing. Good luck...
You might wonder what practical use would a "math team" be in the real world. Well in the old days, before computers took over around 1950, the big problems were solved by teams of mathematicians each working on a part of the problem just like computer software does now. You might say that mathematicians in grandpa's day were "human computers."
Everybody in the science game who is older than 65 can remember the "slip stick" slide rule, carried proudly in a scabbard at the hip. And happy was the young engineer or scientist who had acquired a log table with six or seven digit accuracy. I remember the feeling of awe in the early sixties to see electronic calculators produce 8-digit numbers in less than a minute.
Comment by jadewik - February 3,2008 @ 9:56PM
I had the opportunity to volunteer as a grader for MathCounts this year. It was a really exciting experience. I especially enjoyed getting the chance to watch the "Countdown" round, where the top 10 kids entered a head-to-head competition. Many of those bright minds could correctly answer algebra, trig, and geometry questions before half of it was even read aloud!
At this level, it's very exciting to see those kids excel in the fundamentals of math which are the building blocks of all mathematical study and number theory. It's nice to see these young minds-- the posterity of science-- have so much support from their family, friends, and teachers. I, for one, am glad that they can enjoy learning, and have fun in a competition while spending time socializing and playing with their friends between test-taking.
It's also nice to see that this year had the best turnout in the history of S. Arizona MathCounts to date. This program has really grown in the past 6 years and it's great to see parents and teachers encouraging children to excel in mathematics and, in turn, the sciences. Perhaps these kids will be the propellant that launches science and engineering exponentially into the 23rd century as each forthcoming generation is encouraged to learn at age 11 what people in previous generations learned as seniors in high school.
Kudos to all those kids who spent their Saturday in the labor of mathematical love-- you guys are great!