Calculations have never been my strong point. Although, I have been successful in Math all through school but for some reason we never got along. All in all Mathematics was never my best friend.
One of the reasons for not keeping Math "in the corner of my eye" was its impractical use in life (in general) and the importance laid on its theoretical education. No matter what the intelligence level, every kid is supposed to get a full 100 in math just because the answers to the questions are either completely right or completely wrong - no credit for effort. Also the total marks define the IQ in many cases. If they achieve a full 100, the topic of conversation in every gathering for every parent is "What grade did your kid get in Math?". If they dont (or rather cant which is worse, unfathomable, unacceptable and many times unforgiving) then the parental fury is unleashed in various forms - some known to humankind and some unknown.
Mathematics certainly has its importance in other sciences - no contest. Directly, in my view, it does not really affect humans at a macro level. Of course there is no 4 if there is no "2" and no "+". With this notion I have spent most of my days looking for one such example that directly affects life at a macro level. It finally struck.
Life, as it is, changes with time and at every level, for each individual, the change is different. For some the change is good and brings happiness, for some it brings sorrow and still for some it stays the same waiting for change.
Within life, there are multiple aspects - big and small - that are bound to change. These aspects in turn combine to change life as a whole. Behavior, mindset, stereotypes, personality, likings, love, affection, hatred etc etc ... all change with time and in turn change the individual. It is interesting to know that all these aspects are dependent on change in aspects that change themselves. Take for instance the most beautiful of all the beings, humans, and the most beautiful of all emotions, love. Every aspect of love is bound to change depending on external factors ranging from relationships to education to culture to geography. In time, as relationships, education, culture and geography change, love also goes through a slow but sure change. This in turn changes behavior, personality and ultimately the person. The same can be applied to the worse of all human aspects, hatred. This constant (sometimes consistent for a short period of time) change, to me, is defined by the trigonometric function SINE.
I remember asking myself and others so many times the importance of studying theory when it has no pracitcal consequence in real life. Most of the questions have not been answered, however I do believe that if I let light pass through a prism at an appropriate angle it will show me a rainbow, else it will just remain distorted.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Roller coaster math
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4 comments:
"...every kid is supposed to get a full 100 in math just because the answers to the questions are either completely right or completely wrong - no credit for effort." There is certainly credit for the effort as well, unless they are all multiple choice questions.
Math definitely has a practical use. Math is calculation and calculation is everywhere in everything. The complexities of these calculations vary depending upon the person using it and situation he/she is involved in. Everyone, in most of the situations, is involved in some kind of calculation. A housewife is involved in calculation while budgeting monthly expenses, a doctor when prescribing a medicine, a nutritionist when making a diet plan, a cook while adding spices in the food, and so on.
“Behavior, mindset, stereotypes, personality, likings, love, affection, hatred etc etc ... all change with time and in turn change the individual.” I must add here that these changes are inversely proportional to age. The older you get, the fewer changes you welcome in your life. But, there are certain behaviors and emotions which do not change at any point of time, during any circumstances. This is the reason why and how each individual is unique.
The school that I went to had no credit for effort.
I think you did not read the post correctly. I have mentioned right in the beginning that there is no practical use in general at a larger scale. Obviously Math is needed in day to day life. DUH!!!
And by the way when did you see any advantage of Integration or Polygonal triangles in life in general?
I agree with your comment about change not readily accepted in old age beacuse experience tunrs opinions into faith and belief. But then you contradict yourself by saying that "This is the reason why and how each individual is unique." I think if there are certain human aspects that do not change with age or because of the influence of any external factor (as you have mentioned), then all old people should have at least 1 aspect common amongst them which contradicts your statement and in turn proves that all individuals are not unique?
As I said that the complexities of using calculations depend upon the person using it and the situation he/she is involved in. A person might use integration to find out how much space the tree in his/her backyard will occupy over the period of time in order to find out when exactly they will have to cut it down as per the compound’s rules.
"...then all old people should have at least 1 aspect common amongst them..." and which is? What I said is that each individual has certain characteristics which uniquely identifies that person and which does not change no matter what! These characteristics are different in different individuals which makes them unique.
"A person might use integration to find out .............. as per the compound’s rules"
RIGHT !!! I was talking about common people not botanists, scientists or mathematicians. Again, I am talking about GENERAL people not exceptions.
Again, all my statements talk about general, simple aspects. Like, generally, all kids like to play with sand but there are some (maybe 1%) that do not. It is an observation not an experiment.
I understand your point that some aspects do not change at all in old age.
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