|
|
What does it mean to know math?
Posted:
Jan 2, 2002 4:51 PM
|
|
Yes, what does it mean to know math?
At one extreme one could say that to know math means to know the axioms and
to know how to derive the theorems from those axioms.
I prefer (which may be the other extreme) to say that to know math is to
remember enough of "mathematical facts" (theorems, formulas, algorithmic
procedures, etc.) and to have enough of mathematical thinking skills to be
able to derive/solve mathematical problems.
Notice that "to remember enough mathematical facts" and "to have sufficient
thinking skills" are, to some extent, mutually replaceable by each other.
At "vocational" end of the spectrum one relies mostly on memorization, at
"scientific" end of the spectrum one relies mostly on thinking.
For example, one can memorize the volume formula (for the solid of
revolution) or one can derive it if one needs it. The same with most other
"facts".
So, what does it mean to know math?
Kaz
------------------------------------------------------------
-HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the calc-reform mailing list,
send mail to:
majordomo@ams.org
with the following in the message body:
unsubscribe calc-reform your_email_address
-Information on the subject line is disregarded.
|
|
