Math: love it or hate it? - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

maleficent · 08-18-2005, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slavakion

I never got poetry or literary symbols

reading was easy...

Exactly -gramatical correctness wasn't a problem (spelling wasnt a problem for me then either, I actually did know how to use a dictionary) Writing style wasnt a problem... I never got symbolism at all... and AP English where we spent weeks on Poetry was a complete waste for me.. I didn't understand it then I don't understand it now, I never quite got why these 'important writers' wouldn't just say what they meant -- why was it up to me to figure it out...

Deciphering what a poem meant, when it could mean a bazillion different things was a lot harder and more futile than solving quadratic equations.. in math, there was pretty much one correct answer...

Bill O'Rights · 08-18-2005, 10:05 AM

Oh God...I absolutely detested math. It was my academic Waterloo.
That is not to say that I don't respect math. I certainly do. As much as I hold those that are mathematicaly inclined in the utmost esteem. There is an almost...beauty to math. I just wish that I could get it.

flstf · 08-18-2005, 10:20 AM

I never really appreciated the beauty of math until I started working with dynamic systems (control systems, feedback systems, non-linear systems. chaos theory, etc..)
There is fluidity to to the math applied in some of these that is artistic and beautiful.

I wish some of the math classes I took would have started with examples of some of the more elegant systems and once hooked would have explained the math behind them. My brain works better in a backward fashion that way I guess.

astrahl · 08-18-2005, 10:28 AM

Went through algebra in 7-8th grade and took calculus my soph and junior years in high school. I hated Geometry and Trig, but algebra, calculus, differential equations...I ate that shit up.

It is all about logic and that was my strength on the GRE and GMAT too.

I didn't follow math though, I went into science. I use X much math now...
...where 5x - 3 < x + 1.

I miss it, actually.

drainpipe · 08-18-2005, 11:28 AM

Love it to death. I wouldn't be majoring in it if I didn't. Abstract algebra was one of the most painful classes I had last year, but I still can't bring myself to hate it. The pain almost gives me pleasure. I really can't see myself studying anything else now.

Groups, rings, and fields, oh yeah...

Cuatela · 08-18-2005, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj2112

I hated it in school, but I was always pretty good at it. I think the main reason was that most of my teachers insisted on me showing my work, when for the most part I could do it in my head. I find it interesting that as much as I hated it in school, math problems are the major portion of my job. I determine material and hardware requirements for various projects and generate cutlists for a cabinet shop. It's all math, all day.

I tend to agree about showing the work. I always wanted to do it in my head, so I'd do the problem, then do it again on paper. It became more fun when I took Physics and Chemistry...the math in those was pretty stimulating.

Marvelous Marv · 08-18-2005, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slavakion

Me, too. I started reading at an early age, so spelling and grammar came naturally to me. I always have to stop myself from correcting other people.

Interpretation is my problem. I never got poetry or literary symbols. I always just regurgitated everything the teacher said. That's not what I like. I like actually understanding what I'm learning. Which brings me back to math: You either understand it and do well, or don't understand it and do poorly. (Although I'm sure everyone has tried BSing their way through certain math problems... I did that with those bastard trig identities until my teacher caught on.)

That's twice now that I've wholeheatedly agreed with you (and some others).

Both English and Math came easily to me (and that means you can test well in almost anything, even if you don't have any common sense).

So I took Math in college because it was an easy A. Then it bit me in the butt in my junior year, when we had to start "proving" all of the theorems we'd been using for two years. That sucked out loud.

However, so does having to fill up some English Lit paper with a bunch of bullshit. Give me a math problem with a definite answer any day.

Elphaba · 08-18-2005, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redlemon

Or, as Tom Lehrer explained...

Psychiatric Case Note: Patient Elphaba remains in a highly agitated state requiring the use of restaints. She continues to curse an oddly colored citrus fruit as the source of her derangement. Heavy sedation is recommended.

Grasshopper Green · 08-18-2005, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roguehunter65

I think there are a lot of people that hate math. I think this is probably comes about because once you fall behind in math, you are lost. People get to a point in math class where they don't understand whats going on at all. Math just keeps building on itself. If you never understood fractions, you can't solve for x, then you can't do calc, then you can't run confidence intervals in stat class.

This was one of my main problems. I'd miss a day, and I'd have to ask someone to explain it to me, and I'd slide downhill from there. I got chicken pox in eighth grade and missed a week of school....that one week determined that I had to re-take algebra the next year; I missed so much that I never caught up the rest of the year.

djflish · 08-20-2005, 05:32 AM

I don't really care, I did maths in college and university as well.
I never hated it because I've always been good at it, but then I never loved it, it just had to be done.

Vincentt · 08-20-2005, 05:47 AM

I always see math as a tool. I need something done, I reach into my tool box and pull out an equation.

It isn't anymore fun then unscrewing a bolt...
Although sometimes it is interesting... word problems and such..

I'll have to place my vote in the middle.. I don't hate or love math.

Seeker · 08-20-2005, 06:49 AM

I hated math completely in my schooling years. Couldn't grasp it to save myself. I think it's really weird that all I've done since leaving school is book-keeping and accounting... I seem to have a knack for it

I have since discovered a respect and love of math... I like how it is logical, if something doesn't work you can go over it and pin-point where you have gone wrong, and when it works it's beautiful.

I would attribute my new interest and respect for math since learning about Excel and spreadsheeting. I love creating things in spreadsheets and have made numerous templates for various processes in different workplaces. My only regret is that I didn't get that interest early enough to fully comprehend how to get the answers I'm looking for... I spend a lot of time in the formula help box

Astrocloud · 08-23-2005, 06:45 AM

The point at which I decided that I LOVED math was when I was in College. I had two courses that I was mentally comparing.

1) English (Comp writing)
2) College Algebra

In english the professor was basically assigning a paper to write each day. Only she was picking the topic (usually political) and was grading people based on whether they conformed to her opinion. In math the problems were puzzles that you solved and were graded on whether or not you tried to get them right.

I fucking hated english.

tokaok · 08-23-2005, 07:01 AM

Loved math, and i find my ability to quickly solve simple(like grade 8) math problems in my head have always given me an advantage in work.

View Poll Results: Did you like math in school?
Yes, I loved it.	54	55.67%
No, I hated it.	31	31.96%
Eh, I didn't really care.	12	12.37%
Voters: 97. You may not vote on this poll

08-18-2005, 10:05 AM	#42 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Oh God...I absolutely detested math. It was my academic Waterloo. That is not to say that I don't respect math. I certainly do. As much as I hold those that are mathematicaly inclined in the utmost esteem. There is an almost...beauty to math. I just wish that I could get it. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

08-18-2005, 10:28 AM	#44 (permalink)
astrahl Insane Location: You don't want to live here	Went through algebra in 7-8th grade and took calculus my soph and junior years in high school. I hated Geometry and Trig, but algebra, calculus, differential equations...I ate that shit up. It is all about logic and that was my strength on the GRE and GMAT too. I didn't follow math though, I went into science. I use X much math now... ...where 5x - 3 < x + 1. I miss it, actually. __________________ Maybe it was over when she chucked me out the Rover at full speed. Maybe Maybe... ~a-Ha

08-18-2005, 11:28 AM	#45 (permalink)
drainpipe Tilted	Love it to death. I wouldn't be majoring in it if I didn't. Abstract algebra was one of the most painful classes I had last year, but I still can't bring myself to hate it. The pain almost gives me pleasure. I really can't see myself studying anything else now. Groups, rings, and fields, oh yeah... Last edited by drainpipe; 08-18-2005 at 11:36 AM..

08-20-2005, 05:32 AM	#50 (permalink)
djflish The Mighty Boosh Location: I mostly come out at night, mostly...	I don't really care, I did maths in college and university as well. I never hated it because I've always been good at it, but then I never loved it, it just had to be done. __________________ Europes two great narcotics, Alcohol and Christianity. I know which one I prefer.

08-18-2005, 10:20 AM	#43 (permalink)
flstf Easy Rider Location: Moscow on the Ohio	I never really appreciated the beauty of math until I started working with dynamic systems (control systems, feedback systems, non-linear systems. chaos theory, etc..) There is fluidity to to the math applied in some of these that is artistic and beautiful. I wish some of the math classes I took would have started with examples of some of the more elegant systems and once hooked would have explained the math behind them. My brain works better in a backward fashion that way I guess.

08-20-2005, 05:47 AM	#51 (permalink)
Vincentt Addict Location: Tokyo, Japan	I always see math as a tool. I need something done, I reach into my tool box and pull out an equation. It isn't anymore fun then unscrewing a bolt... Although sometimes it is interesting... word problems and such.. I'll have to place my vote in the middle.. I don't hate or love math. __________________ .

08-20-2005, 06:49 AM	#52 (permalink)
Seeker Getting Clearer Location: with spirit	I hated math completely in my schooling years. Couldn't grasp it to save myself. I think it's really weird that all I've done since leaving school is book-keeping and accounting... I seem to have a knack for it I have since discovered a respect and love of math... I like how it is logical, if something doesn't work you can go over it and pin-point where you have gone wrong, and when it works it's beautiful. I would attribute my new interest and respect for math since learning about Excel and spreadsheeting. I love creating things in spreadsheets and have made numerous templates for various processes in different workplaces. My only regret is that I didn't get that interest early enough to fully comprehend how to get the answers I'm looking for... I spend a lot of time in the formula help box __________________ *To those who wander but who are not lost...* ~ Knowledge is not something you acquire, it is something you open yourself to.

08-23-2005, 06:45 AM	#53 (permalink)
Astrocloud Apocalypse Nerd	The point at which I decided that I LOVED math was when I was in College. I had two courses that I was mentally comparing. 1) English (Comp writing) 2) College Algebra In english the professor was basically assigning a paper to write each day. Only she was picking the topic (usually political) and was grading people based on whether they conformed to her opinion. In math the problems were puzzles that you solved and were graded on whether or not you tried to get them right. I fucking hated english.

08-23-2005, 07:01 AM	#54 (permalink)
tokaok Crazy Location: Canada	Loved math, and i find my ability to quickly solve simple(like grade 8) math problems in my head have always given me an advantage in work.