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Mathematicians know mathematics is hard, and hardly ever expect you to fully understand they're saying, as you cannot compact in a handful of sentences somethin
by xyzzyz 9y ago
Mathematicians know mathematics is hard, and hardly ever expect you to fully understand they're saying, as you cannot compact in a handful of sentences something that took you hours, days or weeks to fully grasp. It doesn't mean that it's a waste of time: in an otherwise incomprehensible monologue you might find a nugget of knowledge that will stay with you, and will form a foundation on which the future understanding will rest.
- kmill 9y agoI'm surprised how often someone's told me something incomprehensible, but then years later I realize what they meant.
- bigger_cheese 9y agoI feel the same way. I'm an engineer not a mathematician but I've always thought if I can't sit down and explain the problem I'm working on in a way that makes sense to a layperson then I don't understand the problem well enough It can be a useful way to quantify your own knowledge as well.