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Which would be utterly useless. Math, and specifically Geometry aren't about useful skills, they are about understanding the world.
by lstodd 5y ago
Which would be utterly useless.
Math, and specifically Geometry aren't about useful skills, they are about understanding the world.
- jjoonathan 5y agoLinear algebra has geometry flat out beat in that arena, too. This isn't to say that Geometry doesn't help you learn about the world, but it is to say that Linear Algebra should be prioritized above Geometry if your goal is to understand the world. I can't remember a physics class where LA didn't pay heavy dividends -- in particular, differential equations are the language of physics, and you'd be hard pressed to find either an analytical or computational diff eq technique that didn't have a core of linear algebra. Meanwhile, the last time Power of a Point gave me dividends was on math contests.
- lstodd 5y agoLA is a very useful tool. But imagine that you never heard of concepts behind it. It'd just become a more-or-less useful artefact. And in no time it would devolve into a useless ... thing so to say, a decoration, as you lose knowledge how to apply it.
- jjoonathan 5y agoYes, Geometry makes the funnest puzzles :-) Believe me, it pains me to suggest bumping it back. Introductory proofy linear algebra just hits a quadruple home run: it's astonishingly useful, it's getting moreso, it's simple enough to remain age appropriate, and it can serve as an intro to proofs. As much as I enjoy geometry puzzles, I just don't see how they compete with that. For the true fans, of course, the answer today & in this hypothetical future is still to learn both.