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Calculus is not easy to teach to children. We fail to teach it adequately to most college students in their first two years of study. Even a few historically no
by dougabug 4y ago
Calculus is not easy to teach to children. We fail to teach it adequately to most college students in their first two years of study. Even a few historically noteworthy mathematicians failed their first contact with the subject.
Elementary linear algebra is far easier to understand and motivate. We can deal with finite, concrete examples without having to delve into the subtle complexities of limits, continuity, and infinity.
- randomdata 4y agoBut it was said that "since kids can easily understand it" and it is not clear how that resolves.
- dougabug 4y agoThat statement was clearly false. With an amazing teacher, an extremely bright student, focus, patience, time, etc., sure we can have the next Galois… but in the vast majority of cases, we should avoid setting kids up for failure by expecting them to easily grasp things which took humanities greatest minds centuries to grasp. Newton “invented” Calculus in the 17th Century, but these ideas had been percolating since Archimedes and even before going back two millennia.