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And at the basic level, it almost isn't even mathematics. It's basically more applied logic. The whole "I'm bad at mathematics" schtick oft repeated at the high
by bmitc 3y ago
And at the basic level, it almost isn't even mathematics. It's basically more applied logic. The whole "I'm bad at mathematics" schtick oft repeated at the high school level and below can be translated into "I'm bad at basic logic and reasoning", which makes the gap much more real and apparent.
Mathematics is not some magical piece of knowledge that needs all sorts machinations to teach. Like any subject, it should be moved away from rote teaching and into projects and applications rather than mindnumbing exercises.
- kazinator 3y agoIt's only because of the mindnumbing exercises that you can sit down with a pen and paper, and use algebra to solve something, when you're 45 years old. :)
- blacksmith_tb 3y agoYou mean if there's no internet connection for wolframalpha? I half-kid, obviously if you don't understand what you're asking for the best software in the world won't give you the right answer, but I also don't find myself solving equations with a pen very often as an adult...
- singleshot_ 3y agoA running joke in law school was “lawyers are bad at math, so who cares if I am innumerate?” which, in light of your translation is pretty alarming.
- bmitc 3y agoAs someone with a background in mathematics that had to deal with lawyers, regarding something as mundane as buying a house, I would say that they indeed do not operate on logic and reasoning. I mean no personal offense, since you mention you attended law school. It was just very eye opening how much of a constructed language lawyers speak. In dealing with contracts, I found that the contract itself was effectively meaningless. The important part were its interpretations and what could be litigated or not, mainly set by precedent. It was such that no application of logic and reason could be applied to the contract. Not to mention, I had to correct several mistakes in the contract.
- singleshot_ 3y agoIt’s ok; the only way to offend me is subject-verb disagreement. And anyway, I also have a degree in math, which is why I find the constant “I’m a lawyer it’s ok that I can barely count” particularly amusing.
- bmitc 3y agoThen you're one of the good ones!