3 ms·
Of course they do, but that part is not "mathematics". It is communication. If they use the English language to write the proof that doesn't mean English is als
by voidspark 1y ago
Of course they do, but that part is not "mathematics". It is communication. If they use the English language to write the proof that doesn't mean English is also mathematics.
- xigoi 1y agoWriting proofs is just as important to mathematics as writing code is to programming.
- voidspark 1y agoYes it is important but that's not the point. Structuring sentences and naming variables so that it is easier for other people to understand is less about formal mathematical reasoning, and more about communication. You could name a variable x, y, or Banana, but it doesn't change the logic.
- godelski 1y agoNeither is it "the point" in programming. You should be concerned with communication and have every right to get upset when someone is being needlessly convoluted but that's as much of a point in programming as it is in math, physics, or any domain. I mean the reason we get mad at this is because it is someone destroying "society" in some sense. Even if that society is your team or just the set of programmers. It would be a pretty dick move were I to just use a word that significantly diverged from conventional meaning and expected you to mull it over. Similarly if I drop a unknown out of context math equation. It would be meaningless. And I'm on your side, really! I strongly advocate for documenting. And let's be real, the conclusion of your argument more strongly argues for documentation than good variable names. Because variable names are much more constrained and much more easily misinterpreted considering how any word has multiple definitions. Surrounding code is often insufficient to derive necessary contextualization. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43874738 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43874738