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The best way to learn math is to try to make a program that solves specific problems. An often reasonable way to ensure that you can mechanically apply a probl

The best way to learn math is to try to make a program that solves specific problems. An often reasonable way to ensure that you can mechanically apply a problem solving technique (which is related to, but absolutely not the same thing as understanding the maths) is to make a program that does it. Trying to learn maths by programming it is a terrible idea. Just this morning I've been looking at Riemann's geometry; learning that through the medium of writing a program to "do it" would be painful. I don't even know what it would mean to write a program that "does" Riemann's geometry. I suppose I could write a program to apply some equations, but that's not learning the maths at all. That's automating some equation solving and it teaches me nothing about the maths.

duckingtest 12y ago
>An often reasonable way to ensure that you can mechanically apply a problem solving technique (which is related to, but absolutely not the same thing as understanding the maths) is to make a program that does it. What "problem solving technique"? There's no algorithm you can mindlessly remember and use it to create algorithms. Making a program that solves the problem is the highest possible understanding. >I don't even know what it would mean to write a program that "does" Riemann's geometry That's because it's an abstraction, not a problem to be solved. In the same way you can't write a program that 'does' functional programming, you can only program in a functional way. Well, I guess writing an AI which can solve problems in Haskell would be an exception. I bet you couldn't remember its code and execute it in your head, though.