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Originally posted by laymanskeptic
Self-explenatory for a student willing to suspend disbelief. I can always suspend disbelief regarding the foundations of calculus, and just follow it mechanically while using some physical insight, and ace the damn subject.
I'm talking about the mystery of why the physical world had to behave mathematically in the first place, something the garden variety calc student doesn't even think about.
"I'm moving around meaningful symbols on a sheet of paper, which so elegantly corresponds to the state of affairs in the physical world as if by magic, and I don't care about the philosophical why. I just know it works."
Typical engineering student. He will definitely pass the subject.
Originally posted by delicatessen
Originally posted by laymanskeptic
Self-explenatory for a student willing to suspend disbelief. I can always suspend disbelief regarding the foundations of calculus, and just follow it mechanically while using some physical insight, and ace the damn subject.
I'm talking about the mystery of why the physical world had to behave mathematically in the first place, something the garden variety calc student doesn't even think about.
"I'm moving around meaningful symbols on a sheet of paper, which so elegantly corresponds to the state of affairs in the physical world as if by magic, and I don't care about the philosophical why. I just know it works."
Typical engineering student. He will definitely pass the subject.
The physical world doesn;t behave mathematically. Math just tries to quantify physical state. It's just a generally accepted medium. Just like how the same grammar keeps our communication on the same page.
By the way just because someone doesn't agree with 2+2= 1,00003 doesn't necessarily make that person a robot that only records and stores instead of understanding. In calc it's more important to understand than memorize formulas. It's not algebraic algorithms only.
And also nobody says you can't question math- you are more then welcome to do so, just have to be able to withstand the scrutiny.
Originally posted by -PLB-
reply to post by delicatessen
Its not really clear to me what is meant by "it can only converge on infinity via limits", the word "on" could mean that x->∞. But Jerry_Teps words are his to defend.
I did find it a bit ironic that you were so belittling towards Jerry_Teps while you didn't really give the impression you were understanding what limits or complex numbers are yourself.
Anyway, I think a case could be made that 1/0 is not infinity but undefined, especially when you consider that the limit from the left is not the same as the limit from the right. I guess it depends on the context in which you are saying it.
Originally posted by delicatessen
The physical world doesn;t behave mathematically. Math just tries to quantify physical state. It's just a generally accepted medium. Just like how the same grammar keeps our communication on the same page.
By the way just because someone doesn't agree with 2+2= 1,00003 doesn't necessarily make that person a robot that only records and stores instead of understanding. In calc it's more important to understand than memorize formulas. It's not algebraic algorithms only.
And also nobody says you can't question math- you are more then welcome to do so, just have to be able to withstand the scrutiny.
Originally posted by Gloster
Poor kid, he doesnt make sence, mother is very angry becouse of the dirty window and the dog freezed to death outside. He should play pc games or playstation 3
Originally posted by Lemon.Fresh
reply to post by boncho
Dude . . . did he just totally refute the Big Bang theory in one line of equations?
Jeebus
Originally posted by Liberterius
reply to post by spy66
This kid has proved nothing, explained nothing other than that which has been written in textbooks for hundereds of years before he existed (which I have used and taught others with). You speak about something you have no clue on.