There is a phenomenon that I call, “self-induced retardation.” This simply means that a person is, in genteel terms, “an assh@le” – someone who is so sure that they are right, but are so wrong, that they are absolutely oblivious to the anything that approaches sense. This video will illustrate what I mean… [...]
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There is a post about “Why I Love Mathematics” at AnAmazingMind.com . Go there and check it out. It is short, but it is right on target. If you have any lingering doubts about the beauty and fun of math, it should clear them up.
Really. It’s a [...] I know that in the last post I mentioned that it is pretty much impossible to explain to immature minds what the benefits of learning math or any other skill is. But I assume if your a Math Mojo reader, you have a pretty mature mind. (Cool sentence, eh? I get to flatter both you and me at the same time!) So here are a few examples of concrete benefits I have gained from using “strange powers of the mind.” These are not necessarily the same benefits you will have. Everyone will experience different benefits. (Mileage may vary.) 
What the heck does writing backwards have to do with math? While surfing some of the other math blogs in the blogosphere, I ran across a post in Michael Paul Goldenberg’s Rational Mathematics Education blog. In a recent post of his he mentions an article written by Paul Lockhart entitled, “A Mathematician’s Lament.” It was written in 2002, but has only gotten mass coverage recently, since it was [...] (Continued from the previous three posts.)
the reader replied to my answer: thank you professor for answering all of my future qustions, but u never answered my old answer though. What happens if i fail math 9 of coruse ill be end up in emath10 whats emath10 (doesn’t sound good though)Like do i get to go to collage but if u can’t answer that qustion ill ask someone else. Heres a qustion for you though what good paying job are there in this world without math like doesn’t require math because u told me everything involes math. but i am asking you to name some jobs thats don’t require math as a requirement. I am asking you all these qustions because i am scared the world might be a different place when i grow up so i am just prepareing for the future. Professor Homunculus’s reply: (Continued from the previous two posts.) the reader replied to my answer: thank you, that really help me but all the jobs your listed are basic math i can do that in my head. But the schools are teaching me alot of bullshit which i don’t know alot about i think there lessons are useless.i guess u need math for everything but can’t we just use techonology like a caluator to help us? Professor Homunculus’s reply:
(Continued from previous post.) the reader replied to my answer: Dear Professor Homunculus, remember me my teacher sucks he doesn’t teach.But i am not a lazy sob student i am passing every class i hate math, maht is so gay what name some jobs can i get without math? -Truman Professor Homunculus’s reply:
In 2000 an 2001, I was an “expert” on a website that helped kids with math problems. Most of them concerned problems they were having in school. I’d like to publish some of the exchanges I had with some of the kids. I must mention some “warnings,” though.
The real reason I am publishing this stuff, is to “speak truth to power.” If administrators feel offended, well… I feel that there are a lot of parents, teachers, and especially kids out there who have always suspected the things I’m going to say are true, but haven’t heard it expressed. I think it will help to read it. So here goes nothing… I’ll be breaking up this post into parts. Here is the first exchange: I read an interesting post by a student writing for his school newspaper, today. It prompted all kinds of thoughts. The post inspired me to write a long comment to it, which you can also read at the above page (if you’re bored). Combined with having watched the great Isaac Asimov’s “I, Robot” on the tube last night, I was prompted, once again, to consider what computers, calculators, the tube, etc. are doing to us, as a global society. Obviously, considering the medium we are using, I am not a Luddite. Far from it. I like tech. But I like it to further my understanding and appreciation for life, not to nullify it. |
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