Ask HN: How did you learn math notation?

Post by xtiansimon » Fri, Nov 26, 2021, 1:06 PM UTC

cabalamat wrote: post #50

ColinWright wrote: post #2

I think a real problem in this area is the belief that there is "one true notation" and that everything is unambiguous and clearly defined. Yes, conventions have emerged, people tend to use the same sort of notation in a given context, but in the main, the notation should be regarded as an aide memoire , something to guide you. You say that you're struggling because of "the math notations and zero explanation of it i…

> I think a real problem in this area is the belief that there is "one true notation" and that everything is unambiguous and clearly defined. One main cause for this belief is that in a programming there is one true noation (or rather, a separate one for each language) that is unambiguous and clearly defined. I dislike maths notation as I find it lacks rigour.

Post by Hermitian909 » Fri, Nov 26, 2021, 6:44 PM UTC

Jensson wrote: post #145

Hermitian909 wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who's studied math and CS extensively, it's not that mathematicians don't need that rigor it's only certain sub-fields have a culture of this kind of notational rigor. You absolutely see little bubbles of research, 2-4 professors, get sealed off from the rest of the research community because their notational practices are so sloppy that no one wants to bother whereas others make it easy to understand thei…

> CS are just better about this, and I can only explain it as a part of the culture and tradition. CS professors writes just as incomprehensible math as everyone else, as you can see many here brings up examples of CS professors writing incomprehensible math in their papers.

Post by webmaven » Sat, Nov 27, 2021, 6:31 AM UTC

Jensson wrote: post #158

Tronno wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People can also understand each other through combinations of obscure slang, garbled audio, thick accents, and drunken slurring. It's still an unpleasant way to communicate. Shall we be satisfied with the same low standards in a technical field, because it is how it is ? Hands-on users of math notation are complaining that it sucks. I'm not sure why a dismissive "works for me" is so often the default response.

> Hands-on users of math notation are complaining that it sucks. I'm not sure why a dismissive "works for me" is so often the default response. It is really easy to complain. People also complain about every popular programming language, but it is really hard to make something that is actually better. It is easy to make something that you yourself think is better, but it is hard to make something that is better in pr…

Post by JohnHaugeland » Mon, Nov 29, 2021, 5:12 PM UTC

klibertp wrote: post #223

JohnHaugeland wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> > Surely you must realize that you're protesting this because it has this reputation, though? > > I've never heard anyone make this accusation until I read it here on HN today. The reputation doesn't seem to be widespread. blinks really? It's kind of a famous thing. Teachers are taught how to cope with math phobia; other subjects (with the exception of dissection) generally do not create this effect. . > How to bet…

> What was actually requested was a simple two page PDF. But this is impossible, because, as I learned today, "math is a small field without money for things like this". Thanks to my discussion here I was able to shift my perspective. Instead of thinking about an abstract thing, like "improving readability of math papers to non-mathematicians", I understood that I have to focus on people! In other words, on a bunch o…