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Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

poincare101.blogspot.com

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Re: Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

#21

Post by dhaivatpandya »

dkersten wrote: post #20
dudurocha wrote: post #4

Nice content! Thanks for putting it in more easy words. If I could give you a suggestion, a better way of showing it could be better. Like some slides, or colors. Something that made more friendly to read. Although the content is good, scanning it do not made me want to read right way. Anyway, thanks!

Although the content is good, scanning it do not made me want to read right way. This is the exact feeling I have and were it not for the HN comments, I would have closed it without actually reading the content.

I will most likely be making slides (on SlideShare) for the next one and it will probably be on Wordpress instead of blogger.

Re: Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

#23

Post by paulrosenzweig »

raheemm wrote: post #3

My favorite section is where he gives the context of how abstract algebra came about in the 19th century. It connects the theoretical with real world problem, which makes it far more interesting.

Agreed! I took a few math major classes as a freshman, but my professors never took the time to give this aerial view. Now the value in these generalizations makes perfect sense.

Re: Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

#24

Post by dhaivatpandya »

veneratio wrote: post #22

As a As a current student in Abstract Algebra, this was really refreshingly simple to look at . Thanks fro a greatly simplified teaser to show other people!

Thanks a lot for you feedback, I will be posting more, so keep in tune :)

Re: Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

#25

Post by calydon »

I hate to be negative but the title is misleading. There is no way any of this will appeal to people who hate math. A reader who 'hates math', implies that they have very little background in set theory and would be hard-pressed to define a Venn diagram. I am such a person and I couldn't get past the first definitions, although I tried. I need more background knowledge, and asking that I read a hefty Wikipedia article to get up to speed isn't going to cut it.

I'm sure the content is good, and for people who already know what the symbols mean, you've probably done a great job of making it meaningful but the title should be - 'Abstract algebra revisited for serious students of abstract algebra' or something like that.

Re: Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

#26

Post by icco »

calydon wrote: post #25

I hate to be negative but the title is misleading. There is no way any of this will appeal to people who hate math. A reader who 'hates math', implies that they have very little background in set theory and would be hard-pressed to define a Venn diagram. I am such a person and I couldn't get past the first definitions, although I tried. I need more background knowledge, and asking that I read a hefty Wikipedia articl…

Agreed. I understand what this article presented, but in no way was this any different or better than how this material was presented to me in college. At least in school I could go bug the professor after class to explain to me why I didn't get it.

Re: Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

#27

Post by icco »

dhaivatpandya wrote: post #21
dkersten wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Although the content is good, scanning it do not made me want to read right way. This is the exact feeling I have and were it not for the HN comments, I would have closed it without actually reading the content.

I will most likely be making slides (on SlideShare) for the next one and it will probably be on Wordpress instead of blogger.

I don't think either of these things will provide a solution that the above is looking for. The problem is with the layout of your content and the fact that write like a math professor. I imagine you scare a lot of people off with a ton of math symbols at the opening, maybe leave that for later, or explain it all in plain English instead of using symbols.

Re: Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

#28

Post by dhaivatpandya »

calydon wrote: post #25

I hate to be negative but the title is misleading. There is no way any of this will appeal to people who hate math. A reader who 'hates math', implies that they have very little background in set theory and would be hard-pressed to define a Venn diagram. I am such a person and I couldn't get past the first definitions, although I tried. I need more background knowledge, and asking that I read a hefty Wikipedia articl…

I guess so. Basically, I wanted it to be for people who had learned SOME math in college, but had really hated the experience, and wanted something different.

Re: Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

#29

Post by dhaivatpandya »

icco wrote: post #27
dhaivatpandya wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I will most likely be making slides (on SlideShare) for the next one and it will probably be on Wordpress instead of blogger.

I don't think either of these things will provide a solution that the above is looking for. The problem is with the layout of your content and the fact that write like a math professor. I imagine you scare a lot of people off with a ton of math symbols at the opening, maybe leave that for later, or explain it all in plain English instead of using symbols.

I will try doing that, its just that when I look at math articles, I look for symbols not words :)

But, I'll definitely do that in the next one and see what the response is.

Re: Abstract algebra for developers and people who hate math

#30

Post by akkartik »

dhaivatpandya wrote: post #10
alex-g wrote: post #9

People who hate math aren't going to be inspired by a collection of axioms and equations. Nor are they likely to be wowed by the examples of matrices and vectors. Some examples from geometry, or permutations, might be more likely to teach the concepts. People who know something about math are going to spot several errors in the presentation. For example, the reals with multiplication don't form a group, since 0 has n…

Upvoted. Very true, and thanks for the mistakes and stuff. I'll fix the ones I can, and I'm adding some more stuff that actually relates to CS.

The historical context was useful.
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