Talk:Why study math?
Add topicA Mathematician’s Lament
[edit source]Draw ideas from the paper A Mathematician’s Lament to use in this course. Also see: The Private Universe Project in Mathematics. Lbeaumont (discuss • contribs) 20:49, 4 March 2024 (UTC)
What is math?
[edit source]Answer the question “What is Math?” in a way that emphasizes the beauty of math, math exploration, and math discovery. Lbeaumont (discuss • contribs) 20:21, 19 March 2024 (UTC)
Sean Carroll Answers “Why Study Math?”
[edit source]At 3:23:55 into the March 2024 episode of Sean Carroll’s “Ask me Anything” he answers the question “Why Study Math” as follows:
"Leland Beaumont says, 'Why study math?' And then goes on to say, what is the best answer we can give our bright nine-year-old when she complains about learning the multiplication tables?
3:25:08.1 SC: Well, look, the multiplication tables are super boring. I wouldn't try to pretend that the multiplication tables are intrinsically fascinating, but they lead to fascinating things. I would complain about learning the multiplication tables. There's nothing wrong with that, but the world runs on math. The world is mathematical. Understanding the principles by which the world works, whether it's the laws of physics or economics or whatever, is enormously helped if you understand math. So if you want to understand the world, you need to learn math. That's the very, very short answer. I'm not up enough on the psychology of nine-year-olds to tell you whether or not that answer would work, but I think that's the accurate answer." Lbeaumont (discuss • contribs) 20:28, 19 March 2024 (UTC)
The Mathematical Playground
[edit source]Examine https://mathigon.org/ The Mathematical Playground for additional ideas. Lbeaumont (discuss • contribs) 20:38, 19 March 2024 (UTC)