Showing posts with label physics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label physics. Show all posts

Monday, July 18, 2011

Twitter - Insights About Creative Thinking, Science, Mathematics, Logic, Intution, Innovation.

You can download all the important posts as  PDF book "Unlocking the Secrets of Quantitative Thinking".

Science is way more than math and logic. Math and logic can be equally applied do dogmatic teachings as well. Specific assumptions are the ones that define science.

Scientific thinking is much more than math. Quantification is often necessary but in no way sufficient condition for a scientific discover.

Human values are the ones that can relate, connect different axiomatic systems, and make them work together. It is the framework of human values that dictates which selection of theorems from different axiomatic systems we will make.

Math and logic do not imply right away that scientific thinking takes place. Math and logic will equally well serve any non scientific thinking, like a dogmatic teaching. It is the assumptions that differentiate scientific from non-scientific direction of thinking. Scientific assumptions are the ones that wins. Math and logic just serve them well.

Mathematics is defined not by objects it counts, nor by reasons or logic why those objects are counted, but with concepts used to define mathematics axioms and to define proofs of mathematical theorems.

In real world mathematics application, it is you who guides quantification. Guided quantification is the core of free applied math thinking. 

Numbers have properties of their own, independent of anything else. Hence, real world  can only specify starting points for calculations, and perhaps the sequence of numerical operations, but it can not influence, or change, in any way, these intrinsic properties of numbers within the mathematical system. And, on the other hand, a mathematical system, or numbers' properties, can not tell to which particular real world example they may be applied or be relevant to.

Allow complete creative freedom to play with initial assumptions then use strict logic to find true consequences.

It is the interplay of imaginative assumptions that lead to discovery. Only after the nested assumptions interplay logic should kick in.

Feel free to assume, propose anything you can imagine and only after that use logic and maybe math, to explore validity of your assumptions.

Logic and (possibly) some quantification should only be good servants to your uninhibited, creative, free thinking and assumptions play.

Logic can tell you if your assumption, premise is wrong. But logic, then, cannot tell you what would be the correct assumption or premise.

You use logic to TEST your assumptions. Logic hardly can help you to discover the correct assumption at the first place.

Behind all math initial premises and starting numbers may be a real world story explaining why the premises are there.

You can assume anything then apply correct logic. Only consequences will prove if your assumptions were true/correct.

Intuition, common sense, and experience probably served as the first quantitative tools for price setting. - "Energy Risk" by D. Pilipovic.

A mathematical model of a process is a set of premises driven by world extraneous to math yet they can be derived directly from math axioms

Force, energy, speed, momentum, inertia are not part of math. If they were, then math theorems will be proved using them. It's not the case.

What you may have to tell your primary school students when explaining math and a concept of a number - http://t.co/PkI7VdQ

Math can't tell real world from fictional one! Look! If Harry Potter flies 10 m/s how many meters he will advance after flying 5 seconds?

The very moment you said "as many apples as oranges" you defined the concept of a pure number. Moreover, no need to name the number.

More magic than in a new Harry Potter movie - take a journey from real world math applications to pure math and back http://t.co/PkI7VdQ

Take a thought journey from real world math applications to pure math and back - and have that "wow!" moment http://t.co/PkI7VdQ

Labeling a number generation as "random" is not part of mathematics. It's an attempt to describe some number selection by ordinary language.

Everyone, especially primary and secondary school math teachers, may consider reading Paul Lockhart's "A Mathematician's Lament".

To develop all mathematics you do not need a single other science. No need for physics, quantum physics, genetics, quantum chemistry,...

Whole math can be developed inside heads of mathematicians, without any pencil, paper, given they have enough big memory.

Math for [insert the field of application here] . It only means that you decide WHAT is counted and why. Math axioms and theorems remain the same!!

How math can be applied to so many different fields and how we can use math in real life http://t.co/17QRRxV

Math is not about following directions, it's about making new directions. - Paul Lockhart, "A Mathematician's Lament"..

If you asked yourself Can I revisit my math from primary and secondary school and finally understand what is it about? http://t.co/17QRRxV

In order to even begin to count something, you have to know legal system, exchange rules, physics laws, economic laws, how to measure, ..

While membership to a set is not defined within math, it has exotic names outside it: transaction, ownership, buy, sell, exchange, measure..

The very method we quantify something (like measurement) is not a part of mathematics! Set and membership to a set are undefined within math.

Why would you use real world example for a math concept when you can derive it directly from axioms? Both approaches should be demonstrated.

Logical truth values entered the irrational world of emotionality with the statement 'true love'.

Logical truth values entered the emotional world of irrationality with the statement 'true love'.

To me, two core concepts to know for aircraft design are combustion reaction energies (bond energies, fuel, oxygen) and airfoil physics.

More than 20 motivational examples to introduce rational numbers to kids. Pirates, scuba diving, text messaging, pets ..http://t.co/j7N6QAc

You don't deny student's hate towards math, nor try to change it directly. Instead, you accept it and integrate their hate in math puzzles.

Field of math application shapes the math development in the same way the landscape shapes and guides the roads going through them.

While pure math is like building roads just to build them, applied math is like building roads through landscapes you want to go through.

Math lectures sometimes look to students like putting misleading, cluttered, over-detailed traffic signs on easy to use roads and highways.

It is way better to first explain math concepts in terms of required operations and sets of numbers they apply to, and only after that.....to label them with historical, outdated, misleading, confusing names that contribute nothing to the concept's definition.

It is way better to first explain math concepts in terms of required operations and sets of numbers they apply to, and only after that...

To calculate racing track length you need limit concept. For racing car fuel usage you need rational numbers. Teach both at the same time.

Knowing how to implement a business rule in C++ can make you a living. Knowing what business rule you will implement can make you a fortune.

Math and physics concepts should be think of only by the ways they are calculated. Ordinary language names are confusing, often misleading.

We talk about selling, buying, getting, sending energy, but energy is not an object. It's a calculated value from measuring mass, time, distance.

Internal combustion engine principle for beginners. Combustion is, in essence, an electrical reaction. - http://t.co/qxk6PF5

Different contexts will give different meanings for the same sentence. #semiotics

From real world math applications to pure math and back! http://t.co/PkI7VdQ

For many students, math looks like a maze. Students are lost in one area of maze while real fun with math is in the other part of maze.

High school math programs are like labyrinth for students. Students should get a hot balloon and take a bird view look where they are.

Student hates math? Integrate his resistance points, reasoning, into the math problems. Student will realize that he dictates quantification.

Student hates math? Milton Erickson wrote about utilizing person's resistance to a subject to, actually, achieve goal person is resisting to.

Motivation & Math for students who hate math. Ask what is the percentage of time they would do math compared to what they like to do daily.

Here is one motivational math example. Ask your students in how many ways they HATE math.

Awareness - making visible new axiomatic system not known to exist before. Truths presented in order to take action i.e. derive theorems.

Aeronautical Engineering, Aerodynamics, Aircraft Design References http://t.co/nce2gAQ #aviation #aircraftdesign

Math and magazine design. Designer has to know how to fit actor's surface area to the page dimensions. Lower and upper bound...

Emotions and math? He wrote very emotional Acknowledgment in his new book on Advanced Calculus.

Applied math can not be solely credited to the achievements in the applied field. Field dictates what, when, why is to be calculated.

Grammar can not be credited for a beauty of a literary work. Many stupid things are said using perfect grammar, and vice versa.

Saying that math is backbone of things is like saying that grammar is backbone of every single novel, science paper, literary work created.

From ZFC axioms you can create all math. Yet, it is the world extraneous to math (often non-axiomatized) that dictates math development.

Axiomatizing one system strangely isolate reasoning world outside of that system, thus hiding the motivation logic for system's theorems.

Once you hear word "axioms" (in any system), look for logic extraneous to that system. That's where motivation for theorems is coming from.

Motivational Math. Introducing Math Through Car Racing Concepts. Stay tuned for a new, exciting article! http://t.co/4ibp7w8

Even if you manage to, somehow, quantify right and wrong, you still need their firm definitions to be sure you are not quantifying..apples.

Whenever, in a physics textbook, you see phrase "arbitrary" (magnetic, electric field...), it's a placeholder for a design driven value.

Many math proofs start with "Let's assume...". But, wait! Can you explain where that starting assumption comes from?? #mathed

Assumptions coming from non-axiomatized fields (physics, economics, finance) can wreak havoc when used in a strict axiomatic system (math).

If mathematicians are so proud of their axiomatic approach, why they deal at all with applied math in non axiomatized fields??

How we are allowed at all to go from non axiomatic world, physics, economics,finance, to so strictly defined axiomatic world of mathematics?

You don't learn math, then apply it. Newton didn't learn calculus first (there was none, he invented it!), then applied it to physics.

While a proof, in math, has to be very logical and precise, the genesis of it is usually described as art or unexplainable inspiration.

Strict, precise Newton's Law of Gravitation does not prevent you to enter into it a completely random number for mass or distance.

Length of a musical note as a mathematical property has way less significance than emotional perception of the sound (note) of that length.

Surface and volume integrals should be explained using tattoos. They are a good example for arbitrary surface and ink volume calculation.

Things You Always Wanted to Know About Math * But Were Afraid to Ask http://t.co/PkI7VdQ

From Real World Math Applications to Pure Math and Back http://t.co/PkI7VdQ

You spent all your school years dealing with continuous functions only to hear after they are very small number of all functions of interest.

When I hear "it's just continuous function"..bad! No, it's not "just"! It took hundreds years to come up with the definition of continuity.

I would ban phrases "it's simply...(that)", "it's just...(that)" in math. Please leave to student to judge is it complicated or simple.

It's useful to quantify, but, relationships that are quantified are OFTEN quite non-mathematical.

A math proof, once you do it, is probably the only thing in math you are not obliged to explain your teacher how you did it.

Logic used in math proofs is the same as logic used in law. But, in law, axioms are fluid, relative, changing. Law is doing best it can!

Using logic or not, people are making decisions each and every day..

Can you master math? I think, yes! http://t.co/1J31IRE

Explaining essential ideas of mathematics. Talk about Applied Mathematics, Mathematics and Real World, Math Education. http://t.co/aVTTz4v

Puzzled with math graphs? Wondered why they use them? Where the graphs come from anyway?? http://t.co/lGLUfHq

Math and Film. "They had tied up all mathematics of plots and substructures and sub-characters." -Johnny Depp, interview, Cineplex Magazine.

Overheard in student cafe: Math text often starts with 'Lets suppose..'. I don't want to suppose anything, especially something THAT complex.

You can quantify and calculate as much as you want, but if you don't think scientifically, mathematics can't help you.

There are many scientific discoveries that has nothing to do with quantification nor math.

Math may be necessary, but definitely it's not sufficient part to make progress in science.

Every proof should be constructed within known and accepted axiomatic system, being it physics, math, economics, law, engineering.

An explosion into unknown..http://explainingmath.blogspot.com

The posts are terrific. They engulf! http://explainingmath.blogspot.com

Usage of a math theorem is in NOT dependent AT ALL on the way theorem is proved. How you use a theorem has nothing to do with its proof.

To understand a math proof is way easier than to make a proof, in the same way it's easier to consume a movie than to make it, or to appreciate an art painting than to make it.

There is no straightforward path how to prove math theorems, as there is no law that can predict what number you will chose right...NOW.

Updated article why graphs are chosen to visually represent quantities in math, physics, economics etc...http://t.co/lGLUfHq

At some point teachers should stop explaining math concepts with real world examples because none of theorems are proved by using apples.

Mathematics can not be Queen of all sciences because you can't start only with math and develop other sciences. Science is there first.

Math without science, i.e. without science to tell WHAT is counted and WHY is just play with numbers (but elegant, logical, often exciting).

At some point teachers should stop explaining math concepts with real world examples becuase none of theorems are proved by using apples.

Even word "RANDOM" does not belong to math. It's outside math as is measurement, observation, guess etc. Math sees only numbers given to it.

How to Teach Your Kids and Yourself to Think More Freely About Math and Real World Math Applications ... http://t.co/1J31IRE

Teachers should clearly explain the difference between lingustic framework within which math tasks are described and pure math itself. #math

Since differential equation specifies only the difference between two quantities, it can not tell you with which quantities to start with.

Math can't tell you what to count. Math deals only with numbers and a result of any math task is a number, and a number only.

Hockey, Physics, Axioms and Where Innovations Come From..http://t.co/ZGwvm6y #hockey #physics #innovation

Imagine creating rules of the game what to do with numbers. Then, new theorems will be dictated by this game. Without game - no theorems.

In math it is YOU who creates territory and then investigate its properties and boundaries.

If you want popular introduction to rational, irrational numbers you may want to read "Essays on the Theory of Numbers" by Richard Dedekind.

How to approach numerical values in a physics formula. How to much better understand and use physics formuls...http://t.co/i2vNn6J #physics

I would strongly recommend "Essays on the Theory of Numbers" by Richard Dedekind. Detailed and non boring introduction to continuity.

Math is not prerequisite for real world applications. Newton did not learn calculus then applied it. He invented calculus!

What would you like to do, what you have a talent for, and what economy, i.e.market is looking for can hardly be all found in one job.

During schooling (don't mix that with education!) best thing you can do is to follow your own ideas and ask, then answer your own questions.

Motivation to Use Graphs in Math, Physics and to Know Arbitrary Surface Area Calculations, http://goo.gl/gPXFE

Quantitative finance, dragons, and math - http://goo.gl/XEDL3

Relationships between dragons lead to math development... http://goo.gl/XEDL3

Math can be motivated by real world or by fictional world. It can also be developed independently from both worlds. Student should know that.

Math can't distinguish between REAL world and FAIRY TALE! Check this. Two dragons ate 53kg of coal each. How much coal they ate together?

You can assign EXACT number to any RANDOM event! :-)

In many cases, relationships (between objects) that define WHAT has to be calculated are far more interesting than calculations themselves.

Value of calculus: when you find something interesting to calculate, it can help! The trick is to find something enjoyable to analyze.

You can understand calculus too! How to Calculate Surface Area of an Arbitrary Shape - Story of Pirate Island http://goo.gl/hbVEY

Math deals ONLY WITH NUMBERS, COUNTS. However, math can be used in real life once you start keeping track WHAT is counted and why.

It is seldom that an airfoil camber line can be expressed in simple geometric or algebraic forms. Important illustration of a math function!

Sure, mathematics can make you think better, especially if YOU set and define ORIGINAL problems, and not only solving what you are told to.

Airplanes, pirates, treasure hunt - how to introduce calculus ideas to primary school students. http://goo.gl/9uaPr

More about Setology and Countology here http://goo.gl/rAPWx #math #mathematics

Mathematics = Setology. A science about sets. :-)

Mathematics = Countology. It's a science about counts. Sort of better than Numerology :-) Count is a required action that gives a number!

How math can be applied to so many different fields and how we can use math in real life http://goo.gl/cJQxs

Students are afraid to PICK a number by themselves. They think each number has to be calculated, obtained in some complicated manner.

Stochastic process PICKS a number. Physical measurement PICKS a number. Picking a (closer and closer) number is ESSENCE of limit definition.

Physical or any process doesn't "generate" numbers. It PICKS numbers. Numbers are already generated, defined inside mathematics.

Graph is an invention of using length as a representation of ANY imaginable measurable quantity or number.

Introducing math function to students: first step should be to let students draw an arbitrary curve and show it represents PAIRED numbers.

"Our education plays a trick with us, leading us to believe things which are not correct." BBC Environment, Geometry, http://goo.gl/BaFKQ

Many are looking for real world examples of math. But, math can't tell what is real and what's not! 5 dragons plus 3 dragons = 8 dragons!

You apply math only AFTER you chose WHAT to count. Hence, choosing WHAT to count and WHY it is counted has nothing to do with math!

Have you ever wanted to know what are the fundamental ideas in calculus? http://goo.gl/aVDbv

But, you don't have to even say "Trust me, I am a lair.". You can just say "I am a lair.". It's already a paradox.

Journey to the Pirate's Island to learn calculus ideas...like a treasure hunt, sort of..http://goo.gl/hbVEY

Have you ever thought what's behind calculus ideas? Maybe this will show just that! http://goo.gl/hbVEY #math #calculus

How to introduce calculus concepts to primary school students: "How to Calculate Surface Area of a Pirate Island" http://goo.gl/hbVEY

After they master basic algebraic operations, primary school students should be encouraged to define new math problems by themselves. #math

Here is my illustration of the Pirates Island at night, which will be used to introduce integration to students, http://goo.gl/BipFE

My new draft post "How to Calculate Surface Area of a Pirate Island" introducing integration to primary school students http://goo.gl/rVY1D

Many students see math, if not whole formal education, as a tunnel from which they have to get out, eventually, to do what they want.

How the rational numbers should be introduced to kids, http://goo.gl/dhUmS #math #rationalnumbers

Once we realize that math deals only with sets and numbers and that math does not need real world for examples, we can accept desire ...mathematicians to explore properties of numbers and their relations, without even thinking is there any "real" world application.

Real world can give math some initial counts, numbers, even sequences of required operations. But that's it. Math takes off by itself after.

While a proof, in math, has to be very logical and precise, the genesis of it is usually described as art or unexplainable inspiration.

Math can't tell you why you added two numbers but once you added them math can tell you what properties they have compared to other numbers.

Limiting process, in mathematics, may not itself lead to exact value, but, it can serve to point to where that value is, or can be.

Irrational numbers cannot be represented as a ratio of two integers? But, they are still infinite sum of ratios of two integers. So......?

Students should be shown that all the other numbers, rational, real, imaginary, transcendent, irrational, are CONSTRUCTED from integers.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The link between pure and applied math, physics formula and their moral, ethical, emotional processing in our brains

You can download all the important posts as  PDF book "Unlocking the Secrets of Quantitative Thinking".

Newton Second Law, F = ma. 

In addition to defining force, and showing its relationship with mass and acceleration, the formula is interesting because of few other aspects. It is a given way of thinking, a specific direction of thinking we can use in solving some important questions in real world. This value of directional thinking has its merit even if you can’t tell where the formula comes from. Given formula like this is comparable to an invention, it’s a postulate, an affirmation, a statement, a premise, given a priori, for your use.

So, let’s see what is the additional significance of this formula. 

Since you can count almost anything, and conversely, can specify count of anything, finding relationships between counts can be very interesting. For instance you can initially specify that mass count will be 5 kg, i.e. m = 5kg. You specify that it is the mass we want to count or measure (measure is counting how many units of certain amount is in target quantity) and then you specify actual number, in this case 5. Note how you specify the starting number. 

Then, acceleration. Pick any value, set any value, say 3 m/s^2. 

Now it’s the time to find out how much of force there will be. But, look, the count of force, the amount of force is determined by the counts relationship between the counts of mass and counts of acceleration. Of course, if this relationship is not specified we could give force either arbitrary value or the value implied by specific requirement or application. In both cases we will give the starting number for force. However, since the quantity of force is bound by the relationship between mass and acceleration, we will use these two to obtain the amount of force. The magnitude of force is linked to the counts obtained from mass and acceleration. This is very elegant point! We are allowed to count objects. We are allowed to specify initial, starting quantitative value for objects. We manipulate counts obtained from two objects, and then use that count to obtain amount of the third object. We are allowed to specify a starting number for mass and acceleration apparently from thin air. But, also, if the physical law, which I would call law of quantitative relationships of quantifiable concepts, objects, or processes, is specified, then, instead of us to give the count for force, the multiplication of counts for mass and acceleration will dictate and give us that number! In this case it will be 15 N. Note how, before we specified mass and acceleration values, we did not know at all what the value for force will be. Also, note how counts of mass and acceleration dictate how much force we will count, then possibly apply. Of course, the genius of Newton is to know which quantities to measure and put in quantitative relationship. What to measure and what quantitative relationship to establish between physical objects is the major task of Physics.

At this point role in analysis of mathematics and physics ends. They fulfilled their roles. Even more precisely, mathematics role ends when the multiplication is done. Math did not care whether you multiply 5 apples in 3 baskets, or, as in this case, 5 kg with 3 m/s^2. Math did its job by multiplying the numbers 5 and 3 and giving back the result to you. It is you who kept track of what is multiplied and to what the multiplication result refers to. And then at that point the role of physics ends, in this application. How? Once you obtained a count, amount of a certain quantity, a number, in this case force, the role of physics ends. Physics of course had a part in deciding what to count. The very selection of mass and acceleration, and decision that you are going to quantify, i.e. count them, defines physics. So, physics can be defined in specifying what to count and trying to establish numerical inter relationships between such obtained counts. Logical methods are, of course, used throughout physics and math, but initial assumptions are left to geniuses to discover and postulate. 

So, again, once you obtained the number, an amount, a count of certain property, in this case force, the role of Physics ends in this analysis. Everything else, what are you going to do with this force of 15 N, why, when, is matter of other sciences. Is it a force that has some value for human experience? Is it ethical to apply this force? How about moral value? Is it a force that will be apply to start a boat motor that can save lives later? Is it a tangential force on the bomber's engine pylon? All these questions are started after the physics did its job, in selecting force as a property of interest and specifying an amount for it. The interpretation of what that force is and can be is a matter of human experience, how our brain process and interpret the effect of the force applied, how biochemical triggers and neurological reactions process it, which neural path configurations in our brain, fuelled by oxygen and ATP are activated. What the force of 15N did can be subject of social analysis, cognition, psychology, maybe war tactics analysis, it may trigger our emotional, moral response, it can have legal consequences, economic consequences. And this is a boundary and a limitation of physics and mathematics. It will give a quantitative relationship inside certain system, in this case physical, but it stops there, because it can not define and measure our human experience, our human valuation of it. Is there a way to connect physics and our human experience? There is. The way is mapping, associating the physical actions with what do they mean to us from moral, ethical, emotional point of view (for instance, is physics used to develop nuclear and conventional weapons, are we going to build wind farms on the shore, are we going to construct a dam and possibly change ecosystems with the artificial lake). But, this map is not created by physics laws. It’s created by us.

[ applied math, applied mathematics, formula, math and physics, math tutoring, mathematics, physics, physics  formula, physics education, applied physics ]

Monday, June 6, 2011

Motivation to Use Graphs in Math, Physics and to Know Arbitrary Surface Area Calculations


You can download all the important posts as  PDF book "Unlocking the Secrets of Quantitative Thinking".

Now, you may ask, are there any other reasons to learn calculus and integration, other than calculating the surface area of arbitrary surfaces of physical objects (see my previous post below). Yes, there are. The point is that mathematics uses graph as a tool a lot. Graphical representation of functions is the most common use. Also, mathematicians, physicists, economists like to represent a number, a count, as a length of a line in a coordinate system, where length matches the count in question. Then, since we use line to represent counts or numbers obtained, the product of two numbers will automatically be shown as surface, bounded by these lines. Then, volumes can come into picture too. It is just pure convenience, call it visual convenience, if you wish, that we have found lines and surfaces to represent our quantities. We are still interested in numbers which these graphical elements represent.


As you know you can count many, many things. Moreover, what you have also seen, you can play with numbers without knowing where they come from. For you know that, for instance, 2 + 3 is equal 5 no matter whether you counted apples, CDs, meters, kilograms, pears, cars, pencils, rockets, measure length etc. You can work with numbers, 2, 3, and 5 now independently of any objects from real world. And it is helpful to know in advance that 2 + 3 = 5, so you can use in any possible counting situation.

Now, let’s say you want to count how many cars are driving by each minute on the street. These can be the result of your measurements: 1st min 15 cars, 2nd minute 23 cars, 3 rd minute 10 cars, 4th minute 12 cars, 5th minute 22 cars. Of course you can draw a table with the columns showing minutes and associated count of cars.

Time (mins)
Cars
1
15
2
23
3
10
4
12
5
22

That’s an excellent way to do it. Now, let’s say you want to represent count of cars not only by numbers written on paper, or by table,  but with marbles. This means that for 10 cars you will have 10 marbles. For 22 cars you will have 22 marbles. Maybe you did not have a paper at hand, so you needed to use marbles. Then you can use the marbles to count minutes. One marble for one minute, two marbles for two minutes etc. You realize that you can use marbles to represent the count of anything, apples, pears, oranges, rockets, cars, cars, etc. But, marbles doesn’t seem to be practical too much. You have to carry a lot of them, and, although they carry exact information about the counts of things they represent, they are too heavy to carry around. What else can be used to represent conveniently numbers of anything? It was discovered that length can be used to represent counts of other things. You draw the line of certain length and say that it represents a count of some objects. In our example we will draw a line of 10 mm to represent 10 cars, then line of 23 mm to represent 23 cars. The similar things can be done for time measurements. We will draw a line of say 1 cm for one minute then 2 cm for 2 minutes etc. We are using length of line to show the numbers, counts we have obtained. Please note, selecting line as a tool is our choice, because of convenience since its length represents different counts, numbers, quantities. Why it is convenient? Look at the graph we can make with lines. You can immediately see when a quantity is bigger than the other, you can see the trend between quantities and their other relationship, like minimum, maximum, etc. Of course all this things can be seen from a table too, but you have to go row by row, and do a lot of comparison. Table is one of the ways to represent pairs of numbers as we did here. Moreover, we can use either table or graph! But note how graph is more convenient, because it visually shows relationship that can be harder to spot in the table. Let’s repeat again, we used length of a line  (as we first did with marbles, or as you used fingers to count objects) as a universal way to represent counts of all other objects we are interested in any particular measurements or calculation. You also can line up numbers along the line, matching the length of line with a corresponding number. Note that you use line, length of line for pure convenience! There is no law that tells you need to use line, length of line to represent numbers and counts. It just happen to be a convenient visual way to use line to represent numbers.
There is nothing wrong using marbles or fingers, it's just seem to be impractical to communicate some ideas, however, these two methods of representing numbers are completely correct too. For instance while you think you can represent only integers with you fingers, you can actually represent any number! How? Say, you want to show number 3/5 with your fingers. You will show first 5 fingers and say this is how many times I divide number one. Then you show 3 fingers and say this is how many times I will multiply the quantity I've just obtained by dividing number one into 5 parts. The result of these two simple operations gives exactly 3/5 and it's communicated with fingers only!

Graph of a function serves the purpose to represent and show all pairs of numbers. Line on a graph should be seen as a continuous set of PAIRED NUMBERS.



Here are some examples of lines in action! Of course these are called graphs in mathematics, physics, engineering, economics, or in any other discipline where we have to show some quantitative relationship.

Fig 1. Examples of graphs

We are, perhaps, used to look at the graphs and focus on their shape, or on, even, their aesthetics values or characteristics. But, aesthetic value is of far less importance, as graphs are concerned. No matter how attractive graph looks, the line of it represents the PAIRED NUMBERS which are the lengths from each coordinate. That's the main purpose of graph. The shape of graph tells us how these pairs of numbers differ from one to another by their magnitudes.

So, using graph is about calculating surface area that can represent not only physical objects, like Pirate Island, airplane vertical stabilizer, or ship’s sail, but any surface that can come from graphical representation of various amounts, measured, counted, obtained by any way, and their quantitative relationships. We came up to the point that surface will represent something because we agreed, at the first place, that LENGTH represents something, that length of line we draw in graph corresponds to a number, count, obtained by measurement (or by any other mean).

Perhaps, it is a good place to describe steps that we use in these scenarios and how we can use thus acquired knowledge.

  1. First we measure quantities of interest and note their relationships.
  2. We represent the counts of these different quantities by lengths of line. We draw a graph.
  3. Since we started dealing with lines, automatically then the surface bounded by these lines may represent a quantity of interest. Example is speed, v, and time, t. If we plot graph v(t), then automatically surface area under the graph will represent path taken.
  4. We use our “method of rectangles” to calculate surface area, if required!

Note how we first focus, without considering the usage of graph, on relationships and measurements, mathematical treatment, of different objects. Then, we can use numbers by themselves, or use  table, or graph, for our further analysis. In graph we represent all those counts and numbers by lines of certain length, to show us, visually, quantitative relationships between measured objects.

Not also that lines, curves generated can be analyzed in their separate worlds of geometry or analytical geometry for example.

Note that coded color scheme can be introduced as the third dimension on the two dimensional graph. Volume integration is possible even here, but first you have to have a map, an association between a color and the number it represents.

[ graphs, math, math concepts, math education, math graphs, math, mathematics, physics concepts, tutoring calculus, schoo,l education, mathematics, physics, real world math, real world rational numbers ]

Friday, April 15, 2011

More tweets about math, math education, math and emotions, art and physics, inventions, mind and other amazingly interesting stuff!

You can download all the important posts as  PDF book "Unlocking the Secrets of Quantitative Thinking".

You can read more "How math can be applied to so many different fields and how we can use math in real life".

I am quite sure kids are more scared of strange mathematical names than of ideas, sequence of math operations, or numbers they represent.

Motivation is first step to make a decision to even consider making new assumptions! Hence, motivation is like turning a light switch ON.

Browsing web is similar to day dreaming. But, you should use your own BrainBrowser to explore worlds, ideas you already have in your mind.

You may decide to add 2+3, just 'cause. Or you measure distance with laser to get 2+3. Math will not care where the numbers came from.

Social and emotional contexts, and not only physics or engineering, frequently dictate which math calculations you are about to perform.

Math and emotions? If you get raise of $150 you will feel differently than if the raise was $15000. Countable objects matter in social contexts.

He made an emotional decision to think logically. :-)

Axioms is just a FANCY word for initial assumptions, truths you are dealing with, inside any field (not only math) where logic is used.

Mathematics is defined not by objects it counts, nor by reasons or logic why those objects are counted, but with concepts used to define matheatics axioms and to define proofs of mathematical theorems.

Your motivation and decision making process have their own axiomatic system you are using, perhaps, unconsciously, not calling them axioms..

Motivation (p) has nothing to do with the assumption (q) you are about to make. Yet both are necessary for s to happen, p AND q => s.

There's a rich world of ideas right behind math axioms. Axioms deny you access to them, yet it's from these ideas axioms came into being.

That "IF..." in mathematics, can open so many new doors in mathematics for you, but at the same time closes or other doors other IFs, from other fields, can show you if you don't keep open mind and try to combine different ideas.

Mathematics is about COUNTS. The question that many ask is do we really need to know so much about counts during the schooling?

Mathematics is about counts, and counts only. The way we think about them is logic. Axioms, theorems, lemmas are labels for logical results.

School may teach you how to use logical thinking, but it can not teach you to chose correct initial assumptions.

If math is derived from 9 axioms where teachers found all those apples, pears, giving, getting, having, and claiming these words are math.

You can use calculator to deal with numbers. But what device you will use to deal with logic for objects' relationship the counts represent?

Of course, even using calculator, you can explore the properties of numbers, discover number patterns.. Only have to know what to look for.

Whatever is outside the calculator, or more precise, abacus, is outside pure math.

Math is like a calculator! Only YOU know what numbers will be typed in, what they represent, what sequence of operations will be performed.

The confusion for kids learning math is constant mix of items that are counted and counts, numbers obtained. Separate the logic for two.

Moreover, WHAT are you counting IS NOT part of mathematics. Only counts and what you do with counts is a part of mathematics!

YOU keep tab where the numbers, counts come from. Mathematics will not do that for you. Units in physics are not part of mathematics.

Math has to start calculation with SOME numbers. Where those numbers come from is up to YOU. Is it from a guess, a measurement, a counting?

Students should be shown that math doesn't care if numbers came from measurements or from guessing. Math will equally use both numbers.

Where numbers come from? How about from love? http://yarzabek.wikispaces.com/, "Let me Count the Ways I Love You"..

Art is also about exploring human values, moral, ethical questions, like, how do you apply laws of physics or mathematical calculations.

Structured, logical thinking doesn't guarantee that your results will be correct. Initial assumptions, axioms is what matters the most. With wrong assumptions you can make structurally sound mistakes.

Art, as physics or math, has its own axiomatic system. The subjects of art axioms are emotions, moral, feelings, human experience.

In art, as long as the emotion, feeling, moral message is REAL, it does not matter whether the art work follows laws of physics.

In art, fantasy worlds are allowed, breaking laws of physics is possible, because art is about showing REAL emotions, feelings, moral messages.


In science, truth is about physical laws, while in art it is about true emotions, feelings, moral messages.

With word 'IF' you can build so many assumptions, and, if you hold to them, you can build a lot of fantastic worlds imaginary or not.

Track to creativity. Chose world of interest. Axiomatize it. Chose world where you interpret results. Axiomatize it. Play with both worlds.

You could develop calculus from axioms of course, but dealing with real world situations helped to pursue that direction of thinking sooner.

Interesting thing with invention is you don't have to prove nor show how you got it. But, again, same can be said for a mathematical proof.

If you want to understand calculus ask your teacher, on first lecture, to demonstrate limit in probability and stochastic integral.

Puncturing the Math Axiomatic Bubble Frontier to access inner mathematics functionality- http://goo.gl/ykvCC

The thrust, in jet engines, is obtained, in its essence, from fuel and oxidant molecules accelerated by mutual ELECTRICAL repulsive forces.

To me, the most interesting examples in math teaching will be in aviation, pirates and their treasure islands, and sculpture. Try it.

Education should not only show what other people have done. Education should encourage, lead students to make discoveries by themselves.

The idea of differential and integral does not follow from real numbers knowledge. These ideas can be thought early in primary school.

The concept of a mathematical function should not be first introduced as a formula, but as an arbitrary pairs of numbers. Pupils are conditioned to think of a function as a continuous line. Later there are issues with statistics: function is a set of distinct dots. There is  no formula at all. Hence, the rule how you pair one number with another can be a formula, but also can be completely random assignment. Math function is about pairing two numbers. You can also pair random chosen numbers, you do not need to calculate second number from first. The rule can be input or output, but that restricts the function in the way that you have to know input to get the other paired number, the output. Because, function can have a pairing rule "pick first number, then, don't ask another person to pick another number without looking at the first number, then pair two numbers". I want to emphasize that function need not to be defined in a restrictive way by using words \"inputs\" and outputs\" which is more related to computer science. Function is first and foremost a pair of ordered numbers. My examples shows why the \"input\" \"output\" definition is restrictive and possibly misleading. I my view, the word pair best describes the function. Then we can use word map, association of two numbers etc. Input and output really leads someone to think that there need to be formula or some dependency between output and input. But, it is not so. It can be, but that's too restrictive for function definition. As in my example, a function can be "pick an output that in no way depends on input". Or, pick one number, then cover it (hide it) then ask another person to pick another number. Pair these tow numbers. Here, output in no way depends on input, yet this is a function.

While kids may like airplane models for many reasons, demonstrating to them role of AIRFOILS for lift and performance will be very important.

Once student knows how to calculate rectangle area right away he/she should be thought to calculate surface area under the curve (integral).

If I were to teach kids math, I would let THEM chose the numbers and chose what to do with them. Add, subtract, multiply, divide. #math

Mathematics does not care, at all, if the numbers it deals with are coming from dogmatic religious thoughts or from scientific analysis.

Want to know what math is all about?? Artists, sculptors, writers, movie makers, students, read on! http://goo.gl/C6vrL

Everything is in accordance to the Laws of Physics. NOT TRUE! It matters how you use them! Decisions have important place.

During schooling (don't mix that with education!) best thing you can do is to follow your own ideas and ask, then answer your own questions.

Combustion is, in it’s essence, an ELECTRICAL reaction between the fuel and oxygen molecules. From my blog http://tiny.cc/fboud

Education should not stop at achieving literacy in students only, it should encourage use of their minds too. Students are not fax machines.

There is a physicist and there is a composer. Both focused on two different domains of human thought, both very valuable for our experience.

There is a physicist and there is a composer. Both dealing with air waves but from completely different directions of thinking.

Physics is aware only of SOUNDS. But our interpretation in brain, whatever that means, will call sounds music, noise, speech, singing.

You apply math only AFTER you chose WHAT to count. Conversely, choosing WHAT to count and WHAT is counted has nothing to do with math!

Primary/Secondary education is not market driven, It's a monopoly. "Customers" are forced to be in school no matter how useless "service" is.

One of the most important application of mathematics: counting the beats of your heart.

What would you like to do, what you have a talent for, and what economy, i.e.market is looking for can hardly be all found in one job.

One of the most important application of mathematics: counting the beats of ones heart.

While applied mathematics is used to count heart beats, pure mathematics is not interested whose heart it is.

One of the most important application of mathematics: counting the beats of your heart.

To get a number you use logic, intuition, feeling, estimate, assumption, measure, imagination. To add two numbers you have to forget all that.

Anyone can call himself a "thinker". But, who is "Correct Assumption Maker"?. Crappy assumption in -> brilliant logic --> Crap out.

You can guess coffee strength by how bad was the caffeine withdrawal..

After all the transfer, give, receive, produce, supply, send, one would think that ENERGY is an object. It's not. It's a calculated value.

At one point you may ask yourself who needs an energy balance calculation of brain biochemical reactions during decision making.

Some parts of mathematics relationships are developed by quantifying completely non mathematical relationships - http://tiny.cc/5r5hk

Axiom Frontier, World #1, World #2, what is it? http://tiny.cc/mm38c

Women Mathematicians. Danica McKellar, Hollywood star (IMDB: http://tiny.cc/lwhrh) and published math author (J. Phys.) http://tiny.cc/cwrk8

Where math comes from and origins of fundamental math concepts for better understanding mathematics.Blog http://tiny.cc/lyah8

Word "IF" is a Magical Wand of Math. Using "IF" you can generate vast quantity of numbers, functions, patterns with no reference to reality.

Proof in math is like a proof in any other field. Logic of proof is same. The only difference is math has well defined starting assumptions.