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Re:Nix the Tricks: Math tricks defeat understanding by kuschku on Sunday September 27, 2015 @03:53AM (#10285806)
I asked a friend, and he said "but isn’t it obvious that if you sum up this and this and...". Yes. To many mathematicians, it is just obvious. Maybe that’s the issue.
Re:Nix the Tricks: Math tricks defeat understanding by technomancy on Sunday September 27, 2015 @08:55AM (#10286342)
Understanding what is and what isn't obvious to other people is a good chunk of what makes the difference between a good teacher and a bad one--possibly the single most important factor. Yet it has nothing to do with what makes a good mathematician.
Re:Nix the Tricks: Math tricks defeat understanding by kuschku on Sunday September 27, 2015 @10:58AM (#10286711)
Yes. But obviously, at a university, most professors are selected for their research. Which does not, unless they research teaching, necessarily mean they are good at teaching.