Re:Why are Soviet math textbooks so hardcore in comparison t...
by readwind on Wednesday April 22, 2020 @12:18AM
(#22942108)
I think they mean "as easy as possible," in the sense of Einstein(?;) - 'An explanation should be as easy as /possible/, but not easier;' or something like that. - (?)
I and all this ^ might be wrong, though.
It is not possible to “educate” someone about mathematics or math-heavy technical fields without convincing them to put in some serious time and effort thinking deeply about hard problems.
Many US high school (and even undergraduate) textbooks are more or less analogous to taking a look-out-from-the-bus tour of rock climbing sites, or maybe like teaching an advanced wood shop class by making students assemble IKEA furniture.
Textbooks should be exciting and fun, but “as easy as possible” is a terrible goal.