Re:Math for kids outside of the Calculus Sequence
by IIsi50MHz on Friday August 11, 2023 @12:20AM
(#37085063)
Whereas I, not understanding the high school textbook or teacher explanations on some problem, but having reversed a procedure from the problems which had answers in the back of the book, was told one day:
- It probably doesn't work for all problems in the set (but was given two chances to prove it from the unassigned problems and some the teacher made up on the spot).
- Okay, but you can only use it on homework and still have to write every step; can't use it on quizes, tests, or extra credit because it takes up too much space and takes too long to grade.
- If I could find a math symbol for the key operation within one day, I could use it ONE take-home extra credit that had been due that day.
The key operation? For all positive N, f(N) = N+N-1...until N=zero. I couldn't find the requested symbo l.
When I took my first uni maths class, I asked my prof. He answered and wrote it before I even finished describing:
- It probably doesn't work for all problems in the set (but was given two chances to prove it from the unassigned problems and some the teacher made up on the spot).
- Okay, but you can only use it on homework and still have to write every step; can't use it on quizes, tests, or extra credit because it takes up too much space and takes too long to grade.
- If I could find a math symbol for the key operation within one day, I could use it ONE take-home extra credit that had been due that day.
The key operation? For all positive N, f(N) = N+N-1...until N=zero. I couldn't find the requested symbo l.
When I took my first uni maths class, I asked my prof. He answered and wrote it before I even finished describing:
"Oh, sigma."