Why xkcd-style graphs are important

Re:Why xkcd-style graphs are important by araftery on Tuesday April 01, 2014 @06:33PM (#7512231)

I totally agree. This is the way most of economics is taught; concrete numbers provide evidence for ideas/models, but when learning their concepts, they simply slow you down.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why xkcd-style graphs are important by npsimons on Tuesday April 01, 2014 @07:00PM (#7512376)

I don't know why you were downvoted; it's the same thing in CS. Why else would we reduce all sorts of algorithms to simpler big-O notation other than to convey the more important concepts of complexity tradeoffs in algorithms? Also, Fermi estimation (always relevant: http://what-if.xkcd.com/84/)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why xkcd-style graphs are important by j2kun on Tuesday April 01, 2014 @06:46PM (#7512304)

Mathematicians are also taught to think this way, as is everyone else. Humans don't think in terms of numbers.

[ Parent | on HN ]