Comments on: Things I Want for My Birthday http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:48:10 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: James http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133406 James Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:47:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133406 <blockquote>James! How can you not use polynomials in your daily life? I mean, don’t you ever do physics thought experiments?</blockquote> Haven't needed to ever since I graduated. And while I was in school, I did have fun with math. I think I was one of those who didn't understand why other people had trouble with it. It's just that now that I don't do it every day, haven't done it for years, really, the skill goes away.

James! How can you not use polynomials in your daily life? I mean, don’t you ever do physics thought experiments?

Haven’t needed to ever since I graduated.

And while I was in school, I did have fun with math. I think I was one of those who didn’t understand why other people had trouble with it. It’s just that now that I don’t do it every day, haven’t done it for years, really, the skill goes away.

]]> By: Lysander http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133229 Lysander Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:09:53 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133229 Polynomials... That's Latin for "many nomials," right? ;) Maybe if you explain that they need to know this so they can make their way to calc...otherwise they'll never understand the meaning of "when all else fails, try integration by parts." That and they'll never get the humor of the integral of e to the x equals f of u to the n. And...umm...happy belated birthday! Polynomials… That’s Latin for “many nomials,” right? ;) Maybe if you explain that they need to know this so they can make their way to calc…otherwise they’ll never understand the meaning of “when all else fails, try integration by parts.” That and they’ll never get the humor of the integral of e to the x equals f of u to the n.

And…umm…happy belated birthday!

]]> By: yinyang http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133195 yinyang Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:51:03 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133195 Wait. Factoring polynomials... is hard? I feel like I'm back in fourth grade wondering why everyone is struggling with fractions. I mean, yeah, it takes some practice to really get down, and coefficients in front of the x-squared term still throw me for a loop sometimes, but it's easy. Just go slow if it's troublesome. (Hopefully I don't come across as arrogant. I really, truly just don't understand how polynomials - or math in general - can be so difficult for some people.) <blockquote>Ok, looking back, 10 years after I myself graduated from high school… can someone tell where and when we will ever use polynomials in real life let alone when/where we’ll need to factor them? I didn’t even need to do that in college.</blockquote> While most of the math taught in schools won't ever have a practical application for those not involved in math-related fields, I look at it this way: it's a work-out for my mind. Just like our bodies need activity to stay fit, so do our brains. Plus, math logic can be pretty cool, and I always feel good after slaving away at a hard problem and having the right answer. It's a defeatist attitude I see a lot, though - "Oh, we'll never need to use this again, so it doesn't matter if I just copy your homework and cram for the test." I don't think that's what school should be about. P.S. Happy Birthday, Hemant. :) Wait. Factoring polynomials… is hard? I feel like I’m back in fourth grade wondering why everyone is struggling with fractions. I mean, yeah, it takes some practice to really get down, and coefficients in front of the x-squared term still throw me for a loop sometimes, but it’s easy. Just go slow if it’s troublesome.

(Hopefully I don’t come across as arrogant. I really, truly just don’t understand how polynomials – or math in general – can be so difficult for some people.)

Ok, looking back, 10 years after I myself graduated from high school… can someone tell where and when we will ever use polynomials in real life let alone when/where we’ll need to factor them? I didn’t even need to do that in college.

While most of the math taught in schools won’t ever have a practical application for those not involved in math-related fields, I look at it this way: it’s a work-out for my mind. Just like our bodies need activity to stay fit, so do our brains. Plus, math logic can be pretty cool, and I always feel good after slaving away at a hard problem and having the right answer.

It’s a defeatist attitude I see a lot, though – “Oh, we’ll never need to use this again, so it doesn’t matter if I just copy your homework and cram for the test.” I don’t think that’s what school should be about.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Hemant. :)

]]> By: Jen http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133175 Jen Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:23:59 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133175 Happy Birthday! I can't get you a nun and I absolutely can't convince your kids of anything, but I can point out that a teacher friend of mine recently had a student remove his pants in the middle of class, for no reason. At least your kids are clothed. Happy Birthday! I can’t get you a nun and I absolutely can’t convince your kids of anything, but I can point out that a teacher friend of mine recently had a student remove his pants in the middle of class, for no reason. At least your kids are clothed.

]]> By: Greg http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133168 Greg Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:08:12 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133168 Happy Birthday Hemant. You have accomplished much as a young person and you deserve to be very proud. Carry On, Greg Happy Birthday Hemant. You have accomplished much as a young person and you deserve to be very proud.

Carry On,
Greg

]]> By: Secular Dignity http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133162 Secular Dignity Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:39:54 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133162 Feb 25 is also the birthday of George Harrison and Zeppo Marx. Feb 25 is also the birthday of George Harrison and Zeppo Marx.

]]> By: miller http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133151 miller Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:01:31 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133151 Happy Birthday Hemant! James! How can you <em>not</em> use polynomials in your daily life? I mean, don't you ever do physics thought experiments? Happy Birthday Hemant!

James! How can you not use polynomials in your daily life? I mean, don’t you ever do physics thought experiments?

]]> By: Milena http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133134 Milena Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:47:51 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133134 Happy Birthday Hemant! Factoring polynomials is easy! Teach them something real hard, like integrals! It should scare them into learning to factor. Happy Birthday Hemant! Factoring polynomials is easy! Teach them something real hard, like integrals! It should scare them into learning to factor.

]]> By: Caroline http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133120 Caroline Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:50:13 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133120 You know what, screw pictures of Brad Pitt, Leonardo Dicaprio, or any of those other guys <strike>I-would-like-to-date-but-am-only-sixteen- and-way-too-young-but-can-still-dream-right?</strike> posted on my walls. I want the eBay atheist! Intelligence is so attractive. Haha, happy golden birthday Hemant! I hope you get all the things on your list. :) You know what, screw pictures of Brad Pitt, Leonardo Dicaprio, or any of those other guys I-would-like-to-date-but-am-only-sixteen- and-way-too-young-but-can-still-dream-right? posted on my walls. I want the eBay atheist! Intelligence is so attractive.

Haha, happy golden birthday Hemant! I hope you get all the things on your list. :)

]]> By: Kelly http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/comment-page-1/#comment-133079 Kelly Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:42:37 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/02/25/things-i-want-for-my-birthday/#comment-133079 Happy Birthday! Wow, 25-I think I had my first mid-mid-life crisis at that age...but you have fun! Happy Birthday! Wow, 25-I think I had my first mid-mid-life crisis at that age…but you have fun!

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