Math Is Fun Forum
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#1 2015-01-15 13:33:02
- PatternMan
- Member
- Registered: 2014-03-08
- Posts: 199
How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
The other day I was doing polynomial division and thought "I have no idea why this works." There are only a few parts of math that I just do without knowing how it works. I realized that lots of people probably feel this way about the other topics. FOIL, BIDMAS, plug and chug the formula are not good enough if I want to write a basic proof or solve a problem with no immediately obvious solution.
The other day I taught a girl that the equal sign means the left and right side are equivalent like scales. It doesn't matter what you have on each side. The total is the same. She told me she didn't know this and that she thought it was just where the answer went. I had to explain to a guy that a minus number squared is the same as its positive squared though I didn't understand why. I think it's important to know these things.
So is there a method to learn so you can understand the subject conceptually?
"School conditions you to reject your own judgement and experiences. The facts are in the textbook. Memorize and follow the rules. What they don't tell you is the people that discovered the facts and wrote the textbooks are people like you and me."
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#2 2015-01-15 16:19:45
- ElainaVW
- Member
- Registered: 2013-04-29
- Posts: 580
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
Hello,
Drawing on the great wisdom of Bobbym who always told me to just do it, understanding like love comes later. I'm still waiting...
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#3 2015-01-15 18:00:17
- David
- Member
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2014-04-23
- Posts: 3,164
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
Hey;
I always try to question the things I'm about to learn.
Like : How do you know a line is parallel to each other if they're a infinitely in length?
His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
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#4 2015-01-15 20:37:47
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
Hello,
Drawing on the great wisdom of Bobbym who always told me to just do it, understanding like love comes later. I'm still waiting...
For love or understanding?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#5 2015-01-16 17:25:07
- ElainaVW
- Member
- Registered: 2013-04-29
- Posts: 580
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
Understanding, Bobbym already loves me.
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#6 2015-01-16 21:29:26
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
Would he understand you some day too?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#7 2015-01-17 04:09:48
- ElainaVW
- Member
- Registered: 2013-04-29
- Posts: 580
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
A better question is will you ever understand him.
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#8 2015-01-17 05:23:17
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
Hm, do you want to?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#9 2015-01-17 07:07:10
- ElainaVW
- Member
- Registered: 2013-04-29
- Posts: 580
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
I already do.
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#10 2015-01-17 13:20:33
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
I'm still waiting...
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#11 2015-01-17 15:26:52
- ElainaVW
- Member
- Registered: 2013-04-29
- Posts: 580
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
Waiting for what?
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#12 2015-01-17 16:19:17
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
Hello,
Drawing on the great wisdom of Bobbym who always told me to just do it, understanding like love comes later. I'm still waiting...
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#13 2015-01-17 16:25:58
- ElainaVW
- Member
- Registered: 2013-04-29
- Posts: 580
Re: How do you develop a conceptual understanding of mathematics?
What about that is mystifying?
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