Ask a Mathematician!

[IdiotsOpposite]

Do you actually believe everyone who struggles with Math is stupid? (Addressed both at Zelig and the threadstarter.)

I think they're stupid... at math. You can't tell someone's general intelligence from how they perform on one subject, though.

Question: Does anyone who wants to be in a historical or legal profession really need anything more than geometry.

Logic is always nice, although there are many who would argue that logic isn't math. And algebra is very helpful, in my opinion. I actually don't think you'd need much geometry in a legal profession. Algebra would likely be more helpful.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Working in Law is unlikely to exercise your math thingies.

No love for computer games or does it pay too little and is too full of long haired Jesus lookalike drunkards?

 

[GhostWriter16]

I think they're stupid... at math. You can't tell someone's general intelligence from how they perform on one subject, though.

Fair enough (Though struggling doesn't necessarily indicate total lack of ability or intelligence in the area.)

Logic is always nice, although there are many who would argue that logic isn't math. And algebra is very helpful, in my opinion. I actually don't think you'd need much geometry in a legal profession. Algebra would likely be more helpful

The phrase should have been "Above" instead of "More than" (Not feeling too well and so not focusing very much). The Math sequence in our high school is Integrated Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and, if you choose to go for it, basic calculus. I know I'll need a basic math to get a math credit college, but unless I need it beyond that, I'd really rather not go much harder than I am right now (I'm currently in the FIRST part of trig. I couldn't even pass in a regular paced trig class. I'm much more a good history and English student.)

No love for computer games or does it pay too little and is too full of long haired Jesus lookalike drunkards?

I like computer games, I like the idea of computer game design, but I don't like MATH.

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

Well, if you need help with a particular trig issue, feel free to contact me. I'm like literally always online, and I've tutored quite a few people.

 

[nc-1701]

The phrase should have been "Above" instead of "More than" (Not feeling too well and so not focusing very much). The Math sequence in our high school is Integrated Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and, if you choose to go for it, basic calculus. I know I'll need a basic math to get a math credit college, but unless I need it beyond that, I'd really rather not go much harder than I am right now (I'm currently in the FIRST part of trig. I couldn't even pass in a regular paced trig class. I'm much more a good history and English student.)

See if you can take Formal Logic in college, it's a philosophy class that skips all the application stuff you probably don't care about and just does some of the analytical reasoning you hit in higher math classes. More useful for law etc. and probably a lot more fun for you. Also depending on the college you might be able to use it to replace your math requirement.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I like computer games, I like the idea of computer game design, but I don't like MATH.

Well, we're not going to suddenly turn you on to liking maths.

What are you doing in this thread!!!!!!!! (j/k)

There's a lot of math in games, mainly involving triangles (trig), matrices (linear algebra - 3d graphics) and statistics (AI).

 

[GhostWriter16]

See if you can take Formal Logic in college, it's a philosophy class that skips all the application stuff you probably don't care about and just does some of the analytical reasoning you hit in higher math classes. More useful for law etc. and probably a lot more fun for you. Also depending on the college you might be able to use it to replace your math requirement.

Will do.

Well, we're not going to suddenly turn you on to liking maths.

What are you doing in this thread!!!!!!!! (j/k)

There's a lot of math in games, mainly involving triangles (trig), matrices (linear algebra - 3d graphics) and statistics (AI).

I don't want to be tunred into someone who likes math. I want the quickest route through it.

 

[_random_]

Why do Britons pluralize "math?"

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Because we invented English, and we rule, hard.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I don't want to be tunred into someone who likes math. I want the quickest route through it.

Well, meh. I don't really like women, but want the quickest route through as many as possible. NOT REALLY!

 

[GamezRule]

Because we invented English, and we rule, hard.

Sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of your faded Empire.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

I don't want to be tunred into someone who likes math. I want the quickest route through it.

Too bad there isn't a like button for posts on CFC like there is for comments on youtube.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of your faded Empire.

Maybe you should get your ears checked then, if it doesn't bankrupt you

 

[meromorph]

In Plato's Republic he argues that advanced training in mathematics is a prerequisite to doing philosophy. Many people have heard of "the allegory of the cave", but what most secondary sources omit is that in Plato's version the process of leaving the cave is about learning mathematics.

"...the knowledge at which geometry aims is knowledge of the eternal, and not of aught perishing and transient...then geometry will draw the soul towards truth, and create the spirit of philosophy, and raise up that which is now unhappily allowed to fall down. Nothing will be more likely to have such an effect."

He is careful to point out that he does mean we should study mathematics because it's "useful", that is a secondary indirect benefit. The primary reason to study it is to improve ourselves.

To become a lawyer and make a lot of money does not require an elevated nature, in fact such a nature could be a detriment to that goal. In general the primary goal of most animals is to satisfy their desire for sensations, and that does not need mathematics at all.

Here is book VII of the Republic, which includes the "allegory of the cave" and discusses these points:

http://www.abu.nb.ca/Courses/GrPhil/RepBookVII.htm

 

[Leoreth]

Question: Does anyone who wants to be in a historical or legal profession really need anything more than geometry.

Why do you think you'll need geometry?

Well, meh. I don't really like women, but want the quickest route through as many as possible. NOT REALLY!

*rimshot*

Too bad there isn't a like button for posts on CFC like there is for comments on youtube.

... or dislike buttons

 

[Atticus]

Why do Britons pluralize "math?"

Yes, mathematic should be contracted math.

Question: Does anyone who wants to be in a historical or legal profession really need anything more than geometry.

Maths is at the center of intellectual history of mankind. Natural and social sciences have always been measured against maths, as well as pretty many things in the world.

This is something most people don't understand, because they think maths is about calculating, while it really is about deducting. That's the Maths Plato too talks about, and that's why it read on the door to his Academia that nobody who knows geometry should enter.

If you check which philosophers were mathematicians, the list is pretty long (and surprising too). I doubt anyone can understand thinkers like Descartes, Berkeley, Spinoza, Husserl etc. without known maths pretty well.

If you learn geometry, do yourself a favour and learn Euclid's geometry (although modern expositions of it). Usually femoetry is taught nowadays as calculating, not deducing.

 

[peter grimes]

I would imagine that math would be VERY useful for a litigator - it's the basis for building up an argument that can't be refuted, assuming the premises are correct.

 

[Mise]

You probably don't need advanced maths in order to be lawyer, but if you aren't capable of doing maths then you probably aren't smart enough to be a lawyer. I don't know any lawyers who aren't smart enough to do at least A-level (16-18 yrs old) maths.

 

[Atticus]

Fermat was lawyer btw.

 

[Leoreth]

And he sure took his intellectual property to the grave.