Re: Is this math test too easy?

From: Herman Rubin (hrubin_at_odds.stat.purdue.edu)
Date: 11/23/04 

Date: 23 Nov 2004 11:27:03 -0500

In article <93k5q0p7es1dpbt7e2upljfods2gdp723r@4ax.com>,
Mxsmanic <mxsmanic@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Herman Rubin writes:

>> One cannot do critical thinking to any real extent without
>> mathematics.

>I've been doing critical thinking all my life, and exposure to
>mathematics was not necessary to make it possible, nor did it enhance my
>ability to do it to any extent.

I do not see how one can do critical thinking without being
fairly adept and deductive logic, which is part of mathematics,
and not taught at all well. In most cases, inductive logic
will be needed, at or above the level of introductory
theoretical statistics.

>> To do so, one needs to be able to at least
>> attempt to evaluate ALL the "major" consequences of one's
>> actions, and this requires stating them precisely, which is
>> mathematical formulation.

>There are many ways to accomplish this without mathematics. And
>mathematics isn't that precise.

Unfortunately, it is not. But it is a lot better than going
off on philosophical grounds with no understanding of the
limitations imposed by the structure of the universe.

Mathematics, sometimes even quite simple mathematics, often
shows that what LOOKS like it should be the obvious outcome
of an action is actually the opposite. 

-- 
This address is for information only.  I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University
hrubin@stat.purdue.edu         Phone: (765)494-6054   FAX: (765)494-0558

Relevant Pages

  • Re: History of French
    ... Mathematics and statistics are what are called "context free". ... The language has a rigid grammar and a SMALL ... Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Is this math test too easy?
    ... >> not mathematics, nor is learning how to solve simple equations. ... Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Future math courses
    ... >>> I am considering taking another statistics class, a course in convexity, ... > "real mathematics", only computational procedures, unless ... > your linear algebra course did. ... > Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Riemann integrability of a composite function
    ... >Department of Mathematics and Statistics, ... On a compact set, g is uniformly continuous and bounded. ... Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University ...
    (sci.math)
  • Re: Distance learning for a PhD in mathematics?
    ... One can find reasonable texts for some ... Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University ... Some people can learn mathematics from books; I don't (I can but only ...
    (sci.math)