Re: Is this math test too easy?

From: J.E. (troubled6man_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 11/27/04 

Date: 27 Nov 2004 15:16:43 -0800

Mxsmanic <mxsmanic@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<2u8gq0d5sotgisctjlejms7872restampa@4ax.com>...
> Tim Brauch writes:
>
> > In reality, the best you can hope for is defining symbols at the
> > beginning and make sure things are well-defined at the beginning.
>
> In reality, the claim for the precision of mathematics is baseless.

Let's fix it rather than complain, please join in in making things
better or at least stop complaining now that you've gotten people's
attention.

> Mathematicians can't even conceive of an unambiguous notation for it.

I'm concieving right now. To convince others I need support that what
I'm proposing is going to be "really" better, so help me out please.

[snip]

> > Then there is the whole issue of variables and constants. Sometimes
> > "i" is a constant in an equation, sometimes it is a variable. And most
> > characters can be used in a similar fashion. Even matrices and sets in
> > ASCII are usually denoted by capital letters.
>
> At least computer programmers long ago eliminated problems with
> ambiguity, and they did it in ASCII. Perhaps they are much more logical
> and precise than mathematicians.

Writing math symbolism to be consistent with coding would be an
advantage too, since often you need to do math in a program.
 
> Indeed, even musicians are pretty good at recording their music in
> writing, even if their notation isn't perfect.

Let's fix things, I need specific criticism, not general stuff, give
me specifics about things you found/find ambiguous in math please.

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