Monday, September 16, 2013

NYT: How to Fall in Love With Math

From WolframMathWorld

From yesterday’s New York Times Opinion Pages piece by mathematics professor Manil Suri.

Despite what most people suppose, many profound mathematical ideas don’t require advanced skills to appreciate. One can develop a fairly good understanding of the power and elegance of calculus, say, without actually being able to use it to solve scientific or engineering problems.

Think of it this way: you can appreciate art without acquiring the ability to paint, or enjoy a symphony without being able to read music. Math also deserves to be enjoyed for its own sake, without being constantly subjected to the question, “When will I use this?”