From this perspective, traditional mathematics -- the mathematics taught in universities around the world -- is the property of Western Civilization and is inexorably linked with the values of the oppressors and conquerors.

Assuming for a moment that the above statement is true, then why should anyone want to study loser mathematics?
Richard Nieporent | Email | Homepage | 06.21.05 - 10:12 am | #

In my final years as a systems analyst and computer programmer, I was required to train my replacements (both of them). One morning after the two new guys collaborated on the creation of a new report, I received a call from one of the warehouse managers. His inventories were way off, some of them were even negative.

In going through the code, I noticed that the formulas these two geniouses had created were a mess and I called them over to explain it to me. They said they went through the coding requirements step by step and created the formulas as they had been requested. When I asked if they had noticed how far off the numbers were, they got very defensive. They said, and I will quote them word for word, "The numbers are accurate. Computers don't lie."

They hadn't bothered to compare the raw data with the reported data, and even if they had I doubt they would have seen a problem. The fact that they had negative inventory (based on physical counts, not backorders) didn't raise a flag for them.

I wound up reworking the report and substituted two lines of code for the equivalent of several paragraphs worth.

After I left, I heard that my two guys wound up training more people and they became essentially co-managers of a department that I used to handle myself.

This probably had nothing to do with why my former employer created such a fiasco at the US Grand Prix this past Sunday since the racing tires all came from France, but it might be an indication that things have changed for the worse.

Knowing how to do what it is you do is not nearly as important as doing what you do cheaply.

When I was trouble-shooting computer issues, my typical turnaround was 2 days at $50/hr. My friends on the inside now tell me the typical turnaround is 8 days at $22/hr. Obviously, with new, new math, $22/hr is the better deal.
Bryan | Email | Homepage | 06.21.05 - 10:20 am | #

I suppose in this rain forrest algebra, the law of identity goes out the window, so much for " A equal A". Is this for real?
james gaulte | Email | Homepage | 06.21.05 - 12:32 pm | #

James, of course A is equal to A. A is also equal to B, and to C, etc. They may be different, but just because they're different doesn't mean they aren't all equal. I'm disappointed that I have to explain this to you. Do you have some problem with equality? The notion that some quantities are inferior to others has no place in a just society and is unacceptable. Perhaps we should form a committee and investigate what you really think, and how long you have held these racist, sexist, homophobic views.
lmg | Email | Homepage | 06.21.05 - 2:01 pm | #

> One of its precepts is "ethnomathematics,"

You know, many years ago, my cousin made a joke about "Ebonics" being taught. His response was "What's next, Algebro?"

We laughed then.

Time to stop using the public schools.
ObloodyHell | Email | Homepage | 06.21.05 - 10:02 pm | #

> the people who encourage and implement such idiocy will be forced to calculate the value of pi to infinity in the last circle of Hell.

You're not linking it to their stupidity enough.

"...be forced to demonstrate in a mathematical proof the contention that pi equals exactly 3 in the last circle of Hell, such proof to be of their own devisement, but subject to proper mathematical rigor.

Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and Saddam will be required to sign off on it."

Much, *much* better(It helps to be a mathematician).
ObloodyHell | Email | Homepage | 06.21.05 - 11:28 pm | #

No, OBH. They'll just legislate pi=3. Calculate? We don't need no stinkin' calculation.
Dr. Sanity | Email | Homepage | 06.22.05 - 7:16 am | #

Didn't they already try that in Indiana around 1890 or so? (Quick google search...) Yep, they did.

--------

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Religion (Alabama's Slice of Pi)

In 1897 the Indiana House of Representatives unanimously passed a measure redefining the area of a circle and the value of pi. (House Bill no. 246, introduced by Rep. Taylor I. Record.) The bill died in the state Senate.

----

This dumbing down of math really worries me. I'm no math whiz, but I can see the utility of it. Getting it to the point where 2+2=5 for large values of 2 isn't the way to go. I don't care if it makes it more 'friendly' - I want the math to be ACCURATE.

J.
JLawson | Email | Homepage | 06.22.05 - 11:21 am | #

> Didn't they already try that in Indiana around 1890 or so?

Yeah, that was why I used it as an example. Heh.

> Getting it to the point where 2+2=5 for large values of 2 isn't the way to go.

Actually, that's 2+2=5 for PC values of 2.

LOL.
ObloodyHell | Email | Homepage | 06.22.05 - 3:59 pm | #

> No, OBH. They'll just legislate pi=3. Calculate? We don't need no stinkin' calculation.

Doc, HERE they can legislate it.

In Hell, the fun part is that they'll have to -prove- it. That's why it's Hell.

I realize the Left wants this place turned into Hell, but I suspect the best that is within their capacity is to make it into a close comparison.
ObloodyHell | Email | Homepage | 06.22.05 - 4:02 pm | #

The MEAP test given to fourth grade students in Michigan does not require any computation. It's all based on "higher level thinking skills". They've dumbed down the test to align with the dumbed down curriculum. And now they want to make it even worse?
sonofsheldon | Email | Homepage | 06.22.05 - 7:36 pm | #

You see, the "New Math" that they "brilliantly" attempted to teach in the 60s was, in fact, founded on reasoning.

It's possible to use the properties of sets to derive the existence of integers. From integers, one can derive the properties of arithmetic, and, by extension, the rest of classical pre-Newtonian math.

If you look closely at the 60s "New Math", it was based on teaching sets and deriving arithmetic from that.

...Of course, if you throw it at untrained and clueless teachers, they totally f' the whole thing up. Not even their fault.

This, though, is yet another attempt to ram PC into every single aspect of life. Public schools aren't there to teach, they are there to indoctrinate.
ObloodyHell | Email | Homepage | 06.23.05 - 5:08 am | #

Regarding ethnomathematics: I think it is interesting to study how other cultures have done mathematics. It makes it clear how something as simple as representing numbers differently can have a profoundly limiting effect on how much of what kind of mathematics you can do. It points out the advantages of the Hindu-Arabic number system and the algorithms we've invented to go along with it. It highlights both the power and the shortcomings of our abstract mathematics.

However, I don't think that students should only study from the math of their own ancestors. Putting aside the sheer absurdity of trying to discover from which mathematical tradition a person descends, you would be condemning children of Mayan descent to using a number system that makes fractions virtually impossible, or children of Greek descent to a numeral-less geometric approach. Within each race there are so many learning styles that it is impossible to impute one broadly to any particular race or culture. I've used ethnomathematical lessons on children of many cultures whenever I think they will be needed, with good results.

If students can master the basics, then they can only benefit from learning the math of other cultures. The problem only enters when we try to teach them that math instead of the basics.
Wacky Hermit | Email | Homepage | 06.23.05 - 11:09 am | #