When did you first encounter "proof based" mathematics?

Best Pokemon

The last two years in high school I learned topics such as algebra, functions, advanced trigonometry and trigonometric identities, vectors, calculus, sequences, series, approximations, counting (permutations and combinations), matrices and complex numbers. In most of these we had to do proofs. The main proof methods we used were direct proof, proof by contradiction and proof by induction.

Patrick Kale

I first encountered "proof-based mathematics" in high school in a Geometry class. The work could have been more engaging, although, and I think this would have been good for me and the other students too. I plan on learning more math with you all and on this forum. Best Pokemon, your second to last post doesn't seem appropriate but perhaps I have misunderstood your writing.

cochemuacos

Quote by alissca123

I took my first proof based course as a freshman. At my university, if you study math, physics, computer science or actuarial science, with very few exceptions, all the math courses you'll take are going to be proof based.

Which uni do you attend?

Best Pokemon

Quote by Patrick Kale

I first encountered "proof-based mathematics" in high school in a Geometry class. The work could have been more engaging, although, and I think this would have been good for me and the other students too. I plan on learning more math with you all and on this forum. Best Pokemon, your second to last post doesn't seem appropriate but perhaps I have misunderstood your writing.

I'm sorry if I sounded that way. I was just saying that adding physics wouldn't make it more interesting.

MathINTJ

Quote by Best Pokemon

I've been reading a few forums and have seen many posters say "methods based" mathematics like calculus is easy. The posters would then state that "proof based" mathematics is so hard and calculus isn't high level.

So when did you first encounter "proof based" mathematics in a classroom setting? Was it in high school or university/college? What year in high school or university did you encounter it?

Edit: What grade did first encounter it (if it was in high school)?

What college/major was this person? This is an outright lie. I did many proofs in calculus.

symbolipoint

Quote by MathINTJ

What college/major was this person? This is an outright lie. I did many proofs in calculus.

Experiences vary, depending on district, depending on era, depending on the educational fashion of the time and place. Schools (secondary level, or college level) may have courses designed for different student levels and for different major field emphases.

Evo

Quote by Best Pokemon

Physics schmysics! That would only make it worse, especially for girls.

For girls?

atyy

Quote by Devils

I've read that there is a way of doing the standard school geometry problems WITHOUT the standard proof method. To make it more intuitive for kids and stop them hating maths.

Anybody know anything about this?

Quote by micromass

So, what do you propose? Just giving out the statements and let the kids memorize that? Yeah, that way they're gonna stop hating math.

I somehow never learnt proofs in school in Sinagpore. We learnt a bunch of silly rules which worked, like "opposite angles are equal". So I am completely unable to do rigourous American high school geometry, although I can do the physics just fine.

I have no real idea what a proof is. There are only two proofs I have studied. One was Shannon's noisy channel theorem, and the other was Goedel's incompleteness theorem in Hofstadter's book. I read them because they didn't seem intuitive to me, whereas I was able to naively "buy" all the other "maths" I've needed.

PAllen

For me, first exposure was high school geometry, as for others in US. They were actually experimenting with new curriculum, so the course was probably 90% proofs.

Then, in college, it was linear algebra, then Real Analysis using Dieudonne book.

Funnny, but at least at this level (rather than research math), I found proofs very easy.

alissca123

Quote by cochemuacos

Which uni do you attend?

UNAM. In Mexico.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationa...sity_of_Mexico

lingualatina

Quote by phinds

I think in the US at least everyone's first encounter with proof-based math is high school geometry. I remember well the delight I felt at finding that math wasn't just about algebraic equations and arithmetic. I loved doing the proofs.

I'm a freshman taking a geometry class right now, and I couldn't agree with you more! I really enjoy seeing the general theory behind math rather than just crunching numbers all day. Exponents were my nemesis in Algebra I.

cochemuacos

Quote by alissca123

UNAM. In Mexico.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationa...sity_of_Mexico

Lol i was suspecting that.

Quote by alissca123

I took my first proof based course as a freshman. At my university, if you study math, physics, computer science or actuarial science, with very few exceptions, all the math courses you'll take are going to be proof based.

This just seemed too familiar. Facultad de Ciencias FTW!

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Patrick Kale	I first encountered "proof-based mathematics" in high school in a Geometry class. The work could have been more engaging, although, and I think this would have been good for me and the other students too. I plan on learning more math with you all and on this forum. Best Pokemon, your second to last post doesn't seem appropriate but perhaps I have misunderstood your writing.

PAllen Blog Entries: 1 Recognitions: Gold Member Science Advisor	For me, first exposure was high school geometry, as for others in US. They were actually experimenting with new curriculum, so the course was probably 90% proofs. Then, in college, it was linear algebra, then Real Analysis using Dieudonne book. Funnny, but at least at this level (rather than research math), I found proofs very easy.