- #31
stevenb
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Mentallic said:
It could just be a dull example, or perhaps "luster" is in the eye of the mathematician.
Is Math the Ultimate Mind Distraction?
- Thread starter Hop1pop
- Start date
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The discussion centers on the enjoyment of math, with participants sharing their experiences and perspectives. Many express that their enjoyment stems from a natural aptitude for math, which makes it easier to appreciate. The satisfaction of solving complex problems and the logical nature of math are highlighted as key reasons for enjoyment. Some participants compare math to puzzles and emphasize its beauty and elegance, while others view it as a practical tool for solving real-world problems, such as engineering challenges. There is a recognition that different branches of math appeal to different individuals, with some preferring applied math over theoretical concepts. The conversation also touches on the societal perception of math and its practitioners, with humor interspersed throughout the dialogue. Overall, the discussion reveals a diverse range of attitudes towards math, from those who find it relaxing and fulfilling to others who see it merely as a means to an end.
It could just be a dull example, or perhaps "luster" is in the eye of the mathematician.
- #32
Hop1pop
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kntsy said:
maybe that is why i don't like math very much, i have a hard time remembering equations and the steps that are needed to get a certain number.
I am more skilled with opinions and what not.
- #33
Hop1pop
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stevenb said:
yeah, like how that teacher thought that everyone had a commie rapist under their beds.
- #34
Proton Soup
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stevenb said:
when people talk about "beauty" in mathematics, i wonder if this is what they mean.
- #35
The Chaz
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xxChrisxx said:
As your god, I declare this to be not dull.
What "interesting problems" do you solve with math?
- #36
Norman
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The Chaz said:
For the reference trapped electron radiation environment of Jupiter, what is the best shielding configuration of Aluminum and Tantalum to minimize the ionizing dose at a depth of 10 mils in silicon for a 108 day Jovian tour.
Is that interesting enough? I thought it was.
- #37
Hop1pop
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Norman said:
could you explain this in stupid form please?
- #38
xxChrisxx
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The Chaz said:
Calculations to make engines that operate at the very limits of the material or a well balanced chassis to go rounds corners quickly.
Very loud, very fast cars are infinitely more interesting and awesome that the equations that are used to design them.
The maths in a means to an end, nothing more.
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- #39
Klockan3
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Maths is a subject that gets more beautiful the more of it you understand, after a while you get to a level where nothing else can even compare. Who cares about some car when you have the logical fabric of the universe unraveling in front of your eyes?
- #40
xxChrisxx
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Klockan3 said:
This is why engineers are inherently more cool than mathematicians.
- #41
bp_psy
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Hop1pop said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0if7dj-bTI
Logic is what I like about math.
- #42
Klockan3
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According to engineers... It is not like most people find any of them cool anyway.xxChrisxx said:
- #43
xxChrisxx
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Klockan3 said:
They find the products (real tangible things) we make cool, stuff we produce doesn't have the effect of sending the room to sleep.
Mechanical Engineers > All other engineers > Maths nerds.
(guess what I do for a living
- #44
Klockan3
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If you are talking about what you do then you wouldn't keep anyone awake either. A few might be interested in the results but they are just interesting in expensive cars with powerful engines and not the engineering brilliance behind it.xxChrisxx said:
As an anology, just about everyone loves what computers provides but they have no interest in the work behind it all, beginning with the first steps when quantum mechanics was invented, to solid state physics where they invented the transistors, to circuit theory kicking off for real, to discrete maths which was always the stepchild now got into the spotlight since it proved to be extremely useful.
The difference is that different people operate at different levels, the car mechanic is closer to the end product than the mechanical engineer who is still closer than the physicist.
Now the reason you think that your work is cool is because you are preoccupied with how cool you think that the end result is, but your work in itself is extremely dull compared to more pure problems.
Edit: And I am not a math nerd, I got an engineering degree in addition to maths and physics. Engineering is just too dull for me.
- #45
Norman
- 895
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Hop1pop said:
NASA JPL will be sending a satellite to Jupiter sometime in the future. Previous Jupiter satellite missions have measured the radiation environment around Jupiter. When those previous missions were designed, they were over-engineered to account for our uncertainty in the radiation environment. That means much higher mission costs because you need to put more, possibly unnecessary, mass into space. More mass, means much larger launch costs.
Since we have a better understanding of the radiation environment, a more detailed study of the types of material and configuration of that material for a satellite is needed. So, for the known trapped electron (also, protons and heavier ions, but electrons are the most intense) radiation environment, how do you minimize mass but still have scientific instruments which will not fail. The radiation will destroy (virtually) all non-shielded electronics.
- #46
The Chaz
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xxChrisxx said:They find the products (real tangible things) we make cool, stuff we produce doesn't have the effect of sending the room to sleep.
Mechanical Engineers > All other engineers > Maths nerds.
(guess what I do for a living
an equally ridiculous (though more obvious in its fallacy) statement would be "english > all other Latin-based languages > Latin"
- #47
bp_psy
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The Chaz said:
Do you mean that Mechanical engineering is not a type of engineering.
- #48
xxChrisxx
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The Chaz said:
Way too serious bud. Next time i'll include:
[JOKE]
Joke text here.
[/JOKE]
For your convenience, as clearly the tongue out emoticon was not obvious enough to convey the intent.
- #49
stevenb
- 701
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xxChrisxx said:Mechanical Engineers > All other engineers > Maths nerds.
(guess what I do for a living
I got the joke but I prefer my version.
Electrical Engineers > Theoretical Physisists > Mechanical Engineers > All other engineers > Maths nerds.
(can you guess what I do?)Note that Theoretical Physicists used to be last, but the television show "Big Band Theory" has them moving up the coolness chart, and soon they will overtake Electrical Engineers. They may even break out of the dungeon and encroach into the lower levels of the next sub-group, thus placing Librarians in jeopardy.
- #50
xxChrisxx
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Urgh! Electrickery, do not want.
- #51
HeLiXe
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rewebster said:
this reminds me of an Engineer joke on the lame jokes thread...- #52
HeLiXe
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lisab said:
I have to echo this.
Well in a different way..math is relaxing and exciting at the same time and very mind occupying as it gets more complex. Sort of like dark psytrance. It takes my mind off of *things* I spend too much time thinking about. Plus it is the only thing I can remember in its entirety for very long periods of time...like how some people remember soap operas.