Thread

1. ForgotMyUUID · 1789802300 · focus · HN ↗

   I’m reminded of that famous debate between Poincaré and Hilbert at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Paris in 1900. It was then that everyone decided to follow Hilbert’s path, and proof came to be valued more than intuition. I think modern math at school and at applied university kind of lost this intuitive part.

   I try to teach my students that mathematics is, first and foremost, a very precise language of communication. It’s sometimes amusing to ask those who don’t like math to do without it entirely, just to see how much harder it becomes to describe the things around them.

   Second thing I tell them, formulas are the essence of mechanisms in their purest form. And in this form, they’re much easier to grasp and mentally manipulate. It always amused me, after taking a mechanics course, to imagine that for any formula, you could visualize a mechanism or process that implements it.

   And third thing, I suppose, the ability to verify one’s own statements as proof. Although, of course, mathematicians would probably tear me apart here for my heresy:sorry, I’m not a mathematician, but an engineer. You can make mistakes by using incorrect assumptions, but at some point, analysis itself will show you that you were mistaken. There’s a wonderful book, How to Prove It by Daniel Velleman, which provides an introduction to proof for the uninitiated like me. I really enjoyed it.

   1. bananaflag · 1789810853 · focus · HN ↗

      As a math prof, I care(d) much more about proof than intuition, not because proof is more important, but exactly because intuition is (I'm a bit Chesterton-ish here haha). You cannot do proof without intuition hence, if you emphasize proof, intuition will take care of itself. Whereas if you emphasize intuition, students won't have any idea of what a rigorous proof should be.

      1. bunderbunder · 1789823597 · focus · HN ↗

         As someone who mostly only applies math, that strikes me as a peculiarly academic take. Intuition is more important for me because it’s what enables me to know what methods are most applicable to whatever practical problem I’m trying to solve. The proof’s purpose is to verify my intuition. It’s just a means to an end. I only take the time to do my own when I can’t confirm what I need from a textbook or paper.

         1. lupire · 1789823978 · focus · HN ↗

            Love is more important than breathing. It is and it isn't.

            What good is an end you can't reach, or worse, you can reach but it's wrong?

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.