**Ask a monkey a physics question thread**

[JKDS]

I first time I ever really failed at anything was when I took a proof course in mathematics.

Calc? Easy. Vector Calc? Easy.

Prove one set of numbers is included within another set of numbers.

me: it just is, wtf?

*head esplode*

So, lawschool.

[wufwugy]

I first time I ever really failed at anything was when I took a proof course in mathematics.

Calc? Easy. Vector Calc? Easy.

Prove one set of numbers is included within another set of numbers.

me: it just is, wtf?

*head esplode*

So, lawschool.

the skeptic in me says the difficulty is due to schizophrenic and arbitrary teaching of mathematics. i mean, it certainly appears to me that the profession just cherry picks when students should learn concepts, when should learn process, when should apply memorization, and when should apply analytics. it makes no real sense.

why the fuck do i need to know how to integrate by hand when most integrals can't be done by hand? that's like learning how to read braille when you're not blind. especially when doing them by hand is wrought with peril and unproductive compared to just punching the numbers into a calculator or wolfram alpha.

i feel like this is so much wasted time where i could actually be learning why and when to apply concepts to solve real problems. i bet people would adore math if it was taught like that. ofc mathematicians would claim the world is coming to an end since we'd no longer be teaching everybody the joys of the numerical mindspace.

i blame human idealism. team utility 4lyfe.

[a500lbgorilla]

why the fuck do i need to know how to integrate by hand when most integrals can't be done by hand?

Stuff like this is lifting brain weights.

"Those who take the helm must first serve at the oar."

Gotta learn all the dirty corners of integrals if you ever want to confidently use them (or some hybrid of them) one day, too.

[wufwugy]

Stuff like this is lifting brain weights.

i get that, and it's the main reason given any time i see the topic discussed. my response is "so is learning what you need to know".

i mean, i am BAD at word problems. why? probably because im treated like a human calculator instead of an analyst, and im getting very little experience with word problems. yet what people need to be truly effective is to be good at word problems, not calculations.