Robert Heinlein:
Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable sub-human who has learned to wear shoes, bathe, and not make messes in the house.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Gee, thanks. After my brain-stem stroke, I lost all my (formerly excellent) ability to even do simple math. So just thankyuvurrymuch for another blanket nasty generalization..............
AnneWimsey
Level 9
June 2, 2019
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What's your threshold?
Do you have to understand differential equations? complex analysis? distribution theory? detection and estimation theory? log likelihood ratios? maximum likelihood decoders? Bayes' theorem? Z-transforms and discrete time systems? Laplace transforms and continuous time systems? Discrete and continuous time Fourier transforms? Joint Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation? Maxwell's Equations? Navier-Stokes Equations? Bessel Functions? Galois Fields? Fresnel and Fraunhofer Approximations? Diffraction Tomography?
BD66
Level 8
May 30, 2019
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No idea what any of them are. The art would be to inform ignoramuses like me what they mean, how they effect everyday life, and explain as though I am 5 years old and therefore able get it. If it can’t be explained in those terms it’s pointless.
BD66:
@Geoffrey51 Most of the math I described above is necessary to transfer data to and from your cell phone at very high speeds. It would take a long long time to explain all of it, so Google is a better source of information.
@BD66 I don’t need to know though, as I am not a tech in that field. It’s like I turn on my TV, watch it, turn it off. Although what is going on in the background is important and clever, I don’t need that info. It doesn’t reflect upon intellect other than recognising I don’t need that knowledge.
What does "cope with mathematics" mean? Grasp the fundamentals like +-x/? Or do you have to understand some form of advanced math? If advanced, how advanced? Algebra, Trig, Cal? That's like saying if you can't sing or play a musical instrument, you're not fully human.. Is my friend William, who is autistic and can't do simple math, not fully human? I'm not thinking Mr. Heinlein is hitting on much there.
Captain_Feelgood
Level 8
May 30, 2019
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I can’t do simple maths either. Mind you, why would I want to when I have a calculator!
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