Integration technique Poll

[jsbeckton]

Have you used trig-substitution integration since calc II?

 

[tkhunny]

Please add to your collection of thought that the early study of mathematics is very much to teach you to THINK, not just to spit out specifically-designed solutions to a very small problem set. It could give you a whole new outlook on your endeavors.

 

[jsbeckton]

Just a question, not an attack on the philosophy of teaching mathamatics.

 

[tkhunny]

You missed my point. I was trying to attack your understanding of the philosophy of the teaching of mathematics.

I use trig substitution constantly, but almost exclusively in the teaching of mathematics. It is my guess that this is not a useful response.

 

[jsbeckton]

Have you used trig-substitution integration since calc II?

How does this imply an understanding or misunderstanding of the philosophy of teaching mathamatics?

 

[TchrQbic]

Have you used trig-substitution integration since calc II?

How does this imply an understanding or misunderstanding of the philosophy of teaching mathamatics?

Your asking about one's use (or not) of a calculus technique implies that you think ALL methods learned in math class must be directly useful in future life, or they need not be learned. They are useful, but as much for training of thinking as for direct application to problems encountered. For that reason, learning of many different approaches to problem-solving is helpful.

 

[jsbeckton]

Have you used trig-substitution integration since calc II?

How does this imply an understanding or misunderstanding of the philosophy of teaching mathamatics?

Your asking about one's use (or not) of a calculus technique implies that you think ALL methods learned in math class must be directly useful in future life, or they need not be learned. They are useful, but as much for training of thinking as for direct application to problems encountered. For that reason, learning of many different approaches to problem-solving is helpful.

You have seriously read way to far into that question. If that is what I thought, do you not suppose that I might have posed the question "Do you think it was a waste of time learning trig-sub integration?" Sure that makes more sense, right?

However, that was not my question and even if it were my question, does that imply that I agree with the question? No, it only implies that I am curious if people have used it often or not. If I say "are you racist?" does that immediatly imply that I am? No, of course not. Have you ever taken a philosophy class?

You are implying that my point here is that if you cannot use it in everyday math, it isn't worth learning, which is completely untrue. I don't know how useful knowledge of ancient civilizations is in everyday life but I feel that we cannot truly know where we are today without knowing how we got here.

I understand the trig-sub is not the prefered method but it is sometimes the best way to solve certain integration problems, just like different coordinate systems are not used that often but can in some instances actually make some problems much more simple. Just because we don't use something everyday doesn't mean its not worth knowing-thats how I feel about it! Its just a poll, sometimes you actually need to think "inside"the box.

 

[tkhunny]

Touchy. Hey, I'm just guessing, but when one asks a question that sounds EXACTLY like the this-is-a-waste-of-time question, the wise questioner would add a little clarification up front.

I see by the preponderance of your posts here that you are not likely to be asking the irritating question. Sorry, I'll try to do my homework better.

 

[jsbeckton]

Just curious, thats all. And the "more than once" users are up 3 to 1.