Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Does math function in the same way as our daily and written language?

Mathematics is often considered tool in many of the fields of science and business and economics. Mathematics, therefore, by itself does not provide any relevance. Math is also often considered the language of science. However, whether this meaning is metaphorical or literal is dependant entirely on the person.
I have always been a keen mathematics student, primarily infatuated by the relations and manipulations of numbers in many types and forms. However, these numbers and figures always were an accessory to an underlying objective in what the problem was. Mathematics always pursues its own criteria in conveying its message. For example, in mathematics higher level, we use the differentiation method to find the gradient of a curve at any point on the curve. Differentiating is not the objective, but what this presents to us is what matters.
Furthermore, the basic level at how one learns mathematics is also what matters. For example, many math teachers have their students do journaling on the math learning experiences and their math use experiences. Some math teachers make use of an environment that encourages students to communicate mathematical ideas through group discussions. Some math assessment instruments require that students explain what it is they are doing as they solve the math problems in the assessment. Both methods are helpful in their own right. Some teachers do not
I believe that Writing and mathematics are brain tools--they are powerful aids to the human mind. The abilities to use both written language and mathematics are so useful to people that these are "basics" in our formal educational system. The written language is fairly different from daily language for the reason of their distinct purposes. Daily or colloquial language focuses on merely getting across a message in its most literal meaning. Written language in poetry or prose acts as a tool to convey a message unable to be said in daily language/speech.



Mathematics does not always show the same attributes as other languages. However, the two are alike in many ways, not always at face value. Technically speaking, math has rules pertaining to its writing in order for it to make sense.

In my opinion, math is a tool for displaying and proving theorems. It is often not always evident in its content since the “numbers and symbols” don't always mean something concrete enough to provide the information necessary. In conclusion, I don't believe that math functions in the same way as our daily and written language mainly due to its lack of uses evident to the general public. If the use of math was explained in more detail to people who are not only directly related to the topic, math may be percieved as a language.

No comments: