Always Learning...

"I am always doing that which I cannot do in order that I may learn how to do it."

-Picasso

I am Lazy...

This is very unfortunate for me, being a math major. Trying to keep my GPA afloat as well as actually understanding everything (which has been an unusually difficult battle this semester) is not something that a lazy person is accustomed to.


In the past, I have tried as much as possible to not use one of those clicky-plastic-devices (aka a calculator). All the way through Calculus 2, I barely touched my scientific calculator, just for the rare integration that had 5 billion parts and I didn't want to mess up in step 2, making step 5 billion off.

Well, I transferred from a university branch to a main campus in order to continue my journey through SoulCrushingMathematics, and I decided to reward my decision with a brand new graphing calculator. I mean, it was justifiable, right? I was going into Calculus 3 and Linear Algebra, so why not?

Then my darn laziness kicked in...

I use that thing for everything. matrices, determinates, limits, derivatives, integration, adding 2 + 2, you name it. I love the thing! But the problem is I used to know the derivative of sin, cos, tan, sin^-1, cos^-1, sinh, cosh, etc. all from good ol' fashioned memorization. Same went for common integrals. Now, I know the basics, but not by much. Curse my laziness!!!! It is ruining me!!!!

<hugs calculator>

I keep trying to tell myself that in "the real world" I'll get to use calculators and computer algebra systems and computers, so why should I not use them in college? Riight???? RIGHT!?!?

The Universal Language

A great article about the philosohoy of mathemtaics and why it seems to wirk with everything can be found here.

SpongeBob Knows the Feels

A Quote

I am in this wonderful class titled "Intro to Higher Mathematics." Yup, they threw the word "intro" in there to make it sound like an easy class.....it's not. It is all about logic and learning how to write proofs and a crash course on how to think mathematically. But, my professor is awesome and very helpful. And even though the class is hard, I somehow enjoy it. The professor actually had a hand in writing the book she uses, and I am not sure if she wrote this or not, but I found a quote in the book that I absolutely love.

"Mathematics is highly respected in our culture. It inspires awe or fear in most people. To a few it is a source of joy and admiration, an artistic game of the highest quality, the language in which the book of nature is written. ..."mastering it requires hard work, discipline, concentration, self-respect, and self-confidence..."

Even though I have been struggling this semester to just keep up with the homework, I still feel excitement, butterflies, when I think of what I am doing and what I am studying. It is like some sort of magic that only a few get to experience, and I can't wait to see where I end up.