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[shalamayne]

From: Varian
Date: January 18th

At what point does math become literature? The last I looked, math didn't include letters that went alongside or with the numbers.

Comments

[reformedsinner]

Ah, you're encountering algebra?

What are you trying to study?

[shalamayne]

It would seem so.

It was sent by someone requesting help with it. An irony that we then have to ask others about it afterwards.

[reformedsinner]

Ha ha, I see! In fact, I teach math, so if you're in need of someone to walk you through the problem I'll be happy to do so.

Those letters are simply a way to represent a value that's not known. For instance, if I said 2 + x = 4, and asked you to tell me what the value of X was, can you see how to determine it?

[shalamayne]

It may be that we do so in future, especially if we receive more of these.

It would be 2. But it's strange someone would use an x to begin with. Why not use a 2 ?

[reformedsinner]

Because once you use a letter, it's possible to represent a range of numbers or a relationship between two different numbers.

When 2 + x = 4, x is 2. But if I were to say, for example, 2 + x = y, I have made a statement that y is always two greater than x, and now we can determine the value of x no matter what y turns out to be.

[shalamayne]

So it's used for more variables than anything else? I would be lying if I said I completely understood the need for such things, I prefer them to be more straight forwards. Then again I don't believe it would be something that would crop up on the field of battle.

[reformedsinner]

As a matter of fact, if I were calculating the placement of a trebuchet and the angle and force of its throw in order to do the most damage, this is exactly the sort of math that I would want to employ.

[shalamayne]

Statistics and probability tend to do better, or so I'd be inclined to think. Those who arm and fire the weaponry would more than likely know those things, however.

[reformedsinner]

Only if you have enough ammunition to waste on a statistical sample!

Ha ha, it's true that you don't generally have to worry about advanced mathematics outside artillery, however.

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[brynwieldr]

Wait. What?

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[shalamayne]

My thoughts exactly.

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[brynwieldr]

Give an example. Maybe there's a reason for the letters?

[shalamayne]

Of course.

2 ( 3x + 4 ) + 6

[brynwieldr]

....what is that supposed to equal?

[shalamayne]

We've found a range of answers from 6 to 12 to nothing, because it may be missing a part of it. That would explain why the person sending in the request has not been able to figure it out.

[brynwieldr]

There's no "=" after all of it? Like "2 + 2 = 4"?

[shalamayne]

If there was, then it's either been scrubbed off or someone simply forgot it.

[spellswords]

Arithmetic does not contain literature, only characters on occasion depending on its complexity. If you are seeing words in your equations you may be doing it incorrectly.

[shalamayne]

We are not seeing whole words, merely letters and that is before we have even started. My numerical skills are decent, but this is more suited to engineers than anything.

[spellswords]

It is not so difficult but I suppose it is also not needed in day to day activities. 'Tis uncommon you would encounter it beyond... whatever books you are learning from. Or did you encounter it elsewhere?

[shalamayne]

I cannot seem to think of a reason to be using it in other activities either. It was sent to us as a request from a follower.

[spellswords]

What was? The request to learn it? An odd request either way.

[shalamayne]

For the answer. It seems they were struggling.

[spellswords]

[Hmm...] Send it to me. I will solve it.

[disciprined]

All students should be familiar with algebra by the end of their first year of middle school. If you are finding it troublesome, you may benefit from private tutoring.

[shalamayne]

I know how to do mathematics.

"Middle school"?

[disciprined]

By thirteen.

I believe some countries' school systems don't include separate middle schools, but from all I've heard algebra isn't usually introduced until students have left grade school. A full understanding of basic arithmetic and familiarity with scientific notation is usually required before beginning algebra. The letters simply represent variables.

[[OOC: Dear God this girl understands so much more about math than I do why am I playing a know-it-all, this is going to hurt.]]

[shalamayne]

I see.

I know that set up is different from back home. As for algebra I suspect it is something reserved more for the engineering types than anything else. Mages more than likely use it too.

From the answers I have been seeing here it would seem 50-50 on those who understand it and those who don't.

Text; Huitzilopochtli

[rockthemonkey]

howre you supposed to add LETTERS that doesnt make sense!!!

[Goku's only math tutor likely gave up long before they ever reached algebra. For his own peace of mind, if nothing else.]

[shalamayne]

From what I have heard, the letters are there to represent numbers and we are supposedly meant to figure out said numbers.

[rockthemonkey]

wy wuold you have to figur that out
wouldnt u just know already??

[shalamayne]

That's the mystery of it all. I see no reason as to why people cannot just use their numbers.

[rockthemonkey]

its weird
i get why you need maths sometimes to figure stuff out

[Though Goku normally just follows his intuition, to the joy of every shopkeeper that's counted change for him before.]

but i dont get why youd mke stuff up just to be complicated

[shalamayne]

Sometimes it is best to just be straight forward; if this were a battle there would not be much time to work out such variables before the enemy killed you.

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[redmare]

One of the reasons I'm glad I don't go to school anymore.

Why are you looking at math problems anyway?

text;

[shalamayne]

I'm not sure if I ought to be impressed or concerned if schools teach this kind of things.

It was sent in by a follower. Apparently they must be feeling the same way I am about it.

[redmare]

Are you a god of homework

[shalamayne]

No, and the God I work with isn't one either. Someone must have felt that we could help out somehow, and if I don't know it then someone here ought to.

In the temple

[mylanceisbiggerthanyours]

[Nephenee's been looking at all these suggestions, and the fact that there are more than a few answers...it makes her head hurt.]

Maybe Ah should ask the follower if there's a equal thingy...

[Is she allowed to do that?]

Lookin' at this book, Ah ain't seein' a thing 'bout ones with no equal sign...maybe Ah ain't far 'nuff in the book...