Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Talk of Math
In a short topic about his life, friends, colleagues, and thoughts called
A Math-
ematician's Apology,
the renowned mathematician G. H. Hardy wrote, ''It is quite
true that most people can do nothing well.'' The value of such a reflection in an
autobiographical work by one of the great mathematicians of the twentieth
century is that it proves to be one of the most helpful of all beginnings for
someone trying to learn math. Professor Hardy's contention was not an attempt
to disgrace or criticize anyone. In fact, more than anything else, it was an
observation about his own discovery of his love of math.
One of the world's greatest mathematicians, he did not regard math as something
he did particularly well. In fact, he did not really care whether he did it parti-
cularly well. He just did it. That he could just do it, without consideration of what
others thought or whether what he did he did particularly well allowed him to
become a preeminent mathematician.
Most people do not have this perspective when they attempt to advance their
study of math. Further, math teaching often promotes the notion that if you are
going to do math, then you must do it well. If you do not do it well, then you
are advised to find something else to do. The consequences of this approach are
somewhat enormous. Consider, for example, that in places like the United States,
some experts say that around 90 percent of the population is math illiterate.
Granted, that figure might be exaggerated, but even if you lower the figure, the
fact is that most people go through their lives and spend almost no time at all
doing or learning math.
It is easy to get the impression that being able to do math is something along the
lines of a genetically established capability. If you are genetically endowed, it is
worth your while to involve yourself in it. Otherwise, you need to find something
else to do.
Imagine what it would be like if participating in conversations with friends,
relatives, and others was based on such an assumption. You might find your
cell phone privileges revoked. You might find yourself barred from cafes,
political meetings, school lunchrooms, and churches. You might have to take a
test before being allowed to order a sandwich or tell your neighbor good
morning.
Such notions are extreme and absurd, but it remains that if you speak with people
who have given up on math, you often find such reasoning at work.