On 29-5-2011 15:51, Orchid XP v8 wrote:
>>> I don't see why you need to memorise multiplication tables to understand
>>> mathematics.
>>
>> You can not understand long division or long multiplication without
>> those tables.
>
> You need to know what a multiplication table *is* in order to understand
> long multiplication and long division. However, you absolutely do *not*
> need to memorise the contents of said table to comprehend mathematics.
>
> I have no idea what the corresponding tables are for octal. But I still
> understand how long division works in octal - i.e., THE EXACT SAME WAY
> AS IN DECIMAL!

My point exactly. Having learned it in one situation carries over to 
another. Proves how vital it was for you to learn at that point ;) See 
also my response to Rudy.

> The rest of your argument seems to follow from this flawed premis.

That you didn't think it through does not make it flawed ;)

>>> Indeed, one of the most important things I learned at college is that
>>> mathematics is *not* just about memorising multiplication tables.
>>> There's actually far more to it than that. The fact that my school
>>> education completely failed to mention this is... rather worrying.
>>
>> And that relates to the other thing I want to get across: maths is part
>> of our Culture. As a teacher your task is to get across how beautiful it
>> can be.
>
> Agreed.
>
> FWIW, my teachers also utterly failed to demonstrate that literature can
> be enjoyable. The only literature we did was Shakespeare and some dope
> addict named Coleridge...

Any relation with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTD1QW3SM60 ?

>> Not understanding maths is now considered
>> something to be proud of by those who think of themselves as the elite
>> of this society. That spiral will make have to make a few more turns
>> before it goes up again.
>
> I've often wondered how the hell we ended up in a society where being
> stupid is considered a virtue.

It is not stupidity, they appreciate other things, like... like... whatever.

> Apparently a few centuries back,
> everybody who was anybody had to know and be able to debate the finer
> points of (say) Lord Kelvin's new theories about thermodynamics...

Yes. Interesting isn't it.

-- 
Apparently you can afford your own dictator for less than 10 cents per 
citizen per day.

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