Comments on: Math? It’s all Greek to me http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048 Mathematics, learning, computing, travel - and whatever... Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:48:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: zac http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048/comment-page-1#comment-21520 zac Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:50:32 +0000 http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048#comment-21520 Thanks for the image, sumidiot. I'm wondering how long it took to TeX all of that - ah, to have time for frivolity :-) Thanks for the image, sumidiot.

I’m wondering how long it took to TeX all of that – ah, to have time for frivolity :-)

]]> By: sumidiot http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048/comment-page-1#comment-21483 sumidiot Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:39:38 +0000 http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048#comment-21483 Hate to toot my own horn, but I just <a href="http://www.people.virginia.edu/~nah7n/content/gmwf.pdf" rel="nofollow">posted</a> a TeXed version of a picture a friend drew with all the lowercase greek letters. Thought some of you might enjoy it. Hate to toot my own horn, but I just posted a TeXed version of a picture a friend drew with all the lowercase greek letters. Thought some of you might enjoy it.

]]> By: zac http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048/comment-page-1#comment-21366 zac Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:31:12 +0000 http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048#comment-21366 <b>JackieB:</b> As an example of alternatives to Greek, I use <i>h</i> instead of Δ<i>x</i> in the introduction to <a href="http://www.intmath.com/Differentiation/3_Derivative-first-principles.php" rel="nofollow">differentiation from first principles</a>. I used to find that students' eyes glaze over less if the notation is simpler. <b>Miss Loi:</b> Thanks for your additions. That issue about Xi and Zeta looking very similar is one reason I avoid them. And oh yeah - how could I forget to mention Jφss Stick's use of φ ? :-) JackieB: As an example of alternatives to Greek, I use h instead of Δx in the introduction to differentiation from first principles.

I used to find that students’ eyes glaze over less if the notation is simpler.

Miss Loi: Thanks for your additions. That issue about Xi and Zeta looking very similar is one reason I avoid them.

And oh yeah – how could I forget to mention Jφss Stick’s use of φ ? :-)

]]> By: Miss Loi http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048/comment-page-1#comment-21365 Miss Loi Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:19:55 +0000 http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048#comment-21365 Not forgetting ... χ is used in a certain probability distribution. ξ (and sometimes ζ since they look rather similar) is commonly used to represent the Universal Set in Venn Diagrams. Lastly φ is used to distinguish Jφss Sticks from joss sticks! Sorry just had to do this! :D Not forgetting …

χ is used in a certain probability distribution.

ξ (and sometimes ζ since they look rather similar) is commonly used to represent the Universal Set in Venn Diagrams.

Lastly φ is used to distinguish Jφss Sticks from joss sticks! Sorry just had to do this! :D

]]> By: JackieB http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048/comment-page-1#comment-21343 JackieB Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:38:00 +0000 http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048#comment-21343 I agree it is reasonable for students to learn "alpha" (I still remind them that it really isn't a fish). However getting them to learn the Greek letters is not my main goal. You ask if we should we continue to use so much Greek in math. I don't know. What do you propose we use instead? There are times when I use other symbols instead. I've labeled angles as * or :), just to show them that the Greek letters aren't "magic". Then we go back to using the standard notation. I agree it is reasonable for students to learn “alpha” (I still remind them that it really isn’t a fish). However getting them to learn the Greek letters is not my main goal.

You ask if we should we continue to use so much Greek in math. I don’t know. What do you propose we use instead? There are times when I use other symbols instead. I’ve labeled angles as * or :) , just to show them that the Greek letters aren’t “magic”. Then we go back to using the standard notation.

]]> By: zac http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048/comment-page-1#comment-21330 zac Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:57:19 +0000 http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048#comment-21330 Hi JackieB. Should we continue to use so much Greek in mathematics? I tend to avoid the least common Greek letters unless it breaks with strong conventions. But I think it is reasonable for students to learn "alpha", already! Hi JackieB.

Should we continue to use so much Greek in mathematics?

I tend to avoid the least common Greek letters unless it breaks with strong conventions.

But I think it is reasonable for students to learn “alpha”, already!

]]> By: JackieB http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048/comment-page-1#comment-21298 JackieB Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:58:07 +0000 http://www.squarecirclez.com/blog/math-its-all-greek-to-me/1048#comment-21298 Oh those darn Greek letters, I don't understand why they cause the students to freeze. My seniors have now got <i>me</i> saying fish when I see α. I've mostly given up. It's just a name. Oh those darn Greek letters, I don’t understand why they cause the students to freeze. My seniors have now got me saying fish when I see α. I’ve mostly given up. It’s just a name.

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