plus 1: math = math + cs On Sat, Jul 7, 2018, 12:00 PM <edu-sig-requ...@python.org> wrote:
> Send Edu-sig mailing list submissions to > edu-sig@python.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > edu-sig-requ...@python.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > edu-sig-ow...@python.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Edu-sig digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. false alarms? (kirby urner) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2018 10:57:05 -0700 > From: kirby urner <kirby.ur...@gmail.com> > To: "edu-sig@python.org" <edu-sig@python.org> > Subject: [Edu-sig] false alarms? > Message-ID: > < > capjgg3t3mfbl5aabohzgm9p5fa49h72+vh+froko5z3mqcp...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Apropos of earlier discussions that > ?assignment in ? > Python is about giving names to objects, > ?and ? > not putting those objects in boxes, here's a blog post raising the alarm > that Python (among others) is "completely incompatible with mathematics". > > > https://blogs.ams.org/matheducation/2017/01/09/integrating-computer-science-in-math-the-potential-is-great-but-so-are-the-risks/ > > Excerpt: > > === > > Making matters worse, programming languages like Java, JavaScript, Python, > Scratch and Alice all rely on the concept of assignment. Assignment means > that a value is ?stored in a box?, and that the value in that box can be > changed. Here?s a simple JavaScript program that demonstrates this: > > x = 10 > > x = x + 2 > > The first line of code assigns the value 10 into a box named ?x?. The > second line reads the value back out, adds 2, and assigns the new value > back into x. When the program finishes, x contains the value 12. > Unfortunately, the semantics and syntax are completely incompatible with > mathematics! In math, names are given to values, not boxes. > > === > > Following Kenneth Iverson, I think pre-computer math notations (MN) could > benefit a lot from an infusion of ideas from these newer executable > languages. > > He turns around the criticism of x = x + 2 by pointing out the ambiguity on > in conventional math notation (MN): > > === > MN uses the symbol = for a relation, but also uses it for assignment, as in > the expression (Let) x=3. Again, to denote these two distinct notions > without ambiguity, programming languages use distinct notation (that > usually includes the symbol =), as in := (in ALGOL), and =: (in J). > === > > http://www.jsoftware.com/papers/camn.htm > > Drawing a line in the sand and saying "on this side is programming" whereas > "on this other side is math notation", seems more a bureaucratic maneuver > than anything. > > There's a protection racket going on where self-appointed authorities are > planning to warn us against "doing it wrong" i.e. not their way. Many > bogus certifications will follow. Not that we shouldn't have standards. > The question is who's. > > math = math + cs > > Kirby > ? > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > http://mail.python.org/pipermail/edu-sig/attachments/20180706/83e4e756/attachment-0001.html > > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > Edu-sig mailing list > Edu-sig@python.org > https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Edu-sig Digest, Vol 179, Issue 9 > *************************************** >
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