had to solve a system of linear equations for work today. can't believe the linear algebra class I took is finally coming in handy1
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okay actually all I really used from that class was the search term "system of equations" which got me to an online tool
I'm pretty sure this was the only college math class in which I got a 4.0 and it is also by far the college math class from which I retained the least information. I am still to this day annoyed that it was taught so abstractly when linear algebra is one of the most directly visibly applicable domains of mathematics
I still think, these days, most "solving" classes should be taught in a way that maximizes the number of "oh. this is a [linear algebra, trig, geometry, calculus, physics, etc] problem! I think it's called [thing]. I should look it up" intuition and not knowing how to solve it by hand over and over.
yes, being fast requires practice. But you know what saves more time and effort than sometimes being fast with some things, sometimes?
realizing something has already been solved an easy way and you just need to figure out how you need to modify and then plug things into the slots in the equation. For as many things as possible.
I'll always have access to references, even in the trades, even doing data entry.
knowing what to apply will eventually give me the practice I need
"design patterns" is a bad concept for computing (it maybe wasn't at the time, but, well, you know how the undergrad to blogger pipeline works) but I wish there were math books (these days) that just went "so here's a whirlwind tour of practical applications of parts of this discipline" for each discipline.
We were given the gift of writing so we can offload solved problems to text and use that time and effort instead to further advance the field. But that message hasn't gotten to those in charge yet, even as they lament the "stagnation of American innovation".
Whatever the hell that means.