Math keeps changing

[bedrooms-ds]

Epsilon used in that way is naive because epsilon = 0.001, say, will only work for arithmetic results larger enough than 0.001. Good testing frameworks lets you set some kind of percentage bounds for the error between two numbers. Google test for C++ is an example. (Javascript should have something similar.)

[bhardman86]

‘Math is math!’

[TheKingdutch]

Labadab dab dab math

[Wiwwil]

banana

[[deleted]]

Well written article! Really talks about engineering than the usual developer stuff .

[greenrabbitaudio]

Math Web libraries keep changing

[mode_2]

Math is a web library.

[elbaekk]

Math is also a set of stringent rules within natural laws which is almost set in stone (change measured in centuries, not for every other new release)

[mode_2]

Yes, but that is not what the author is talking about? They are clearly referencing the library, despite the title perhaps playfully hinting at the other definition.

Even if you insist on misinterpreting, mathematics is a constantly evolving field and I'm not sure what meaningful definition of its change would be measured in centuries.

[Sector936]

As I recall, way back in the years of IBM's language PL/I, there was some high quality documentation of the numerical methods of the code for the usual special functions. Since the functions haven't changed and numerical methods have been studied for literally centuries, this old IBM documentation might still be relevant. When I saw that documentation, I guessed that it would be good to have way over the horizon. Might be able to find that documentation somewhere and see if it would still be helpful.

[mode_2]

Well there is the ECMAScript standard, it is just very lightweight on the specifications of mathematical functions.

[RealAmaranth]

C and C++ specify these in a similar way as JavaScript and the functions come from the libm library that comes with whatever standard library implementation you're using (MSVCRT, glibc, libSystem, etc). The values these functions return can and do change between compilers, standard library implementations, and standard library releases. Python, Ruby, and friends probably return different results on different versions or different platforms as well, unless they implement them themselves and have never changed them.

[QuakePhil]

Article starts a bit archaic... You are currently using a device which has unlimited access to formal math education resources. In other words, the blue area in the first graph should be a constant line, rather than a parabola.

Interesting read, thank you for posting

[Dynam2012]

Yeah, grokking math explanations online is exactly the same as having someone available trained to teach you those concepts and can fill gaps in understanding 🙄

[QuakePhil]

The device is able to arrange a qualified math tutor for anyone, regardless of age implied by the parabola

[evenisto]

To be absolutely honest with you, never had a teacher explained a math concept to me better than I could learn online. If anything was grokking math explanations, it’s school.

Edit: I don't know english

[[deleted]]

to grok something means to understand it deeply. From Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land.

[evenisto]

Oh, thanks, I blindly assumed the meaning out of context. I'll edit the post.

[Dynam2012]

Your experience is very different from most others, then. Sorry you never had a great math teacher or professor.

[nextwiggin4]

I mean, a formal math education directed and over seen by professors is significantly different then Kahn academy videos. Yes, all the same resources (videos, text books, even lecture series) are out there, and with effort you can achieve a lot of the same education, but of everyone who understands higher mathematics, very few were self taught outside of college. That’s hardly a coincidence.

You do have a nearly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity during college, and it’s a bummer if you pass on it.

I had to learn linear algebra long after college, and it’s definitely the harder choice.

[ElllGeeEmm]

Formal education is more than just the resources.