Comments | forestdruid: "Math" or "Maths"? Anyone?

forestdruid

"Math" or "Maths"? Anyone?

Aug 20, 2008 22:19

Yeah, so I'm taking a math class at COD.

It's the first math class I have had in 16 years - which coincidentally is about the age of my fellow classmates.

I figure... eh... about three more classes until we have exhausted absolutely everything I remember from high school.

*reading text-book*

um, make it two.

Comments 10

white_rabbit_1 August 21 2008, 03:49:57 UTC

Why for you to take maths?

oh, how I was a fool! forestdruid August 21 2008, 13:55:41 UTC

Well, while I'm fine with the practical stuff I use each and every day, I need to take two calculus courses in order to move on for any sort of science-based masters. I foolishly placed out of all math classes in college due to my ACT score (non-science-major ability at Knox). I also never had pre-calc as I hated math in high school. So, anyway, after all these years of being somewhat embarrassed by these facts, I have finally decided to do something about it.

Re: oh, how I was a fool! white_rabbit_1 August 21 2008, 14:01:31 UTC

Awws...GOOD LUCK!!! I am also not fond of maths....but that is why i got my masters in Social Work. My embarrassment comes not in my loathing of math, but in the paychecks...

I wish you the best! I know I couldn't do it!!!!

Re: oh, how I was a fool! fuzzyscribble August 21 2008, 17:27:38 UTC

U.I.C. did not require calculus for its Geology program when I was there. FYI. They could have changed their requirements...

I can do odd complicated phase math when checking an Engineer's work for a publication, but I don't have my times tables memorized and can't do calculus to save my life.

I R Strange.

samcallahan August 21 2008, 04:30:57 UTC

Let me know if you need any help. I'm actually good at tutoring in math.

ditto purpurachicago August 21 2008, 05:39:30 UTC

i know a few things in math...too

crainefish August 21 2008, 11:56:46 UTC

Math. Unless you're in England. In which case, Maths. I don't know why they get more Math than we do.

maths versus math forestdruid August 21 2008, 14:06:37 UTC

Well, the root mathematics is plural... perhaps its a case of Americans being Americans =)

It may also have something to do with the fact that the 'th-s' sound is kinda hard to pronounce when the 'a' sound is short and nasal.

Anyway, so we agree that Britain is dumb, right? =P

Re: maths versus math judygs August 21 2008, 15:01:53 UTC

Nah, that's just the way they do it in British English. If the root is plural, then the shortened word is plural also. It actually makes more sense than the way we do it, but it is rather unfortunate in the case of mathematics. :)

They also put the punctuation outside of the quotation marks, as in I went to see "Ironman", a movie based on a comic book character. Makes tons more sense than the way we do it: "Ironman,"
So much so that I cheat when I write and use the British way.

Re: maths versus math crainefish August 22 2008, 01:31:48 UTC

"Anyway, so we agree that Britain is dumb, right? =P"

Hmm. Britain gave us Harry Potter, which automatically makes me feel obligated to defend them. And then there's the fact that we're still saddled with the British system of weights and measures, while they've moved on to the vastly more rational Metric. I say Britain: 1, US: 0 :-)