November 10th, 2007 : The Math-Coaster
Math is like a roller coaster. It has high points and it has low points. Somedays everything works out tremendously nice and it’s the best thrill ever. Other days it’s a terrifying plunge in the dark that makes the stomach churn and the mind think, “Why on earth am I doing this? I’ll never do this again.”
I’ve had a bit of both today. It’s been up and down. It took me forever to get started, but when I did get going I got a few problems done, which I think is pretty good. Then I finished an assignment, and the downtime between assignments the feeling of finishing the work, and then trying to get started on the next assignment is the killer. It feels like I’m not getting anywhere. And it was during that break that I checked my email and found my math take home test sitting in my inbox, gleefully announcing that I had 7 days to finish it.
Unfortunately, the test is highly based on the 3 math assignments I have not yet completed, so the question is, which comes first the chicken or the egg? Do I do the assignments or the test?
I did, however, get an amazing kick out of a short little conversation I had today, it went something like this:
Guy: “Hey! What are you working on?”
Me: “Math.”
Guy: “Oh, what math?”
Me: “Real Analysis.”
Guy: “…oh… …what major are you?”
Me: “Communications.”
Guy: “… oh… … …”
Man, I just love that response from people. The class is almost worth it just for that.
Anyway, back to math…