[sdiy] SDIY MATH GOALS--need real help!

[David G. Dixon]

For me, knowing math isn't the problem.  It's knowing how to apply the math
usefully and creatively to problems of interest in electronics.  For
example, I understand the math behind Ian's tempco scheme.  However, I
probably never would have arrived at the same thing myself, partly because I
don't fully understand the ramifications of having less-than-perfectly
temperature-compensated VCOs, partly because I'm not terribly motivated to
look in that direction by my very nature (I tend to be the master of the
"quick and dirty"), and partly because (IMHO) the ability to use math in a
sophisticated and subtle way in these sorts of problems has much more to do
with ones understanding of and experience with electronics than math.

My advice to Dan and others would be not to set out to "learn math", but
only electronics.  When something mathematical arises that you don't
understand, then learn the specific bit of math required to get over the
hump -- read a wiki, ask a friend, crack a textbook, whatever -- but always
only in the service of electronics.  This way, the math will slip in by
osmosis.  This is basically the only way we engineers ever really learn math
anyway!  Also, perhaps most importantly, stop being afraid to apply what
math you do know (and we all know some!) to whatever you are working on
right now.

In my experience, when people say the are "bad at math" what they really
mean is that they are "afraid to fail at math" or "hesitant to confront the
inevitable feelings of low self-esteem that accompany struggling with
something you feel you should know already".  But these feelings are not
valid.  Just start eating the elephant (one bite at a time, of course)!

David G. Dixon
Professor
Department of Materials Engineering
University of British Columbia
309-6350 Stores Road
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4
Canada
 
Tel 1-604-822-3679
Fax 1-604-822-3619
 
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl [mailto:synth-diy-
> bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of Roy J. Tellason
> Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 2:59 PM
> To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Subject: Re: [sdiy] SDIY MATH GOALS--need real help!
> 
> On Friday 27 February 2009 03:18:01 pm cheater cheater wrote:
> > Dan,
> > get all the used books you can get your hands on.
> > People throw away old books because they're 'outdated' all the time.
> > Hint: the mathematics you need haven't changed in the last 50 years,
> > and books that are 100 years old are still up to date (but not as
> > complete)
> 
> That's what I do here.  :-)
> 
> Of course,  that means that I have a to-read pile next to the bed that
> continuously threatens to fall on me...
> 
> 
> --
> Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
> ablest -- form of life in this section of space,  a critter that can
> be killed but can't be tamed.  --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
> -
> Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --
> James
> M Dakin
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