[sdiy] Wave terrain synthesis (was Re: Generatingacyclicwaveforms?)

[cheater cheater]

On Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 23:14, David G. Dixon <dixon at interchange.ubc.ca> wrote:
>> To understand the definition of voltage you brought up in that link
>> you need to understand the word 'average'. To understand this you need
>> to understand statistics, and in turn integrals, and in turn calculus,
>> and in turn linear algebra. If you don't, then your knowledge of
>> 'volts' as you like to call the concept is shallow, and you benefit as
>> much from it as a cow chewing on grass benefits from botanics. That's
>> why I thought mathematics is likely to be known here, because it's a
>> basic ground for most of the knowledge being thrown about on this
>> list; that, and most EEs are forced through a year of calculus before
>> they're allowed anywhere near to an electronics book. For good reason,
>> it's very useful and gives you completely new ways to look at your
>> work.
>
> This paragraph is complete bollocks.  But don't listen to me; I think this
> quote from Horowitz and Hill, "The Art of Electronics", 1st edn., Preface,
> page xviii, sums it up pretty well:
>
> "The use of largely nonmathematical circuit design techniques does not
> result in circuits that cut corners or compromise performance or
> reliability.  On the contrary, such techniques enhance one's understanding
> of the real choices and compromises faced in engineering a circuit, and
> represent the best approach to good circuit design."
>

In this case you just don't need to understand Walker's definition of
voltage, which is fine, but it doesn't mean that you don't need
mathematics to understand that definition of voltage.

>> It's standard TeX notation for multiple subscripts and means "C with
>> subscript 1,x" which in turn signifies the x coordinate of the vector
>> "C with subscript 1". TeX and LaTeX notation for mathematics are
>> always used in ascii-based communication. You should know at least a
>> minimum about mathematical notation in technical papers, having
>> published those umpteens of scientific papers that you so like to
>> mention. If you did not understand mathematical notation, which mind
>> you DOES change from university to university, it's enough to ask,
>> instead of assuming the other end of the conversation is an idiot. But
>> I see for the last several days you have had a bad mood and post to
>> stir things up and generally put people down, I suggest chilling out a
>> little Ian.
>
> That does tends to happen when one begins to sense that a topic has devolved
> into just another excuse for someone to show off how brilliant they are.

How on earth knowing what a vector and curve are would make someone
brilliant I will never know. On the other hand, if you got this
impression, I did not say people who don't know them are somehow dull.

There are people making brilliant posts on this list, but I definitely
don't count myself into that list, LOL!

D.