So many math courses jump into limits, infinitesimals and Very Small Numbers ™ without any context. But why do we care?Math helps us model the world. We can break a complex idea (a wiggly curve) into simpler parts (rectangles):But, we want an...
Topics: Calculus, Math

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I’ve struggled with how to write about calculus. The standard techniques seem to be:The “bag of formulas”: memorize ‘em and move onThe anal-retentive, rigorous treatment: written by math robots, for math robots!The happy smiles...
Topics: Guides, Math

{"title":"A BetterExplained Guide To Calculus","post_url":"http:\/\/betterexplained.com\/articles\/a-betterexplained-guide-to-calculus\/","feed_url":"http:\/\/betterexplained.com\/feed\/","author":null,"date":"2009-11-08 21:37:30","summary":"I’ve struggled with how to write about calculus. The standard techniques seem to be:The “bag of formulas”: memorize ‘em and move onThe anal-retentive, rigorous treatment: written by math robots, for math robots!The happy smiles..."}

Puzzles can help develop your intuition -- figuring how to navigate a grid helped me understand combinations and permutations. Suppose you're on a 4 × 6 grid, and want to go from the bottom left to the top right. How many different paths can...
Topics: analogy, combination, example, Math, permutation

{"title":"Navigate a Grid Using Combinations And Permutations","post_url":"http:\/\/betterexplained.com\/articles\/navigate-a-grid-using-combinations-and-permutations\/","feed_url":"http:\/\/betterexplained.com\/feed\/","author":null,"date":"2009-10-20 10:25:20","summary":"Puzzles can help develop your intuition -- figuring how to navigate a grid helped me understand combinations and permutations. Suppose you're on a 4 "}

.styled td, .styled th{ text-align: center;}.feature{ text-align: left;}Math, BetterExplained captures key insights as a readable, printable ebook. It's not another math course -- experience the "aha!" moments that make ideas actually...
Topics: General

{"title":"Math, BetterExplained eBook Available!","post_url":"http:\/\/betterexplained.com\/articles\/math-betterexplained-ebook-available\/","feed_url":"http:\/\/betterexplained.com\/feed\/","author":null,"date":"2009-09-15 13:13:27","summary":".styled td, .styled th{ text-align: center;}.feature{ text-align: left;}Math, BetterExplained captures key insights as a readable, printable ebook. It's not another math course -- experience the \"aha!\" moments that make ideas actually..."}

I've created an ebook to capture key math insights in a readable, printable format. The goal isn't a math course; it's sharing the "aha!" moments that make ideas click for a lifetime.You could never forget what a circle is for,...
Topics: General

{"title":"BetterExplained Math ebook: Get the beta!","post_url":"http:\/\/betterexplained.com\/articles\/betterexplained-math-ebook-get-the-beta\/","feed_url":"http:\/\/betterexplained.com\/feed\/","author":null,"date":"2009-09-15 13:13:27","summary":"I've created an ebook to capture key math insights in a readable, printable format. The goal isn't a math course; it's sharing the \"aha!\" moments that make ideas click for a lifetime.You could never forget what a circle is for,..."}