Reading Lean Math

Symbols and notation

Honestly, the last bit of formal and substantive math that I worked with was back in college. Many, many years ago, I received a B.S. in mathematics, but other than the diploma, there is little physical—or intellectual!—evidence that would support this reality.

My former classmates might say the same was true way back when. My kids? Well, they used to hesitate before asking me to help them with their math homework. Which is exactly why I associate with really smart folks like my Lean Math blog co-founders Larry Loucka and Michael O’Connor (“Dr. Mike,” as he is called, has a Ph.D. in physics).

In any event, it’s tough to write about math without using mathematical symbols and notation. I know, you’re probably on the edge of your seat right about now. This is going to get really, really exciting, right?

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Comments

Thank you for the chart

Hello Mark:

Thank you for the chart.

Please will you expalin the following?

└ 2.7 + 0.5 ┘ = 3

└ 2.2 + 0.5 ┘ = 2

I don't understand why 2.2 + 0.5 rounds down to 2.

Also, the example equation with the brackets doesn't seem to be impact by the answer. The equation with or without the brackets equals 35. Do you have any other examles to describe the difference between paranthesis and brackets?

Thank you, Dirk

Maths: a Lobby

Why is that, that Maths are so a heavy dish to digest for the majority of people? Isn't it because Maths pros' are afraid to exit their ivory tower, walk to the ground floor and meet laymen? I've always been good at Maths, thank to my teachers - who, may be not random case, came from Sicily, that is, a Greek colony. They were "teachers", before being "maths". Thank you.

Heavy Dish

Umberto, Excellent questions and insight. I think that the ivory tower is the residency of the the theoretical and the "ground floor" that of applied, real world math. I would much rather live, and teach, on that ground floor. Perhaps that's because I have some Sicilian heritage!? We must always remember, lean leaders are teachers first. Best regards, Mark Hamel

Chart

Hi Dirk, Thanks for the questions. The floor brackets |_ _|, round DOWN to the nearest integer. The +0.5 with the floor brackets is just a trick so that a formula (I know that I've used it somewhere within the draft of the forthcoming book) does not have to be conditional as to whether one should use the floor or ceiling brackets. In other words, the +0.5 with the floor brackets can cover both situations - otherwise, we would have to say use floor brackets when the value is between 2.0 and 2.49999, but use ceiling brackets if between 2.5 and 2.99999. I hope that makes sense. Best regards, Mark Hamel