Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site duke.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!mcnc!duke!crm
From: crm@duke.UUCP (Charlie Martin)
Newsgroups: net.cse
Subject: Re: Math and CS
Message-ID: <6988@duke.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Mar-86 08:48:00 EST
Article-I.D.: duke.6988
Posted: Fri Mar  7 08:48:00 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Mar-86 23:49:49 EST
References: <256@hropus.UUCP> <6400005@ccvaxa> <77@umcp-cs.UUCP> <1413@garfield.columbia.edu>
Reply-To: crm@duke.UUCP (Charlie Martin)
Organization: Duke University
Lines: 18
Summary: 


As far as Computer Science people having more trouble with 
Math -- Knuth had a real interesting article on algorithmic
thinking vs. mathematical thingking (and if I were in my office
I could give a citation, but I'm not.)

The basic point of the article was that there are two styles of
thhought involved, and that being good at one *does not* imply
that one is good at the other.  As one who is good at algorithmic
thinking and had to struggle with math, I can certainly attest to it.

But this does suggest that the curricula for CS may be a little
misplaced: perhaps they are trying to teach horse cavalry drills
to helicopter cavalry?
-- 

			Charlie Martin
			(...mcnc!duke!crm)