tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685421402252076967.post984638539727222237..comments2023-08-18T10:38:57.504-04:00Comments on Pencils Down: When Two Conventions CollideMr. Lucchesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11489214765844797652noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685421402252076967.post-31850291368660174282007-06-07T00:09:00.000-04:002007-06-07T00:09:00.000-04:00Just for fun, I'm going to mix apples and oranges ...Just for fun, I'm going to mix apples and oranges here (computer science and mathematics). In most programming languages, you can specify the explicit role of an argument to a function. E.g. Input, Output, or Both.<BR/><BR/>Here's an example using interface definition language:<BR/><BR/>void MyFunction([in] Argument1, [out] Argument2);<BR/><BR/>We know distinctly that Argument1 is going to be used for input, and Argument2 is going to be used for output.<BR/><BR/>Just another reason I can get my mind in tune with programming so much more easily than math. Verboseness helps understanding. I wish more mathematics textbooks would adopt that philosophy when it comes to notation.<BR/><BR/>Tony, do you know if there's a grand encyclopedia of mathematical symbols and notation? If there is, wouldn't it make sense for a Math teacher to make his students study the explanation of symbols and notation *before* teaching new concepts that use said symbols?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com