since it's a History of Math course, I'm learning something for the first time every single homework (that is to say, they're not building on each other)

On the silver-lining side, if there's a topic that's really difficult and resistive to understanding attempts, it's only there for the one assignment, right?

Maybe another failed attempt to see Harry Potter will put things right

Well, in all seriousness, sometimes just not-thinking about something for a while (and, I guess, letting the brain do its secret magic of sorting things out inside itself) may help looking at things with fresh eyes and improve their understanding.

sarameg. 4:30? 5:20? What was the time?

Is it OK to ask what about?

Sure. The book is about lessons learned while working the cash register at several different stores from the time I was 15 to 24.

This story is about sexual harassment from the time I was 12 and shared a paper route with my best friend, until I was 18, when I figured out that perverts can also be gentlemen.

This story is about sexual harassment from the time I was 12 and shared a paper route with my best friend, until I was 18, when I figured out that perverts can also be gentlemen.

And it totally does *not* suck. And I know, because I just read it.

Hi, Nilly!

On the silver-lining side, if there's a topic that's really difficult and resistive to understanding attempts, it's only there for the one assignment, right?

Yes! Unfortunately, I had this problem last homework too. Couldn't figure out how to prove that the coefficients of the infinite series produced by squaring the infinite series equivalent to (1-x^2)^(1/2) past x^2 all ended up as 0. Could see the pattern, but didn't know how to prove it. I mean, they have to, because ((1-x^2)^(1/2))^2 is just 1-x^2, even I can see that! But couldn't prove it. Alas!

Well, in all seriousness, sometimes just not-thinking about something for a while (and, I guess, letting the brain do its secret magic of sorting things out inside itself) may help looking at things with fresh eyes and improve their understanding.

Totally true again. Mind you, I should not-think about it by doing my abstract algebra test prep. Or my math thinking skills presentation prep (which is going to be so cool, as we're going to talk about geometric proofs of algebraic facts, like this proof, which I did with a pair of scissors and some pieces of paper and it works! And is fun! Oh good lord, I'm still in parentheses, aren't I?).

Sure. The book is about lessons learned while working the cash register at several different stores from the time I was 15 to 24.

It sounds interesting, in the sense of it being from the point-of-view that's usually overlooked, even though it's quite common and gets to see so much. I already want to read it.

And I know, because I just read it.

Jealous of Amy.

But not enough to not wave back at her and ask her how she's doing, because it's nice to post with her.

But couldn't prove it.

You should have been a physicist, then. We hardly ever prove anything in more than "I can see this".

which I did with a pair of scissors and some pieces of paper and it works!

I'm going to show this to my math-teacher roommate, for a fun activity for her students. Thanks, Emily!

Oh good lord, I'm still in parentheses, aren't I?

But you managed to break free!

[Edit: 5+6=7+4 and also consecutive digits, all running together to look at Amily's fun math.]

IMNotMathyHO.

Took me a minute on this one. If it was anyone other than Nilly, I would've assumed the poster was saying, "I'm not mathy, ho."

But not enough to not wave back at her and ask her how she's doing, because it's nice to post with her.

I'm good! Aside from the major plumbing problem in the house at the moment, which my husband is dealing with. Nice to see you!

Nilly, are the letters for M.Sh.L. (lemme look this up) mem shin lamed?