MVT, EVT, IVT

Actually, events aren't that bad; it's just my reaction to the University of Waterloo Math Programme. (Yes, I can hear the cries now- Oh now, it's a MATH person! Head for the hills! Hide your daughters!)

This article about the Waterloo Math Faculty (and university in general) has been a long time coming. I've just been divergent lately, unable to focus on the well-defined limits of what I have to do in order to get this article out. (And those of you with a math background will be able to tell that I do have a domain in the math side of things.)

What I have been doing is math. And lot's of it. For example, consider the sequence of letters presented above- does anybody know what they represent? They're related to Calculus, trivially, but they are critical to the understanding of what makes Calculus so useful.

And before you ask, no, they're not some esoteric idea that only university students encounter; you learned them in Grade 13 Calculus, and it's probable that you had an intuitive feel for them before you left Grade 10.

But, let's get real here. What does babbling about three theorems have to do with University? Everything. On a fundamental level, these three theorems define University. And it's not the theorems themselves, it's the way they're taught. Where Teaching Assistants are not Teaching Assitants, where Professors are not teachers; it seems that, as life goes on, teaching and University are mutually exclusive.

I supose I shouldn't become too negative- there are people here who can teach, and who I've learned a great deal from. But there are people who's idea of teaching is to recite the textbook, and there are TA's whose idea of helping out people is just marking a giant big red X beside the question. You would expect that they would have the common decency to at least circle your mistake. In these cases, the TA's are not TA's; they are simply markers. And if that is they're only purpose, then have the name changed, so I know not to expect too much help from them.

In fact, that seems to be the entire purpose of first year- abandon people to the wolves, and see who adjusts and who doesn't. Probably the only way to figure out who can hack it, and who can't; but it doesn't mean I have to like it. And as time goes on, I start to find that the people at University who do extremely well have no patience, no time for those who don't. University has built up a natural arrogance among those who succeed; and with some people, it's far worse than anything you have encountered at the high school level. To these people, the idea of taking notes in class is a sign of stupidity. Considering I take notes in every class, I'm not looked upon as a nice guy. (;-)

There are exceptions though; and it is these exceptions that make University worth while. It is because of these exceptions that I feel I have a fighting chance to get through this. It goes to show that, under pressure, some people don't feel the pressure and don't grow up, some people turn to stone and crumble, and some turn into diamonds. Myself, I consider just to be a very hard chunk of carbon steel. But I see all the diamonds. And the dust.

University is a growing up experience, no doubt. And it can be a grand time, a fun time.

But, remember TANSTAAFL.

There aint no such thing as a free lunch.

(MVT- Mean Value Theorem, IVT- Intermediate Value Theorem, EVT- Extreme Value Theorem)