[Edu-sig] false alarms?

[kirby urner]

Apropos of earlier discussions that
​assignment in ​
Python is about giving names to objects,
​and ​
not putting those objects in boxes, here's a blog post raising the alarm
that Python (among others) is "completely incompatible with mathematics".

https://blogs.ams.org/matheducation/2017/01/09/integrating-computer-science-in-math-the-potential-is-great-but-so-are-the-risks/

Excerpt:

===

Making matters worse, programming languages like Java, JavaScript, Python,
Scratch and Alice all rely on the concept of assignment. Assignment means
that a value is “stored in a box”, and that the value in that box can be
changed. Here’s a simple JavaScript program that demonstrates this:

x = 10

x = x + 2

The first line of code assigns the value 10 into a box named “x”. The
second line reads the value back out, adds 2, and assigns the new value
back into x. When the program finishes, x contains the value 12.
Unfortunately, the semantics and syntax are completely incompatible with
mathematics! In math, names are given to values, not boxes.

===

Following Kenneth Iverson, I think pre-computer math notations (MN) could
benefit a lot from an infusion of ideas from these newer executable
languages.

He turns around the criticism of x = x + 2 by pointing out the ambiguity on
in conventional math notation (MN):

===
MN uses the symbol = for a relation, but also uses it for assignment, as in
the expression (Let) x=3. Again, to denote these two distinct notions
without ambiguity, programming languages use distinct notation (that
usually includes the symbol =), as in := (in ALGOL), and =: (in J).
===

http://www.jsoftware.com/papers/camn.htm

Drawing a line in the sand and saying "on this side is programming" whereas
"on this other side is math notation", seems more a bureaucratic maneuver
than anything.

There's a protection racket going on where self-appointed authorities are
planning to warn us against "doing it wrong" i.e. not their way.  Many
bogus certifications will follow.  Not that we shouldn't have standards.
The question is who's.

math = math + cs

Kirby
​
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