[Blindmath] Homework for College Class

Wed Jan 25 16:13:39 UTC 2012

Not being blind, I don't bring any credibility to this discussion. However,
I will point out that if you enter the following expression into the Google
search box

(1/(2/3)^2

Google will send back the following, which can be very handy.

*1 / ((2 / 3)^2) = 2.25*
*Of course, as computer programmers know, it would be best to write the
expression as follows in the first place to avoid ambiguity:*
*
*
(1/((2/3)^2)

*It is truly amazing what the Google search box can do in terms of
evaluating mathematical expressions if you format them properly. It is a
serious scientific and engineering calculator. The biggest weakness is
little or no documentation.*
*
*
*Give it a try.*
*
*
*Dick Baldwin*
On Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 5:25 AM, Ben Humphreys <brh at opticinspiration.org>wrote:

> Amanda,
>
> I've been loath to use parenthesis because of the comprehension complexity
> when more than a few end up in a single equation.
>
> Towards the end of my last math class though, brackets [] were
> "reintroduced" to me  to differentiate between parenthesis for simplicity.
>
> You could even use {} as well.
>
> In other words,
>
> [1/(2/3)[^2
>
> is easier to understand than
>
> (1/(2/3)^2
>
>
> Ben
>
> At 10:06 AM 1/24/2012, you wrote:
>
>> Ben,
>>
>> Do sighted professors understand 1 // 2/3 without explanation? I use
>> 1/(2/3) to make sure anyone can know what I meant.
>>
>> Amanda
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ben Humphreys" <
>> brh at opticinspiration.org>
>> To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics" <
>> blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 7:59 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Homework for College Class
>>
>>
>>  While I certainly can't quarrel with the presentation of Latex, I did
>>> just finish Calculus 1 and I can vouch that there is plenty to learn and
>>> challenges to overcome without the added complexity and difficulty of
>>> reading Latex compared to a shorthand, which I've discussed before.
>>>
>>> For example, consider a fraction divided by another fraction such as 1
>>> divided by 2/3
>>>
>>> In Latex, we have:
>>>
>>> \frac{ 1 }{ \frac{ 2}{3} }
>>>
>>> Now, consider the shorthand that I used in my own homework
>>>
>>> 1 // 2/3
>>>
>>> So the double slash is the "big" division line" if you will.
>>>
>>> Now, I'm aware of all the shortcomings of non-standards based solutions,
>>> but as a practical matter, you're working hundreds of prolems, some of them
>>> difficult enough in math, without the added complexity, syntax, and
>>> additional brainpower to translate Latek back into what your classmates are
>>> seeing natively.
>>>
>>> Admittedly, I'm dealing with blindness as an adult without the benefit
>>> of mastery of braille or Nemeth at a young age, so I rely on a screen
>>> reader and others mileage may very.
>>>
>>> Ben
>>>
>>> At 03:55 AM 1/24/2012, you wrote:
>>>
>>>> Lanie,
>>>> LateX is the standard for producing mathematical documents on many
>>>> universities. I highly recommend you learn it. Unlike some self invented
>>>> shorthand lateX allows you to express any mathematical expression
>>>> unambiguously. LateX will also benefit you when you are writing a thesis
>>>> because you'll be able to get a perfect layout just by coding correctly
>>>> rather than having to check it on the screen.
>>>>
>>>> You can write lateX in any text editor, and you can convert it into PDF
>>>> using the pdflatex command line program which comes with mictex.
>>>> I hear TeXnic center is accessible and could make your job easier.
>>>> There are many lateX tutorials which can get you started.
>>>> Tim
>>>> On 1/24/2012 5:51 AM, Lanie wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I only tried ones specificly for math such as LaTeX and Scientific
>>>>> Notebook, but that's a good idea to use shorthand in a regular
>>>>> workprocessor.
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: Alex Hall <mehgcap at gmail.com
>>>>> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics <
>>>>> blindmath at nfbnet.org
>>>>> Date sent: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:45:09 -0500
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Homework for College Class
>>>>>
>>>>> What programs have you tried for wordprocessing? I can't think of any
>>>>> that nvda won't work with.  Even Notepad should do the trick, even if you
>>>>> have to use a shorthand for some symbols, such as sr(x) for square root of
>>>>> x.
>>>>>
>>>>> Have a great day,
>>>>> Alex (msg sent from my iPod)
>>>>> mehgcap at gmail.com; //facebook.com/mehgcap
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jan 23, 2012, at 23:25, Lanie <readtobuild at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi, all.  I was wondering if anyone can help with this.  I'm taking a
>>>>> calculus class in college, where I've just done "so homework and now have
>>>>> it in Braille.  I'm not beure how to transcribe it into a format my
>>>>> professor can read though.  Does anyone have any suggestions.  So far, I
>>>>> thought of using a computer program where I could type it out and email it
>>>>> to him, but I haven't found one that's accessible with NVDA, the screen
>>>>> reader I use.  My second option would be reading it all out loud on to a
>>>>> digital recorder and emailing it to him, but that's just really tedious.
>>>>>  Also, I've thought about getting a reader and scribe, but that will make
>>>>> me tied down to someone, and with my schedule, that won't really work.  I
>>>>> would really appreciate any help ASAP.  Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>>> Blindmath mailing list
>>>>> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org>
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> Blindmath:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/**mehgcap%40<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/mehgcap%40>
>>>>> gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>>> Blindmath mailing list
>>>>> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org>
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> Blindmath:
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/**readtobuil<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/readtobuil>
>>>>> d%40gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>>> Blindmath mailing list
>>>>> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org>
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> Blindmath:
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/**
>>>>> tim%40dvlop.nl<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/tim%40dvlop.nl>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>> Blindmath mailing list
>>>> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org>
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> Blindmath:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/**
>>>> brh%40opticinspiration.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/brh%40opticinspiration.org>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>> Blindmath mailing list
>>> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org>
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Blindmath:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/**
>>> lacy925%40gmail.com<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/lacy925%40gmail.com>
>>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________**_________________
>> Blindmath mailing list
>> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org>
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Blindmath:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/**
>> brh%40opticinspiration.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/brh%40opticinspiration.org>
>>
>
>
> ______________________________**_________________
> Blindmath mailing list
> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org>
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Blindmath:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/**options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/**
> baldwin%40dickbaldwin.com<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/baldwin%40dickbaldwin.com>
>

-- 
Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials
http://www.DickBaldwin.com

Professor of Computer Information Technology
Austin Community College
(512) 223-4758
mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/