About Books: Conjuring and other magicks

[Foxtower]

What, you ask, has a math book got to do with crafts? I asked a similar question at the start of my first and last High School math class. I asked the teacher, “What is this “New Math” good for? (Note: in the sixties algebra was introduced in schools as “New Math”.) How does it help with counting cows?” Instead of answering the question he called me a “stupid farmer”. Needless to say no student ever dared ask another question in his class.

I got even! I convinced my buddy the AV nerd to use his key to the AV room so we could mimeograph a stupid looking cartoon poster of that math teacher with suitable adolescent commentary. The math teacher caught us by following our trail after we had spread almost all one hundred copies around the school. He was beet red! The assistant principal laughed when he handed us our detention.

I knew I'd been cheated in High School, especially since in the service I found I liked to read about Science but couldn't understand the math. When I got to College I found a teacher who introduced me to the magick of math. A magick that makes everything so much easier and better in the real world!

While I learned how wonderful and useful math is I couldn't learn the language. I made it to incredibly fascinating math classes before I had to admit I was no good at understanding all the assorted squiggles. I had to drop math to preserve my GPA, but you don't need squiggles to do the magick!

I use simple conjuring often, using algebra to figure out the most efficient use of materials from birdhouses to cabinets. On a dairy farm one might use math to figure out a cost effective way to produce the most milk. Whether we know it or not math is a big part of many craft skills, such as figuring the best orientation to turn a chunk of wood into a bowl, or making sure chisels and drills are sharpened at the best angle. I can use sine waves to define parameters and conjure the height of structures in moments, as well as calculating the “moment” of force to make sure a weld is strong enough. I have solved complicated real world production problems just by using the magick of graphical analysis, using notes pinned up on a wall. I couldn't write the problem down in squiggles, but I could use the magick!

The book is now yellowing, permanently marred from the chain that held it on the shelf when the library was in a truck, yet it's a permanent part of my library because this book opened a magick door.

[Jim]

So what is the name of the book? I've always liked math. I doubled most math & science classes in high school, but I didn't go beyond Calc 1 in college.

I find Euclidean geometry incredibly useful in woodworking & construction. I've always been impressed the way the old timers used it in designing things using geometric constructions, proportions, & such. I read through Ruler and Compass: Practical Geometric Constructions not long ago. Another good book is By Hand & Eye. Both are thin, but very dense.

[Foxtower]

Hey Jim! Did not the name show up... "elementary algebra"

I made it to multivariate calculus and linear algebra... fascinating but beyond me. Yes indeed, geometry is great!

[Jim]

Oh, I see the name does show, but it's at the very top of the page & not very noticeable. I usually look for book titles in the first message or the title of the topic. When it is just put in the "about" area of the topic, it's a lot smaller & lighter colored.