Math in Japanese

[PlanetJosh]

I was half expecting to see symbols for numbers instead of the universal digits.

 

[disappoint]

f = undef

Actually as x approaches 0, f approaches ∞.

 

[unokitty]

Is anyone familiar with math in Japanese?

I have an exchange student in a couple of my classes. He came to me with a question today - couldn't do a single problem on a math worksheet I passed out for homework. The worksheet was review, to see if there were areas where any students needed help. He didn't understand a single thing on the worksheet.

For example, one of the problems was "solve for f. 1/f = 12"
There were a few trig problems, etc - the level of math necessary to be successful in physics. He recognized nothing, (but can speak English fairly well.)

So, are the symbols used, etc., drastically different for mathematics in Japanese? Anyone know of any translation types of resources for mathematics?

I would suspect a communications rather than a math issue.

When I lived in Japan (43 years ago), English was a required course in primary grades.

However, my observation was that many people couldn't comprehend spoken English. And, it wasn't unusual for someone to not understand but to attempt to act like they did. Particularly if they were dealing with an authority figure, like a teacher.

If you have the time, you might ask him to bring an old Math text that he used in Japan. If not, you might see if he could access something over the Internet.

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[Scarpozzi]

Ask him to come up with an equation that calculates when our shores are going to be covered in nuclear waste because of his country's lack of nuclear safety regulation.

 

[Raghu]

Actually as x approaches 0, f approaches ∞.

That is if x approaches 0+. If it approaches 0-, then its -∞.

 

[disappoint]

That is if x approaches 0+. If it approaches 0-, then its -∞.

True.

But what's the difference between ∞ and -∞?

I mean literally what is ∞-(-&#8734 or ∞+∞? Isn't it just ∞?

I'm just kidding. Sort of.

 

[JJChicken]

I'll ask my friend in a couple of days, she did a math degree and spent a year in Japan

 

[Fenixgoon]

Update?

 

[SagaLore]

Start off something really simple. Verbally ask him if he understand "one plus one equals two". If no, then try "one, add one, result is two". Just change how you are saying it until he gets it, and ask him to write it down the way he has learned it.

Then you might get a better perspective of how to approach this.

 

[SagaLore]

True.

But what's the difference between ∞ and -∞?

I mean literally what is ∞-(-&#8734 or ∞+∞? Isn't it just ∞?

I'm just kidding. Sort of.

Anti-infinity. Not negative, just completely opposite but the same. Like matter versus antimatter.

Maybe...

 

[DrPizza]

It turned into a big smile for both of us when we figured out the problem.

in 1/f = 12, he didn't know what f was. I wrote 1/x = 12, and we were fine. He's advanced enough to realize that in physics, the letters stand for specific things (like frequency in this case.) We're just making sure everyone can handle the arithmetic and algebra before we dive right in. A significant number had forgotten how to do trig (sinx=.423) (Gasp!) Others forgot to set their calculators from radians mode to degrees mode.

Thanks for the help, especially that page Murloc linked to. I can now say these problems in Japanese, which also draws a smile. Perhaps the smile is because my pronunciation is horrible & he doesn't want to correct me.

 

[Svnla]

It turned into a big smile for both of us when we figured out the problem.

in 1/f = 12, he didn't know what f was. I wrote 1/x = 12, and we were fine. He's advanced enough to realize that in physics, the letters stand for specific things (like frequency in this case.) We're just making sure everyone can handle the arithmetic and algebra before we dive right in. A significant number had forgotten how to do trig (sinx=.423) (Gasp!) Others forgot to set their calculators from radians mode to degrees mode.

Thanks for the help, especially that page Murloc linked to. I can now say these problems in Japanese, which also draws a smile. Perhaps the smile is because my pronunciation is horrible & he doesn't want to correct me.

Ahhh. "Lost In Translation" part deux.

 

[slag]

It turned into a big smile for both of us when we figured out the problem.

in 1/f = 12, he didn't know what f was. I wrote 1/x = 12, and we were fine. He's advanced enough to realize that in physics, the letters stand for specific things (like frequency in this case.) We're just making sure everyone can handle the arithmetic and algebra before we dive right in. A significant number had forgotten how to do trig (sinx=.423) (Gasp!) Others forgot to set their calculators from radians mode to degrees mode.

Thanks for the help, especially that page Murloc linked to. I can now say these problems in Japanese, which also draws a smile. Perhaps the smile is because my pronunciation is horrible & he doesn't want to correct me.

Just reading what you typed makes my head hurt. So glad I'm not in school anymore or have to use anything more than basic math. UGH

 

[darkewaffle]

Just reading what you typed makes my head hurt. So glad I'm not in school anymore or have to use anything more than basic math. UGH

Man if there's one thing that never clicked for me in school it was trig lol. I think every teacher I had for it assumed a different one taught it so they only ever touched on it, never actually taught it.

 

[EagleKeeper]

It turned into a big smile for both of us when we figured out the problem.

in 1/f = 12, he didn't know what f was. I wrote 1/x = 12, and we were fine. He's advanced enough to realize that in physics, the letters stand for specific things (like frequency in this case.) We're just making sure everyone can handle the arithmetic and algebra before we dive right in. A significant number had forgotten how to do trig (sinx=.423) (Gasp!) Others forgot to set their calculators from radians mode to degrees mode.

Thanks for the help, especially that page Murloc linked to. I can now say these problems in Japanese, which also draws a smile. Perhaps the smile is because my pronunciation is horrible & he doesn't want to correct me.

You have heard of exchange students;
Convince your school that there is now a need of exchange teachers.
Volunteer ()

 

[Howard]

It turned into a big smile for both of us when we figured out the problem.

in 1/f = 12, he didn't know what f was. I wrote 1/x = 12, and we were fine. He's advanced enough to realize that in physics, the letters stand for specific things (like frequency in this case.) We're just making sure everyone can handle the arithmetic and algebra before we dive right in. A significant number had forgotten how to do trig (sinx=.423) (Gasp!) Others forgot to set their calculators from radians mode to degrees mode.

Thanks for the help, especially that page Murloc linked to. I can now say these problems in Japanese, which also draws a smile. Perhaps the smile is because my pronunciation is horrible & he doesn't want to correct me.

But it shouldn't matter what f is. Multiply both sides by whatever. That type of abstract thinking is, without a doubt, required.

 

[EagleKeeper]

But it shouldn't matter what f is. Multiply both sides by whatever. That type of abstract thinking is, without a doubt, required.

f may not have been treated as a variable in the students mind.

Have to take into cultural differences at times

 

[dump]

But it shouldn't matter what f is. Multiply both sides by whatever. That type of abstract thinking is, without a doubt, required.

To a young Japanese mind, x, y, and f are all distinct symbols, not part of the same alphabet, and so not understood to be of the same usage. They don't start learning English until fifth grade.

 

[Svnla]

To a young Japanese mind, x, y, and f are all distinct symbols, not part of the same alphabet, and so not understood to be of the same usage. They don't start learning English until fifth grade.

I got myself a lurker. A little over 1 post per year?

 

[brianmanahan]

Actually as x approaches 0, f approaches ∞.

just because lim f(x) = ∞ as x->0 doesnt mean that f(x) = ∞

 

[PenguinPower]

But it shouldn't matter what f is. Multiply both sides by whatever. That type of abstract thinking is, without a doubt, required.

Actually, it does. I just asked my wife (Japanese, accountant, lived here for 13 years) the exact question posed in the OP and she had no idea. I then asked her the same question replacing f with x and she immediately knew. Her reason...she doesn't know what was meant by f, but she knew what was meant by x.

 

[bryanl]

I had a math teacher who went to college in Japan and took only math courses in his first year because he understood no Japanese at all.

 

[HeXen]

I don't understand why my computer can't display any symbols of any kind...I just get squares. Very annoying.

Font issue. You can download font packs but supposedly for performance reasons you don't want to install more fonts than you need.

 

[UncleWai]

Now ask him to bring over some tentacle orgy pron.

 

[MrDudeMan]

For future reference, this could have been avoided by simply walking through a problem.

10/f = 5
f = 2

f * 3 = 12
f = 4

Showing him the answer would have fixed this immediately.