Math in Japanese

[DrPizza]

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?


_____________________

Update: it was a very simple misunderstanding.

 

[Paul98]

I am not, but I would suggest maybe have him write out an equation or two that you describe to him. So you can see what it would look like if he wrote it out, and what is different from what you wrote.

 

[Printer Bandit]

I thought math is supposed to be the universal language?

Or maybe he's just dumb. There are many dumb people out there.

 

[epidemis]

That's love, baby

 

[DrPizza]

I am not, but I would suggest maybe have him write out an equation or two that you describe to him. So you can see what it would look like if he wrote it out, and what is different from what you wrote.

Brilliant! I'll give this a shot in the morning.

 

[EliteRetard]

 

[Puppies04]

Brilliant.

 

[GundamW]

See if he understands it like this:

 1
--- = 12    or    1 ÷ f = 12
 f

I thought math is supposed to be the universal language?

Or maybe he's just dumb. There are many dumb people out there.

Or it could be just ^ this.

 

[Ms. DICKINSON]

Draw a pokeball in place of ƒ

 

[her209]

Draw a Godzillla!

 

[Svnla]

DrP, I think he did not understand what you were asking him in English. You said he can speak fairly well but what about reading and comprehension in English? A lot of people can speak well but not great when they have to read and try to understand.


Math is very much universal. Maybe ask him to use Google translate? Not great but a good start.

Or maybe he was just playing dumb because he stayed up too late to watch tentalce/hentai porn?

 

[Rakehellion]

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?

Math is math. They just explain it differently. Show him how they do it in the States and ask him to show how they do it in Nippon. Bam, you'll both have learned something new.

 

[Rakehellion]

DrP, I think he did not understand what you were asking him in English. You said he can speak fairly well but what about reading and comprehension in English? A lot of people can speak well but not great when they have to read and try to understand.

Well, math is composed of symbols, not grammar, so I don't think it's a reading thing.

Or maybe he was just playing dumb because he stayed up too late to watch tentalce/hentai porn?

Das racist.

 

[Rakehellion]

I got in trouble in school because I didn't write out my long division, I just did it in my head. That was the case with a lot of my classes.

 

[Anubis]

please update this thread tomorrow. im curious as to the reason

 

[blackdogdeek]

Maybe he just doesn't understand what you mean by "Solve for f". He might have better luck if you wrote the question:

1/f = 12 => f = ?

 

[blackdogdeek]

This post was formerly a double post

 

[Murloc]

I'd talk to the kid, ask him to write out some common formula, see if it's so different.

1/f = 12 is pretty universal I don't know how you can not understand that, unless they don't use backslashes in japanese.

 

[Murloc]

I'd talk to the kid, ask him to write out some common formula, see if it's so different.

1/f = 12 is pretty universal I don't know how you can not understand that, unless they don't use backslashes in japanese.

EDIT: found this page:
http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/maths.html
maybe he just doesn't understand the symbols.

 

[DrPizza]

I'd talk to the kid, ask him to write out some common formula, see if it's so different.

1/f = 12 is pretty universal I don't know how you can not understand that, unless they don't use backslashes in japanese.

EDIT: found this page:
http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/maths.html
maybe he just doesn't understand the symbols.

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Aikouka]

Interesting how that link writes out 5Y and 14X early on, but then says "yon x" instead of "4X" ("yon" being four).

 

[EliteRetard]

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

 

[disappoint]

f=1/x
x=0
f=?

A)BSOD
B)Leibnitz
C)Newton
D)IDONTCARE
E)All of the above
F)All of the above and all of the below
G)None of the above
H)Some of the above
I)YEAH! MAGNETS BITCH! + BSOD
J)∞
K) Who kicked the 8 over?

 

[brianmanahan]

f=1/x
x=0
f=?

f = undef

 

[lxskllr]

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

Pick a font that supports the characters.