h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have a question. What is it about trig that you dislike so much? We just did a unit on basic trig, (about as complicated as problems using basic trig identities) and I found it was pretty fun. And solving the identity problems seems to me a lot like balancing chemical equations, nice and neat and "pretty" (quote, randomness may be debated). So why don't you like it?
Jen

That would probably be because of the teacher. She's your typical dumb blonde, extremely ditzy and drives everyone insane. She chews gum like it's going to kill her if she doesn't kill it first--she teaches WAY too fast, it takes alot out of you to just keep up with her, she leaves you about 30 seconds of class time to work on your assignment for the day, and she doesn't ever stop and help explain stuff when someone has a question--I'm slow in math, I really am. I concider myself an intelligent person, but math isn't my strongpoint. I'd probably like it alot more if I were good at it/had a teacher who could help me out more. *shrug* It's just really frustrating for me. That's all

DZ

Oh. That explains things. Because it's really quite fun when you know what you're doing and it doesn't take all your concentration to figure it out. But then again, math is my strong point, and I have a really good teacher. Some of the people in the class didn't ever really get it, but I think that may have something to do with the fact that they never go home and memorize the things we're supposed to. (tan=sin/cos )
Jen

ooh I know some of that! erm...sine is opposite over hypotenuse, cosine is adjacent over hypotenuse, tangent is opposite over adjacent! WOO WOO! And their reciprocals being secant, cosecant, cotangent...etc, etc...*sigh* what a brainjob.

DZ

See! You're already halfway to happiness in understanding trig. (The other half means knowing the identities- sin^2+cos^2=1, et al)
Watch-tomorrow, when you have math, you will be a happier person for that bit of understanding.
Let's celebrate. Have some
Jen

Hold up--you're younger than me, right? And you get trig more than I do? That's depressing. I don't need I need a .

DZ

Let's leave age out of it and just say that math is my natural strong point. That's why I almost can't comprehend not liking trig.
One of my extra-curriculars is Math League, doing math homework gives me a natural high, and I'm taking the AIME next week.
Try a non-alcoholic PGGB.
Jen

Ok *sigh* I can deal with that...English is my strong point. That's why I can't comprehend anyone who uses blatant bad grammar--it DRIVES ME NUTS!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T STAND IT!!! AAAHHHHHHH!!!!! *bangs head against desk* ouch. um...yeah...That, and reading comprehension--I've always been pretty good at that. *shrug*

DZ

See, I can pull an A in math with little effort, but it takes a lot of work for me to get a B+ in English. I have a really good teacher this year, so I'm really enjoying the class, but that doesn't mean I'm good at it. I'm not bad at grammar, but I can't remember plots and symbolism for beans.
Jen

Aaaaaah...and that's my forte! Guess we're kinda opposites in the academic area, aren't we

DZ

yes, although similar in the part about grades. A "B" is bad for me, even though I consistantly get B+ in English. Maybe because of a total lack of effort, particularly where studying is concerned.
So I will hit your foible with my forte (basic advice for fencers, concerning parrying)
A question: which way do you prefer to pronounce forte-fort? or for-tay, like the Italian for loud? I believe fort is the original pronnunciation, but also that people are saying for-tay anyways. I'd just like the opinion of someone who actually uses the word in conversation.
Jen

forte--well, when I think of forte, I think of the musical term for 'loud', so I say for-tay. But I guess it all depends on how it's used--though, to my memory, I've never seen it used in a way that would require a pronunciation of fort...so I'm going to stick with for-tay

DZ

Or...I guess I did forget that I used forte as "something I'm good at" so to speak, and I also pronounce that for-tay...just another usage I just remembered

DZ

Well I once heard that when used in context meaning "something I'm good at" or smthg along the lines of a natural strenght it is pronounced fort, but I am a musician and a fencer, and in those activities it is for-tay. So whatever. I don't think it really matters.
Jen

ya...ya know? it doesn't matter....

DZ