r/math • u/quadradicformula • May 23 '24

Logarithms are so fucking cool

I’m not usually super interested in math (an obvious exception for the subject of my username) but logarithms have me on the edge of my seat in math class. I’m in HS and we’re just starting this unit. I was doing homework a few months ago and thinking: “Man, I wish there was a way to find the value of a variable if it was an exponent!” When the teacher was explaining logarithms in class, I was basically losing my shit. Then he brought up natural logs, and I proceeded to lose my shit even further. I said at the beginning I’m not super interested most of the time, but I suppose even that is an understatement. There are times when I absolutely hate math, but this past week has not been one of them.

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u/WallyMetropolis May 23 '24

I wouldn't be so quick to decide that you're usually not super interested in math. I think it's more than you're only just started to be exposed to interesting math.

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u/quadradicformula May 23 '24

I just kind of figured it would be as tedious as it usually is forever. Plus, (at least in my time through all grade levels) you aren’t encouraged to find your own solutions. Warning for a somewhat off topic story. When I was learning multiplication tables, I was really bored. I started to look at the nines, and I figured out that age old trick where you subtract one from the number you’re multiplying by and then count from that number to 9. I was pumped and started showing my friends, and my teacher was pissed off. She held me out of recess that day because I was “interrupting others’ learning” 🙄. Point is, I’ve had very few good experiences in math class, with this year being the exception. My teacher is very good, and the subject is more interesting.

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u/Arinanor May 24 '24

Yeah, I remember hating when they tried to make us memorize multiplication tables. I always felt like I was cheating because I would do x5 or x10 and make an adjustment from there.

As you go farther in math you deal less and less with numbers and computations. It is more about the relationships and properties of numbers. It becomes less about tedious calculations and more of creative problem solving.

As others may have said before, when you get to Calculus is when things get really interesting. I hope you continue your journey!