RE: musicians among us

["Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>]

Fred,

Why don't you try to find a way to say something constructive and maybe take
part in the discussion at hand?  Geometry is a part of mathematics, so for
me to refer to a geometric theorem as an example of Pythagoras's role in
math is not an error.  You haven't really illustrated any error, although
you seem interested in finding errors rather than in discussing topics.  Who
here really needs the detailed discussion about geometry when the discussion
was about the relationship between music and math?  What is the value in
explaining that the square is "on the hypotenuse" and not "of the
hypotenuse"?  I don't give a flip and you have not added *any* value to this
discussion, by this nit-picking.

Your Freudian interpretation of Pythagoras is also irrelevant, as Pythagoras
never wrote anything, "his" theories came from his students and his work is
more than a casual fascination in ratios as you seem to imply.  Theories in
math and music are attributed to Pythagoras and I provided examples of that
fact.  His theories are an example of a relationship between math and music.


You have failed to discuss anything with respect to the relationship between
math and music, which is the current topic.  This topic is a good discussion
because it illustrates factors in learning and relationships between
different modes of learning.  The examples of relationships are valid even
if they lack the detail and accuracy you think they should possess.  They
illustrate that there is a relationship between math and music, so
relationships between learning math and learning music should also exist,
which is my discussion.

Technical writing is a tool for education of technology users.
Understanding modes of learning is valuable for technical writers, but there
is no value in nit-picking details as you have done.  When you say that the
Pythagorean theorem is a geometric and not a mathematical theory, you seem
to imply that the discussion of the theory is not related to math, yet it
is.  My discussion also shows that there is a relationship between some of
the principles of mathematical relationships and relationships between
tones, which is the foundation of music.

You haven't said anything about the relationship between math and music and
how learning one discipline helps to learn the other.  To be quite honest, I
don't see how your discussion relates to the topic, to learning in general,
to relationships between different disciplines, or to technical writing at
all.  It seems like you are just trying to say something contradictory to my
post, but you don't have anything of value to add.

Lauren

> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> ] On Behalf Of Fred Ridder
> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 1:03 PM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: RE: musicians among us
> 
> 
> lauren -at- writeco -dot- net wrote (in part):
> > Music and math-wise, we have the work of Pythagoras, or at 
> least what is
> > credited to Pythagoras, to explain the connections between 
> math and music.
> > He was a philosopher (mystic, rather) and mathematician who 
> came up with
> > some math formulas and theories, like the square of the 
> hypotenuse is equal
> > to the sum of the squares of both sides. 
>  
> The famous Pythagorean Theorem actually expresses a *geometric* 
> relationship rather than a strictly mathematic (abstract) 
> one. The true
> wording is that the square *on* the hypotenuse is equal to 
> the sum of the
> squares *on* the other two sides, and this describes the physically 
> observable relationship of the areas of the three squares 
> that you can 
> construct on each side of a right triangle.  Pythagoras was generally 
> fascinated by ratios (hence his fascination with music), and 
> his connection 
> with the theorem that bears his name seems to have been a fascination 
> with the sets of integer dimensions (so-called Pythagorean 
> triples) that 
> satisfy the mathematical formula, such as the best known 
> triple: 3, 4, 5.
>  
> One class to many in mathematics and/or the history of science...
>  
>  
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get the power of Windows + Web with the new Windows Live.
> http://www.windowslive.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_powerofwindows_122007
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help 
> file formats or 
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows 
> Vista & 2007 
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
> 
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
> 
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as lauren -at- writeco -dot- net -dot- 
> 
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit 
> http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/lauren%40wr
> iteco.net
> 
> 
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> 
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
> http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
> 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.