Don't Kill Math (evanmiller.org)

8 points by argimenes ↗ HN
Fascinating discussion by Evan Miller on the benefits of analysis over simulation ...

2 comments

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A reactive document is one in which “The reader can play with the premise and assumptions of various claims, and see the consequences update immediately.” As an example, there is a paragraph describing the number of state parks that must be shut down in California assuming that a certain tax is levied; as the reader changes the size and structure of the tax according to his whim, the stated number of parks to be shuttered changes in concert

-- Anyone else think this sounds completely reasonable?

I love this and agree whole-heartedly. Bret clearly is on to something incredible in his visualization methodology, but I can only ever view it as complimentary. Combinatorial/simulation-based thinking is an incredible tool in my regular toolbelt, but having only it would be like walking with just one leg. Feasible with nice crutches, but unnecessarily challenging.