From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.6 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_40,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: fac41,1bc17347df0c2d32 X-Google-Attributes: gidfac41,public X-Google-Thread: 103376,1bc17347df0c2d32 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 1008e3,1bc17347df0c2d32 X-Google-Attributes: gid1008e3,public From: rgallen@qnx.com (Rennie Allen) Subject: Re: Why one school changed from Pascal to C++ Date: 1997/05/05 Message-ID: <5kkr0p$29m@qnx.com>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 239522710 References: <33664F10.6B76@mathernet.com> <5kd7eo$2b4@lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk> <8229B62E52EAC144.6C6C6DF4FB6915C3.A10EAF24E2BF24E1@library-proxy.airnews.net> <336AA099.41C67EA6@cmass.com> Followup-To: comp.lang.ada,comp.lang.eiffel,comp.lang.modula3 Organization: QNX Software Systems Ltd. Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada,comp.lang.eiffel,comp.lang.modula3 Date: 1997-05-05T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: Farshad Nayeri (farshad@cmass.com) wrote: > Kevin Cline wrote: > > > > Symbols are used in mathematics because they are easier to read than text. > > They are used in computer programs for the same reason. > Well, I'd suggest that the goals of mathematics and computer science > are different, so we may not want to apply the same principles: I agree. > In introductory mathematics, we learn to *use* abstractions. > (Only advanced mathematicians build abstractions of their own for others > to use.) I agree with this statement. > In introductory computer science, we learn to *build* abstractions. > (By extension, only advanced computer scientists use abstraction built by > others.) But not this. In introductory computer science, students learn to build and use abstractions (the programming language used typically employs many abstractions - part of intro comp sci is learning the language). -- Rennie Allen QNX Software Systems Ltd. 175 Terence Matthews Crescent (613) 591-0931 (voice) Kanata, Ontario, Canada K2M 1W8 (613) 591-3579 (fax)