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W. W. Sawyer

W. W. Sawyer Biography

Mathematician

W. W. Sawyer (1911-2008) was a British mathematician, mathematics educator, and popular science writer, best known for his accessible and engaging books on mathematics. Born in England, he taught at several universities and dedicated his career to making mathematics enjoyable. His works, such as 'Mathematician's Delight,' have been translated into many languages, inspiring generations of math enthusiasts.

W. W. Sawyer (1911-2008) was a British mathematician, mathematics educator, and popular science writer, best known for his accessible and engaging books on mathematics. Born in England, he taught at several universities and dedicated his career to making mathematics enjoyable. His works, such as 'Mathematician's Delight,' have been translated into many languages, inspiring generations of math enthusiasts.

Related Quotes

“The present syllabus in our high schools corresponds almost exactly to what was known in 1640.”

School Known High School Formal Education Syllabus

Author:W. W. Sawyer

“Bad teaching is teaching which presents an endless procession of meaningless signs, words and rules, and fails to arouse the imagination.”

Imagination Education Failing Teaching Intelligence Endless Meaningless Procession

Book:Mathematician's Delight

Source: Mathematician's Delight

“In mathematics, if a pattern occurs, we can go on to ask, Why does it occur? What does it signify? And we can find answers to these questions. In fact, for every pattern that appears, a mathematician feels he ought to know why it appears.”

Ifs Knows Feels Doe Facts Asks Answers Teaching Goes On Ought Mathematics Patterns Math Mathematician

Book:Prelude to Mathematics

Source: Prelude to Mathematics

“Most remarks made by children consist of correct ideas very badly expressed. A good teacher will be very wary of saying 'No, that's wrong.' Rather, he will try to discover the correct idea behind the inadequate expression. This is one of the most important principles in the whole of the art of teaching.”

Trying Children Art Made Important Ideas Whole Behinds Education Principles Teacher Teaching Expression Mathematics Math Remarks Inadequate Saying No Good Teacher

Book:Vision in Elementary Mathematics

Source: Vision in Elementary Mathematics

“When we find ourselves unable to reason (as one often does when presented with, say, a problem in algebra) it is because our imagination is not touched. One can begin to reason only when a clear picture has been formed in the imagination. Bad teaching is teaching which presents an endless procession of meaningless signs, words and rules, and fails to arouse the imagination.”

Doe Has Beens Reason Problem Imagination Education Clear Failing Teaching Mathematics Endless Touched Meaningless Algebra Procession

Book:Mathematician's Delight

Source: Mathematician's Delight

“You know what speed is. You would not believe a man who claimed to walk at 5 miles an hour, but took 3 hours to walk 6 miles. You have only to apply the same common sense to stones rolling down hillsides, and the calculus is at your command.”

Knows Men Believe Hours Walks Common Education Stones Mathematics Math Speed Miles Common Sense Command Rolling Calculus

Book:Mathematician's Delight

Source: Mathematician's Delight

“The desire to explore thus marks out the mathematician. This is one of the forces making for the growth of mathematics. The mathematician enjoys what he already knows; he is eager for more knowledge.”

Knows Desire Force Enjoy Growth Education Mark Mathematics Math Mathematician More Knowledge

Author:W. W. Sawyer

“Very few people realize the enormous bulk of contemporary mathematics. Probably it would be easier to learn all the languanges of the world than to master all mathematics at present known.”

People World Would Be Realizing Known Masters Easier Mathematics Math Enormous Contemporary

Author:W. W. Sawyer

About the Author

Born: 1911
Died: February 15, 2008
Known for: Mathematician
Quotes: 8

Related Topics

Mathematics Education Math Teaching Knows Doe Endless Failing Imagination Known

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Mathematician's DelightRelated source material

Prelude to MathematicsRelated source material

Vision in Elementary MathematicsRelated source material

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