Why Learn Math

During today's Advanced Algebra lecture, my mobile-phone successfully distracted me again and again. At first, I dismissed it as just a vacation hangover: I had spent too much time scrolling through my phone during the winter vacation!

But this reason was one-sided. When dealing with an AI-program, I found myself switchingwindows as a reflex -- checking Wechat, checking Terminal, checking copilot. Juggling, undoubtedly, has become an irritating habit.

That's worrying. These kinds of tasks(especially computer-related) always encourage working in parallel, under which we cannot cultivate a crucial ability: build up a long and focused chain of reasoning.

A long and focused chain of reasoing reflects many things: degree of concentration, attention span, and reasoning ability. In an era filled with parallel computing, a society fragmented by short-videos, this kind of ability is quite invaluable and scarce.

Agents can easily multitask. Shallow thinking is destined to be cheap. Only the long, logical and coherent chain can outperform AI.

And that is Mathematics. In a lecture, you have to follow the professor strictly. No absence of thought is allowed when listening and studying. This process prompts me to keep focused, to constantly think and reason, to build up a 45-minute-long chain.

I value this ability.
So I learn Math.
I will sharpen my mind through rigorous derivation and deduction.