Question

Explain the differences in the following processes involved in the growth in mathematical
understanding. Also provide an example of each, pertaining to ‘data handling’.

i) known to unknown;

ii) particular to general.

Answer 1

Answer on Question #40709 – Math - Other

We have the processes: known to unknown and particular to general.

"Known to unknown" is the process of relating known bits of data to a point where the unknown becomes true. It is the method of formulation, recording and presenting concisely the solution without any trial and errors.

"Particular to general" is looking at a set of classes and determining that they have common properties and behaviors. These common properties and behaviors are then used to construct a new class – which is the generalization of the particular classes involved in the first place.

Hence, we can see the differences in the following processes.

For example, you would look at some species of animals (like humans, rats, baboons, parrots, and so on) and determine that they share some common properties. You would place those properties in a new class: Animal. You can go further and determine that the human, rat, and balloon share a property that the parrots do not have (namely, giving birth to live offspring, and feeding them with milk after birth). You would classify them as mammals, and the parrot as a bird.