Modification sought in reorganisation of?

Question

Math-section!!!! I draw the attention of young students and opinion of top contributors of math section as to whether there is a need to split the section into 2 parts viz
> mathematics, and
> Applied mathematics

Presently, I think neither the young students are being squarely benefited nor YA able to coordinate affairs of math section properly. There is lot of volume exchange from students and wishful meandering of difficult problems by top contributors. Bulk voting and multiple similar solutions are also problems of concern for young students who get perplexed by TUs/TDs given randomly favorites/foes. Applied math question will engage top contributors interest fully and when free they can help other math section category.

Something similar could be designed for physics section as well.

There are my observations, and you may be having your own set.

Please comment!!

Answer 1

I agree with this opinion that it should be divided with some restrictions in at least three sections 1) Mathematics (day to day life based) 2) Mathematics (academic) 3) Mathematics (applied), but I don't think that there would be any effect on Y/A system and will take any action about it.



TUs/TDs should be replaced by honest comments (agree with Mr Madhukar.) or if any one gives TU/TD, it should be disclosed. these discussions have been already done but all in vain.



Role of Top contributors here also is not very good (showing off, having multiple profiles, unneccessary comments etc.). Once, I had asked a question and couldn't select the actual BA, as a result, that answerer got very disappointed (I realised that I made a mistake).I know six - seven top contributors/contributors, who are really highly knowledgeble and I respect them very much and I try to learn from them.



I think that whatever is consistent with right reasoning should be accepted, even though it comes from a boy or even from a parrot; and whatever is inconsistent therewith ought to be rejected, although emanating from an old man or even from the great Mathematician. . .

Answer 2

My brother went through this when he married again and had another child. You can go and try to do a modification all it is is a matter of contacting the child support office that handles your case and requesting in writing that you want it done. They will send the forms to you and the ex and figure all the income on both sides and go from there. That is it only the income matters and not the size of the family. It might actually hurt your hubby to go in for a modification because with the military when he took a new wife and son his dependant pay also increased so his income is higher than when the divorce was filed. The only advantage to him would be if his ex is now working a job making more than she did at the time the order was put in place. Once you file for a modification review it takes a few months to get it all done and the results however you can only do this every 2-3 years so you would have to decide on your own when would be best for you to try and do it. Be careful though when you do because if you try and do it it can backfire and the amount go up and his ex can also request a review then if she finds out he got a promotion etc and his income went up. It is a tricky situation to be in and might be worth it to just pay the amount he is paying and leave it alone.

Answer 3

The idea is good to keep the daily homework questions and really challenging questions separate. But within the present system and framework this will never happen. Even if Yahoo! Answers makes separate sub sections, you really can't ensure that the questions will not be posted in the wrong category.



Bulk voting is bound to happen as just for casting a vote, knowingly or unknowingly, you get a point. So those who are here just for points and level up they will vote to the maximum limit for that level per day and as a result the best answer always doesn't get selected as the best because the voters' objective is to gain points and not to select the best answer. But Y!A can't remove the system of giving 1 point per vote too as otherwise there will be just too many open questions in tie-breaker. Also, many users fishing for points vote from multiple accounts in favour of their answer, irrespective of whether their answer is best or not.



Regarding, the Thumbs Up/ Down, it doesn't refer to the correctness or wrongness of an answer. According to Yahoo's definition it shows whether you agree with an answer. More people can agree to an answer that is actually wrong but apparently right, so it is not correct to judge the correctness of an answer based on the nos. of TU/TD.



Finally, I would like to say here that there is a separate discussion forum for these type of topics and these types of suggestions have to be made there, not in Yahoo! Answer. The link to the forum is http://suggestions.yahoo.com/?prop=answers



P.S.: There are many good comments, suggestions and thoughtful views in many answers to this questions. My suggestion is if someone can make a summary of those and post in the forum and if other users support that post then may be we can bring the attention of Yahoo! Answers officials, but posting anything here will not draw any attention of anyone.

Answer 4

I don't think splitting the section would do much good. I see so many mis-categorized questions already that it is staggering. Making one section into two more sections, each more ambiguous for the general public than the single section alone, is just going to exacerbate the problem.



I also agree with what a lot of the people have already said. This site was intended for people to exchange expertise in any given field. It is true that there are so many different fields of mathematics, even at lower levels, that finding a question within your field of expertise is sometimes difficult, but to facilitate the fix for this problem would mean making an individual sub-section for each branch of lower maths: algebra, trig/geometry, calculus, etc... I've already stated my opinion on splitting the section.



I've thought about this idea before and I couldn't see it doing any good.





If we really want to petition Y!A for something I propose, not directly my idea, that they allow formatting of text for the mathematics, and possibly physics and chemistry, section. I don't know about you all but writing equations, especially complex fractions and the like can get very cross-eye inducing when written out linearly. This could be done with LaTeX or any other formatting style.



That's my 2 cents.

Answer 5

Well, my head is spinning after reading the various thoughtful and sophisticated responses already in place.



Discipline, of course, comes from within. I am sometimes discouraged by the apparent lack of it on the part of some askers and even some answerers.



I think the TU's/TO's should be abolished. I have seen too many TD's on what were correct answers.



Edit functionality would enhance the value on one's answer. The inclusion of the word 'trinomial' in the dictionary would be a plus as well.



I don't mean to trivialize the asker's concerns here. I am not sure I can differentiate between applied mathematics and merely mathematics. If a clear distinction can be made, then a separation is perhaps reasonable. But we will still witness the relative discipline of participants.



I appreciate any attempt to make things better on YA, but don't hold much hope that YA will go along with any suggestion.



Go Jolly,



Kindrick

Answer 6

There were already some great answers to this question. I particularly agree with Alex Smirnoff's answer. Let me just add a few comments of my own.



There are four types of people who visit the science and math categories:

1) those looking for challenging problems

2) those looking for homework solutions

3) those looking to learn from others

4) trolls



Trolls will be trolls. Sub categories will not change that. You could already see evidence of their work here. I have never seen scythian receive that many thumbs down.



Also if there are two math categories (pure and applied), then most homework seekers will not automatically go to pure math. They may post the question multiple times in different categories. All they need is multiple accounts if they run out of quota. Just to prove this point. There is a section called "homework help" ... or at least there used to be. How many people actually post(ed) their questions there? Most top contributors never visit(ed) that section, therefore homework seekers realize(d) that that section is(was) useless to them. So naturally they would migrate to whereever the top contributors are. If there is a special "hard question category", that's where they are going to end up posting their mundane questions.



Those seeking challenging questions and those genuinely interested in learning already have a vast resource at their disposal. For the most part they are already taken care of. I never scan through the open forum anymore. I always look at questions that my network asked or starred - whatever the subcategory. Having a special subcategory will not change my practice.



So in my opinion, the site is already suited to the needs of everyone. I just wish Y!A could do away with the silly chatting law, as Scythian mentioned.



*EDIT*

I forgot, there is actually a 5th type of user. Those interested in accumulating many points or many best answers. That's how I started off. For my first few months on Y!A I was interested in getting to level 7. I reached #2 in the math category and #1 in one of the sports categories. But once I reached level 7, I lost interest in doing the mundane questions.



The reason I mentioned this? Most of the other top contributors that you are referring to more or less feel the same way. They prefer to only answer questions that challenge them. If there is a new "hard question category", then there is going to be a new top 10. Suddenly the rat race for best answers will resume, which will end up being counterthetical to its intended purpose.



The bottom line is that you can't have a special category for part time users - those who choose to rarely log on.

Answer 7

OMG, great question and great responses from all of you. Just to note, anil bakshi, your adding of additional details can be considered a violation of the community guidelines.



Edit:

Dr D, I belong to the 1st and 3rd category, though now I am still trying to earn my Top Contributor badge.

anil, I star this question hoping for more responses from my fellow contacts.

Answer 8

I see what you mean. I definitely agree simply because this section is getting clogged up already by too many questions. But like the person above me said, I don't think that YA will do anything about it since YA wasn't originally intended for students to do their homework.

Answer 9

Half the questions on this website are simply put into a category (often the wrong one) automatically by Yahoo, which is really stupid. I think users should be forced to choose a category before posting a question.



Until that changes, I think it is pointless to create additional categories. Furthermore, how many people would actually know whether their question belonged in pure or applied mathematics?

Answer 10

I definitely agree simply because this section is getting clogged up already by too many questions.

Answer 11

That's a good suggestion. For then, there would be a section for every purpose.



Although I have taken Y/A for what it is, and/or for what it is not, it still amazes me, at times, when a question I happened to answer gets deleted. (though not from my fault). Your observations are all quite true. With regards to guidelines prohibiting chatting, or just the semblance to chatting, it is, to my opinion, leaving so much gray areas in its implementation. It is quite antithetical for a forum such as Y/A

to prohibit chatting, when basically, it has a Q-and-A format. Is that not in itself conversational----- as what chatting is? Well, we have to leave the interpretative privilige to the staff, being the authority empowered in this aspect. With power comes authority, they say.



This TU/TD concept, in my opinion, needs also some revision. An asker who quite appreciates your answer could not make a TU if such an asker happens to be just level 1. As if level categorization, which is done on point system, is a sole judge on competency in the subject. Whereas an arrogant late answerer could freely give a TD before proceeding to answer with a not-so-different answer. It is therefore a better concept for this TU/TD to have the giver and the reason thereat revealed.



There is a homework section in Y/A. But then, Math and Physics answerers may not feel like going to browse there. So it is understandable why the students deemed it quite good wisdom to post their questions directly here where the big guns are. (lol) (Learned fellows, don't be too hard on homework questions. When students email you to attend to their questions, consider it flattering instead of taxing).



I usually take to Y/A after I have taken my meal. Don't get it wrong. I don't mean to say that Y/A is also like those medicines not to be taken on an empty stomach. I meant, rather, that I answer at leisure. That is just to explain what our attitude should be. For my part, I have wandered wherever my contacts oblige me to answer. Sometimes I get BA answering on pregnancy in Women's Health, or on Fish in Pets section, in Mythology, in Poetry, or in Finance or Banking and quite well in Philosophy. But never got lucky in Religion or Lesbian and Gay Section (lol, my God, why do I get emailed with those Qs). My point is, just be of the spirit. But my favorite is on the exact Science where there is a correct answer. In the other categories even a snide remark could become BA.



I wishfully think, it would not hurt Y/A to provide a section for posting scientific papers, treatises, theories, etc regarding Science and Mathematics. And there let it be subjected to its "baptism by fire." But then Y/A will reply that there is a blog feature for that. But it is a lot more different when posting in the mainstream search conduit of Y/A.

Answer 12

I agree with you in principle, but I doubt Y!A will listen to us -- we are but a small segment of the Y!A universe.



I like Y!A for three reasons: First, to teach others, Second, to challenge myself and to learn, and Third for entertainment.



I love the math and sciences. I have an engineering degree from a top US university. But I don't practice engineering anymore. And until I rediscovered my passion a few years ago, I had been many years without doing more than trying to balance my checkbook



I mostly answer Physics questions. My skill level is currently that of a lower division, quasi-honors student at a good university. My math skills are a little more rusty, but I can do trig, geometry and calculus -- but there are a number of holes where I have simply forgotten how to do something.



Beyond answering to help people (which I do), I also look for challenging question to learn from. I find challenging question two ways:



(1) I ocassionally search the Physics' section for questions with "AP" "College" or "University" in the title,



(2) For math and some physics, I have a large group of contacts that occasionally ask interesting question, or star interesting questions. My contacts include AB, MD, RD and the Great Locust (Sorry, without having the names in front of me, I will misspell one or more, so I am using the initials for short). I have discovered for the math section, at least, Y!A has a serious group of top contributors that have formed a high-level applied math and mathematical puzzle section, which you have recently stumbled upon. So, if you see questions in math from a "Top Contributor" or a question that has gathered several stars from Top Contributors, you can assume that it is a challenge question which the questioner already knows the answer.



I am also a bit of a xenophile and I enjoy the fact that my contacts are flung across the globe. I have contacts in Eastern and Western Europe, Canada, India, the UAE, Singapore, China, Japan, Brazil, Australia, and a little village of Native Alaskans (eskimos -- sort of).



So, although there is no Y!A for applied math and physics, I have developed a good work around. And I am better off for having developed a set of diverse contacts.



[I get entertainment from Y!A both by solving problems, but also by an ocassional foray into some of the lighter weight sections of Y!A like politics, polls&surveys and religion]

Answer 13

I agree!



It wouldn't harm to make a division of higher mathematics as well since questions about group theory and the like keep coming up among lots of undergraduate maths.

Answer 14

The problem is not with division of sections. The problem is with askers and contributors. There is a bunch of homework questions. And there is a bunch of incorrect answers. If a top contributor is busy with applied math (although it is not clear for me what you mean by "applied math"), he can easily find questions that are interesting for him. And trolls will always be trolls. I do not think that they are around here becuase they do not have their own "Troll" section. Also, a top contributor should be able to see the level of question. It's his personal choice to answer simple questions or to let them to be answered by somebody else. I do not think that splitting math in subsections can change anything. The guys who are interested in collecting points will fight for points. The guys who like thumbs down, will give thumbs down, etc. People are like that.



*********

Also, the task of Yahoo is to make money. For this purpose they need to attract more people to their site. And majority of people ... You know how they look like.

Imagine, that Formula 1 pilots ask for a separate lane on the road, so that they can move there with 200 miles per hour. And driving schools also ask for a separate lane.

Roads exist to help people to go from point A to point B. Yahoo exists to make profit.

Answer 15

I agree with u.

Answer 16

Yahoo! Answers wasn't originally meant to be a homework clearing house, or even a tutoring forum. It was simply meant to be a "knowledge market", whereby people are invited to share their expertise, kind of like how Wikipedia hae become a free encyclopedia. Unfortunately, not only Y!A has become dominated by student questions in certain categories (especially mathematics---"Please do my homework now?"), Y!A has already locked in a number of rules and practices which has made it very annoying to use in a number of ways, such as not being able to delete your question so that you can come back to the same question later. Or like how we have the TUs/TDs which drives all of us batty because often we have no idea why we get them. I actually dislke Y!A's TOS that "prohibits chatting between the Asker and Answerers", because it's discouraging the very thing that Y!A is meant to do---to allow free exchange of expertise. How can there be any such healthy exchange of expertise where "no talking" is allowed between the two?



At least Y!A took the right step foward in allowing members to create personal networks of contacts and fans, so that each of us can build our own base of people sharing similiar interests and goals. I note that the vast majority of Science & Math questions never even get a star for interest, much less an answer. The reason for this is simple: Most of them are just students looking for others to do their homework for them, and there are many more of them than there are people willing to do their homework, ESPECIALLY when so many of the Askers don't even bother giving the Answerers any thank-yous. I quit doing that a long time ago, except when the problem interests me and I believe that the Asker is sincere.



It would be nice if we could fine-tune Y!A into sub-categories that better matches the expectations of their users, such as one specifically designed for free tutoring of students, and another for idle speculation on hoary problems of math or physics. I would like that, because then I can avoid the wretched masses of students seeking painless homework help that's just clogging up the Science & Math section. But unfortunately, it's unlikely that Y!A would even bother to listen to any such suggestions. They get suggestions every single day and they generally ignore them all.



Edit: Anil, it's a rare contributor that takes the time to pose interesting questions, as you have in the past. Too many Askers are obviously just copying their homework problems, and once you've done their work, you never see them again. It's like having a consersation about math with a brick wall.



Edit 2: Rakesh Dubey, THIS would be showing off, being able to play the piano piece as in this link. Also this would be my "unnecessary additional comments" that you speak of, and other bad behavior by this (occasional) Top Contributor.