I like graph theory. You draw some shapes, you draw some lines. It's like the kind of things you can do with your crayons.
I reckon kids could be introduced to it earlier in friendlier language.
I reckon kids could be introduced to it earlier in friendlier language.
It is a fantastic tool to discover algorithmics, as you can visually apply your thinking.
FWIW, I personally wrote my master thesis on small world graphs, (_ie_ Kevin Bacon, 6 degrees, that kind of graphs), building structures to add properties to such graphs, and it is, without a doubt, the best memory of my cursus at the university.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_model
Can’t find the link now, but I’ve seen a pedagogical framework for learning basic probability by manipulating dynamic graph-“walking”. Absolutely useable with kids.
Very interesting stuff..Engel's probability abacus.
It was so successful that all kindergarten teachers in the same school started doing it as well.
The unexpected part was the other parents, who looked at the poster the children had made about chromatic numbers complete with examples : quite sadly, they were a lot more scared than their children!
They can be! I remember when I was about 10, I learned about Eulerian paths from a popular math book for kids.
I really think graph theory and discrete math in general should be taught much earlier. Maybe even before (or alongside) calculus in high school. Calculus isn’t really a legitimate prerequisite in this case.