The ways of using mathematics in Economics

1. Use mathematics as a shorthand language, rather than as an engine of inquiry.
2. Keep to them till you have done.
3. Translate into english.
4. Then illustrate by examples that are important in real life.
5. Burn the mathematics.
6. If you can't succeed in 4, burn 3, this last I did often.
   

Alfred Marshall

It is copied from an interesting book I read several weeks ago, "New ideas from dead Economists". The AM way of doing Math can be seen clearly in his "Principle" Appendix, and this special arragement is actually due to his father. When other children play toys and hide them under the beds, AM played with Math and hide all the paper under his bed. That's because his father dislike Math, and think it is useless when comparing to Literature. That is said to be the reason why in his "Principle", AM hide his Math Notes at the "back".