Verbose identifiers in program code are most useful near the top level, where the ideas they give a name to are very specific, while mathematical formulae often concern generalities, so verbose names are not always applicable (or at least not always helpful - even in code, identifiers that try to be too descriptive can make it hard to read, though people rarely err in this direction.)
One of the uses of the notation is to serve as a map for a more long-winded description, as you can lose your place in verbose explanations when they begin to get complicated.
More importantly, perhaps, is their use when you are applying formal manipulations to them. I think author's point is that many computer scientists apparently lack the background to follow or evaluate some of the important current developments in their field.
One of the uses of the notation is to serve as a map for a more long-winded description, as you can lose your place in verbose explanations when they begin to get complicated.
More importantly, perhaps, is their use when you are applying formal manipulations to them. I think author's point is that many computer scientists apparently lack the background to follow or evaluate some of the important current developments in their field.