Posted on 12/18/2011 10:06:54 AM PST by no gnu taxes
I'm talking about the old multiplication and long division calculation methods. I know what you are probably thinking. That I am some public school advocate, even though I was pissed as hell when my kindergarten daughter asked me if I knew the happy kwanzaa song.
But are these really useful anymore? I mean you can buy a calculator for $1 that does all these things and the software developers didn't use those methods for creation of the devices. Did you even understand why these algorithms worked at the time you were taught them?
Not trying to be controversial; just want to know what you think.
It would be nice if somebody knew what division was..
The only way to know that is knowing how to do it..
Then you have your basic ignorance of Calculus..
and even Trigonometry.. Americans are dumber than rocks..
People that flunk out of math tend to go into Law and journalism..
...
We had to show our work as a means of showing that we actually knew how to do the math.
A correct answer wasn’t enough.
I teach physics and chemistry at a private college prep school.
The BIGGEST problem I have is teaching kids the concept of a REASONABLE ANSWER.
Some of them don’t KNOW, (have not memorized) basic math facts...so they just write down what “the calculator” says, even when it’s a stupid answer.
Latin is the language of science and medicine.
I didn’t take latin but picked up a considerable bit through my interest in science. Those latin root words come in real handy.
I think it would be a good idea if high school guidance counselors would talk to students in their freshman and sophomore years and ask them about what subjects they were having difficulty with, and then take corrective action based on that information, to help prevent these students from ending up with "second choice" or "third choice" majors in college or graduate school.
IMHO, just the process of learning the +, -, * and / tables and seeing the relationships, instills self discipline, something, again IMHO, that is sorely lacking.
I for one would like to hail our new ‘calculator’ overlords......
I for one would like to hail our new ‘calculator’ overlords......
If you depend on the calculator you will forever be dependent on other people to do your thinking for you.
EMP attacks won’t wipe out your memory nor disable slide rules.
Please tell me you aren’t serious. “Them’s just jokes,” right?
I can’t tell you how many ignorant cashiers and waiters haven’t been able to give me proper change because the “machine” jammed, lost power, or just plain broke right in front of them.
Each time, I taught them how to count forward from the amount of the sale to the amount I tendered. Each time they stood there transfixed as if I had shown them a magic trick for the first time.
We have enough stupid people voting for Democrats. Let’s continue to teach basic readin’, writin’, and that other thang ‘bout countin’.
We are becoming so mentally lazy that we call 911 when we get lost in a corn maze, rather than thinking and figuring a way out of the problem.
I still do math in my head, even when on the computer and the “calculator” icon is there. I still taught my grandkids how to tell time on an analog clock with no numbers just by the position of the hands. I’ve run into kids brought up on digital clocks that can’t do that. Dunno how important that is, but it struck my fancy.
-PJ
So if we are hit by an EMP all of a sudden we have huge numbers of people who cant mange math?
x= # that won’t be able to function w/out electronics
y= # who will starve
So x+y=z
Z= total # affected=9/10USA
Thus 1-(9/10USA)=1/10 who can do math and survive EMP
You caught my eye. I have a K&E log-log duplex that I bought in 1944 for a HS Trig class. I worked in a bakery the previous summer greasing bake pans to get the money for the K&E. I was drafted into WWII and came back to school under the G.I. Bill. College expenses were paid including supplies for my engineering education. Picked up a metal(magnesium I think)Pickett&Eckel which had more functions and which I used more. I have a collection of slide rules including circular ones.
I have an idea for you to consider. Lets just teach our kids to run and skip the crawling and walking stuff.
What you are suggesting is a bad idea.
Well, there is an app for that... Abacus
Sure if you want people with no concept of mathematics.
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