Re: Is this math test too easy?

From: Acid Pooh (poopdeville_at_gmail.com)
Date: 11/23/04 

Date: 22 Nov 2004 16:51:31 -0800

Mxsmanic <mxsmanic@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<c8k3q0dfa8g6p099lfoomo48rn7efgvv2p@4ax.com>...
> Acid Pooh writes:
>
> > Simple point -- if nobody studies physics or engineering, which are
> > primarily calculus based fields, nobody will be qualified to design
> > new technology.
>
> Nobody studies physics or engineering today, at least not until high
> school at the earliest.
>
> I never said that _nobody_ should study such things, I only implied that
> there was little point in teaching them to everyone.

There is a point -- if nobody were taught basic algebra in middle-high
school, colleges would be burdened with teaching their engineering and
physics students the material. Presumably, students should have the
opportunity to choose what they want to study after high school,
instead of being forced into a track system in middle school. Imagine
what would happen if one of these high-school physics track students
decided to study english instead. They would be six years behind
their peers since they only learned what was essential for continuing
a physics education.

>
> > Nevermind the fact that there is much more to math
> > than just calculus.
>
> Yes, but most of it is even less useful than calculus.

Says one who undoubtedly has *not* taken a proof based course.

>
> > If you don't think mathematics isn't good at
> > developing skills in critical thinking and problem solving, you
> > haven't taken any of merit.
>
> Or I simply have an opinion that disagrees with yours.

Obviously, if you think that mathematics can be learned by rote,
you've never taken a proof based course.

'cid 'ooh

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