Re: Is this math test too easy?

From: Herman Rubin (hrubin_at_odds.stat.purdue.edu)
Date: 11/24/04 

Date: 24 Nov 2004 13:20:26 -0500

In article <n437q0tkpn7ojv5t9qij0f2n7rmng49is3@4ax.com>,
Mxsmanic <mxsmanic@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Herman Rubin writes:

>> Who doesn't need it?

>Almost anyone who _isn't_ a physics or engineering student, which covers
>most of the population.

>> I agree about the useless, irrelevant material. So get rid of
>> that.

>That's what I've been advocating.

>> At this time, probability and statistics has become higher
>> mathematics.

>Most of it, yes.

>> However, any intelligent decision making under
>> uncertainty requires these, and not the current teaching of
>> computational methodology.

>It doesn't require any formal training in probability or statistics.
>Even a grade-school understanding is sufficient. Indeed, even an
>intuitive understanding may suffice.

This seems fine, as long as only trivial uses are made,
and even there one has difficulties. The one who claims
that, in the absence of information, alternatives are
equally likely can easily be taken. In fact, it is known
that the formal properties of probability can be derived
from the non-existence of a "Dutch book", and even the
name indicates that bookmakers may have fallen for this.

There have been many experiments performed, and educated
people who do not formally use probability behave in a
highly inconsistent manner. 

-- 
This address is for information only.  I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University
hrubin@stat.purdue.edu         Phone: (765)494-6054   FAX: (765)494-0558

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