Question

Discussion on a calculator.

Do you think that you can do everything in Mathematics manually? Would you tend to use calculators for things like graphing when given a chance?

Answer 1

well that can help except when you write serious n calculator exams like SAT

Answer 2

What I tend to think is that calculators are \(\textbf{needed}\) for some things that a human can't manage to do. We do not have free time to do graphing.

Although, some students get too much of the calculator and then they have problems doing basic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division!

I feel that students should have a mixture of both types of calculations(using technology and mental ones).

Answer 3

Would people like to add points to my statement?

Answer 4

Calculators are used once you know how to find x

Manual is used to gain knowledge of finding x.

Answer 5

DISSEMBLE!

Answer 6

Practice makes perfect, and you should basically practice yourself \(\textbf{always}\). You should find \(x\) at every step, no matter what.

Answer 7

But, if it is something like \(1219219382932892489483948x = 9931389318931839239439572\), then I believe in a calculator's presence.

Answer 8

I think there are certain things that a computer is better at doing, but the algorithms that are more efficient for a computer are sometimes different than those that work best for humans. So I think it's important for students to at least be exposed to working with technology to do math and the different thought processes involved.

Answer 9

well i liked the way you guys were working with the big decimal on friday without calculator.and that was exciting.using pi and all that so we can also perform complex calculations

Answer 10

I do agree.

Some students are challenged with the word problems, and they fail deciphering the question. They should really be able to get the hang of what the question says, and have an attempt at the calculator.

Answer 11

the modern calculator is wolfram i think that can help with computations like graphs,which makes problem solving easier...

Answer 12

Heh—I tend to use Wolfram only.