Re: [MATHEDCC] If factoring is not important

Bret Taylor (bret@IAG.NET)
Wed, 31 Mar 1999 19:26:36 -0500 (EST)

At 11:18 AM 3/31/99 -0800, Sandy Wagner wrote:
>Bret, first I'm only talking about polynomial factoring, not numerical or
>common factor factoring. I see value in both of them for different reasons.
>For polynomial factoring I think we should distinguish between the *process*
>of finding factors and the theorems themselves. So few (essentially 0%) of
>polynomials are factorable by pencil and paper that I think we waste a lot
>of our time and our students' time with the processes when there are so many
>more interesting and valuable things we could be doing. And remember, the
>*only* places that trinomials are factored are in the math classroom and
>(decreasingly so) on SAT's etc.. Ask any engineer.
>-Sandy

I understand what you are saying, and I agree your points are valid.
However, I still think understanding the concept of factoring polynomials is
important. Especially using graphing calculator technology, students tend
to just memorize and regurgitate rather than understand the relationship
between x-intercepts, factors, and zeroes.

I think factoring polynomials should still be an integral part of
pre-calculus algebra.
>
>At 12:43 PM 03/31/99 -0500, you wrote:
>>Why are they called The FUNDAMENTAL Theorem of Arithmetic and The
>>FUNDAMENTAL Theorem of Algebra? :-)
>>
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