[MATHEDCC] RE:Robert L Kimball

Adam Stinchcombe (Stinchca@acc.sunyacc.edu)
Mon, 08 Nov 1999 10:42:53 -0500

"the use of technology, especially the spreadsheet, allows us to
investigate non-trivial problems while using software that students will continue to use past school"

I am certainly not trying to bash anyone and I apologize in advance if this email comes over as bashing, but in several forums (conferences, various Standards documents, etc.) I have heard the use of this key phrase: 'non-trivial problems.' My personal preference is for specificity. When we use this term, are we talking about splitting polynomials of degree higher than four (a sometimes impossible task), factoring 200+ digit numbers (maybe trivial but labor intensive, and these days, knowledge intensive), or........what?

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,
Adam Stinchcombe
Adirondack Comm Coll
Queensbury NY

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