[MATHEDCC] tithing and abaci

Richard Kern (canaar@igc.apc.org)
Mon, 06 Oct 1997 16:41:43 -0900

thank you Phil for the great Feynman anecdote. in examining my own
daily use of mathematics, i find that i use rational approximation
techniques to a far greater degree than i use exact answers for almost
all decision making. as he indicates, it is far quicker to approximate
mentally in the initial stages of decision making than searching for
exactitude which may end up being a waste of time due to excessive cost
or any other variable pertinent to the decision. this ability gives me
a significant edge over my colleagues in board meetings, negotiations or
other talk intensive situations where the ability to think on the fly is
a necessity. for these reasons, i have a difficult time being patient
while reading posts from math teachers who question the value of
factorization, simplification, addition of fractions, memorization of
"important numbers" divisibility rules or any of the other
arithmetic/number theory items that have been questioned regarding the
efficacy of continuing instruction when a calculator is available. i am
often frustrated with colleagues who require a calculator to approximate
an answer when all that's required is an approximation. the ability to
solve arithmetic expressions mentally can and should be taught in
conjunction with estimation skills throughout the entire k-12 math
curriculum. these mental calculation skills are unteachable in the
absence of a knowledge of fractions, distributive property and some,
"gasp" memorized numbers.
richard kern
napaskiak

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