Re: [MATHEDCC] Why simplify fractions?

kburgis@alpha.lansing.cc.mi.us ("kburgis@alpha.lansing.cc.mi.us")
Mon, 6 Oct 1997 23:44:02 -0400 (EDT)

>> This will probably cause another flood of mail, but I guess I have to admit
>> that I do not think simplifying fractions is a worthwhile activity
>>either. In
>> fact, I have problems with the concept of "simplified form" in general.
>
>There are the small matters of
> 1. Fundamental theorem of arithmetic.
> 2. Fundamental theorem of algebra.
>
>If your job is to teach arithmetic and algebra, then shouldn't these be
>included somehow?
>
>Geoff Hagopian
>Palm Desert, CA

Absolutely. This is what I would like to spend more time on. Unfortunately,
we get so caught up in drilling our students on the evils of radicals in
the denominator that there is often precious little time left for the big
ideas of number and algebra.

Cheers,
Kathy Burgis
Lansing Community College
Lansing, Michigan

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