A Summary Of The Most Notoriuos Types Of Statistical Analysis

By Author: Robert Duval
Total Articles: 25
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Since very old times, people have complained about the need of learning math. There is no application for it in reality. Or, my dream is to be a writer, a rock-star, and I'm completely sure I won't have a need for it. Today, with the existence of pocket calculators and all sorts of electronic wonders which are carried by young children, we really have to ask ourselves a question. Why should someone learn the formulas and memorize the multiplication tables of the traditional math course? Why would you want to take any effort in working with formulas, and even worse, memorizing them, when the same result can be achieved with a calculator a zillion times faster? It seems like a valid concern, and it turns out that students ask it all the time

There are some different answers to the question which may require some maturity to understand. It is obvious that no one enjoys memorizing just for the sake of it; nevertheless, the basics is what is usually better learned at first. It is plausible that reversing the order of math studies might do much toward helping students to comprehend why the study of math can be helpful.

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... first reason why math studies are helpful is that they force the student to read and comprehend the question or problem. The student learns to organize their thinking in order to understand the true dimensions of the problem. The formulas by themselves won't help to fully comprehend how to apply a formula. In order to master that ability, the students need to get their brains active in order to recognize patterns and elements that will allow them to associate knowledge and to gain understanding. To be able to lay out the parameters of the math problem will help a student learn the same procedure for other fields of study as well.

Also, the purpose of math is to provide this mental order that allows to understand actually how to operate the calculators and other electronic devices. In other words, you need to now math to make your math easier using a calculator. While the actual calculation performed by a calculator does greatly simplify even routine problem solving, to raise three generations of students with no understanding of how to use a calculator to establish which of two items in different sized containers costs more is a travesty of the concept of mathematics education. Many adults do not understand the concept of reconciling a bank statement, or calculating true cost of an adjustable rate mortgage.

This problem is faced by educators all around the world. Standardized tests put in evidence a dramatic fall in the math understanding of our students and the tendency doesn't seem to be in the way of getting reverted in the short-run. Criticism of teachers for 'teaching to the test' wide and strong, but in the case of math, it is hard to see how logic and inductive reasoning which are required to solve most real life math problems can be considered teaching to the test.