• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

How important is memorizing math formulas?

Unless the kid is going into a science or math (basically) it is an absolute waste of time. I was great at math. Straight A's. I can't remember any of it anymore because I never used it once I got out of college. That is the same for the vast VAST majority of students. They should be learning about loans and a million other real life stuff.

You may not remember the equations or the algebraic laws but learning them trained your brain to work in ways that you don't even know you use today.
Education isn't job training.
 
You may not remember the equations or the algebraic laws but learning them trained your brain to work in ways that you don't even know you use today.
Education isn't job training.

There are other ways to learn logic and problem solving skills that are actually useful.
 
Unless the kid is going into a science or math (basically) it is an absolute waste of time. I was great at math. Straight A's. I can't remember any of it anymore because I never used it once I got out of college. That is the same for the vast VAST majority of students. They should be learning about loans and a million other real life stuff.

...aren't loans calculated with math formulas?

I'm in the process of buying a house. Knowing how to set up an amortization table has helped me figure out what is a good investment in ways that googling a table would not.
 
How important is memorizing math formulas? Is it still important, or is knowing how to use technology and how to find a formula enough?

In high school and college. For preparing for 'real life'.

Specific formulas? It really depends upon what you plan to do in life. But the principle and methodology of memorizing that which you need is important. One of the things that school is supposed to be about (not claiming all actually fulfill this) is learning how to learn. Ideally, they help you learn not only the basics, but how you best absorb and recall the material. There are schools over in one of the Nordic countries that do just that. If one teacher's style is not right for a student, they work together to find which one is best for that student and places them there.
 
How important is memorizing math formulas? Is it still important, or is knowing how to use technology and how to find a formula enough?

In high school and college. For preparing for 'real life'.

What formulas are you referring to? I know plenty of the basics and they serve me well. I also know a few specific to my job. But there are plenty out there that I do not have a need for or at least do not at this particular time.

If I ever need those, I'll learn them.

But I think it's more important to know the math you need to use the formulas than it is for the formulas themselves. You can always look up and learn a new formula as needed.
 
what does someone do if the internet is down?

imo, we are depending on technology way to much.

Library, text books, ask someone. It's what I used to do before the internet made it easier.

example: at a fast food place I had a bill of $7.24. I gave the young cashier a $20. As she was entering the amount received I stated I have the 0.24. She had already entered the $20 and the register stated my change was $12.76 She could not figure in her head that when I gave her a total of $20.24 I would get $13 back in change.

While it is not a formula. My point is many people today are so hooked on technology that some have forgotten how to think and solve problems.

Is that the blame of Technology? Or the blame of an education system that doesn't teach people how to do anything apart from how to take and pass the standardized testing?
 
Library, text books, ask someone. It's what I used to do before the internet made it easier.



Is that the blame of Technology? Or the blame of an education system that doesn't teach people how to do anything apart from how to take and pass the standardized testing?

- Text books are ok , if the person knows what they are looking for.

- I also look at as a failure of the parents to not teach their kids some basics. Mine taught me how to make change way as a way to reinforce the math I learned in school. That was back then in the 50's. Seems today students just want to enter data and wait for the calculator to spit out an answer.
 
Back
Top Bottom