At what age should children START TO use calculators?
Q. I think the idea of using calculators instead of the human brain is one of the most basic perks of improved technology: less errors and faster results. When should kids learn to use a calculator instead of paper and pencil to solve math problems? What minimum level of math skills should they need before retiring their brain and using something to generate the fastest results?
Asked by Where Beer - Sun Jan 27 22:46:35 2008 - - 10 Answers - 0 Comments

A. When a child demonstrates that he can add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, as well as factoring and reducing. And when they are a stage of learning math skills that are more theoretical than computational. Calculators are a great tool, but the user must also know how to get along without one as well just in case. When my hypothetical child (read: I don't have kids yet) is in Algebra II learning how to factor polynomials, I would rather that he or she spend more time on the factoring of polynomials than having to spend extra time doing computations that he or she already has mastered. But it is very important those computational skills are mastered before using calculators, as well as maintaining… [cont.]
Answered by J Bareil - Sun Jan 27 23:18:07 2008

Why can you not use calculators on a placment test?
Q. So how can they have a valid sound conclusion for not using calculators ,,,when in life will you purposely decide not to use a calculator for the more time consuming math problems. That defies all logic, I wonder if i could petition this?
Asked by l2020d - Sun Sep 21 02:53:01 2008 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. It is their test. You have to follow their rules. The questions are probably designed so that you would not really need to use a calculator. Besides, in real life you will not be carrying a calculator/computer with you all the time. You will frequently need to do some calculations in your head...
Answered by gudspeling - Sun Sep 21 03:02:12 2008

Would science be where it is today if there were no calculators?
Q. If there were no calculators, including computers I suppose, would science be where it is today? Or would the raw data take too long to process? What does everyone think? So far someone mentioned the slide ruler, so we should also not forget the handy abacus, though I have no clue how much you can do as far as complex math on an abacus. But it was in a way the first calculator, as it allowed one to externalize calculations(do them outside of one's head).
Asked by Luis - Fri Apr 6 18:51:34 2007 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. I think it's one of those famous double-edged swords. Certainly science and scientific research such as is ongoing today requires the speed and precision of computers. However, to know HOW to solve problems, it's necessary for SOMEONE to understand the math and how to set the problems up mathematically. To get to THAT point requires some basic ability with numbers. I see an awful lot of people who don't know how to do the basics, such as algebraic manipulation of numbers, because they lack the simple arithmetic skills they need, and rely instead on calculators. I think that it's imperative that people learn to do the basics by hand, so that they understand WHERE the numbers come from; once they learn that, I certainly think that… [cont.]
Answered by dances with unicorns - Fri Apr 6 19:05:33 2007