Why are calculators not allowed in C1?
I can understand GCSE maths because that's (mostly) everyday maths but A level? If you're in any situation where you had to use arithmetic series or differentiation you would certainly have a calculator to hand. I feel that they should spend more time teaching the concept rather than pointless number crunching by that stage. I rant because when i did my C1 many years ago I bombed out purely because I goofed up some long multiplication. I understood the concept of the question perfectly I just couldn't do that sum so had to leave the question. When I was allowed a calculator in C2,3 and 4 my marks shot up into the 90s. maybe it's just me but any maths concept I cna handle but I've always struggled with number crunching (long division etc) I don't see why i should have been held back at such an advanced level by that especially when it's totally obsolete nowadays. Simple times table stuff yes but long division/multiplication on paper? No one will ever need to do that in this age of transistors.
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If you want an A Level in maths, then you really ought to be able to do basic arithmetic in your head or on paper.
Not necessarily at lightning speed, and of course doing mega multiplications doesn't make you good at maths, but you still ought to be able to demonstrate the skill, in the same way that you need to demonstrate that you can differentiate something without e.g. the help of Wolfram Alpha.
Not necessarily at lightning speed, and of course doing mega multiplications doesn't make you good at maths, but you still ought to be able to demonstrate the skill, in the same way that you need to demonstrate that you can differentiate something without e.g. the help of Wolfram Alpha.
Dude, they're not needed. Its basic math.
PS if you can't do multiplication then you don't deserve to do C1
Original post by WGR
I can understand GCSE maths because that's (mostly) everyday maths but A level? If you're in any situation where you had to use arithmetic series or differentiation you would certainly have a calculator to hand. I feel that they should spend more time teaching the concept rather than pointless number crunching by that stage. I rant because when i did my C1 many years ago I bombed out purely because I goofed up some long multiplication. I understood the concept of the question perfectly I just couldn't do that sum so had to leave the question. When I was allowed a calculator in C2,3 and 4 my marks shot up into the 90s. maybe it's just me but any maths concept I cna handle but I've always struggled with number crunching (long division etc) I don't see why i should have been held back at such an advanced level by that especially when it's totally obsolete nowadays. Simple times table stuff yes but long division/multiplication on paper? No one will ever need to do that in this age of transistors.
It's because you're not actually tested on arithmetic. The majority of calculations will involve letters rather than numbers, or calculations simple enough to perform without a calculator. Look at past papers and you won't find a single one that has an answer with complex decimal places, in some ways it helps you because (if you find yourself needing a calculator to work out a horrible division sum) then you'll have gone wrong somewhere
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by WGR
I can understand GCSE maths because that's (mostly) everyday maths but A level? If you're in any situation where you had to use arithmetic series or differentiation you would certainly have a calculator to hand. I feel that they should spend more time teaching the concept rather than pointless number crunching by that stage. I rant because when i did my C1 many years ago I bombed out purely because I goofed up some long multiplication. I understood the concept of the question perfectly I just couldn't do that sum so had to leave the question. When I was allowed a calculator in C2,3 and 4 my marks shot up into the 90s. maybe it's just me but any maths concept I cna handle but I've always struggled with number crunching (long division etc) I don't see why i should have been held back at such an advanced level by that especially when it's totally obsolete nowadays. Simple times table stuff yes but long division/multiplication on paper? No one will ever need to do that in this age of transistors.
Im doing c1 at the moment and its not that hard equations all which a normal person could do in there head :P
Original post by placenta medicae talpae
If you want an A Level in maths, then you really ought to be able to do basic arithmetic in your head or on paper.
Not necessarily at lightning speed, and of course doing mega multiplications doesn't make you good at maths, but you still ought to be able to demonstrate the skill, in the same way that you need to demonstrate that you can differentiate something without e.g. the help of Wolfram Alpha.
Not necessarily at lightning speed, and of course doing mega multiplications doesn't make you good at maths, but you still ought to be able to demonstrate the skill, in the same way that you need to demonstrate that you can differentiate something without e.g. the help of Wolfram Alpha.
I get what you're saying but the time to teach the concept of long multiplication was in primary school. Sixth form is where you teach the concept of differentiation so that you must do by hand. I am all for teaching the concept of long multiplication because it's at the heart of maths but there's really no need to actually make you use it once you've learnt the concept.
Original post by techno-thriller
PS if you can't do multiplication then you don't deserve to do C1
I got an A so you can't say I shouldn't have been doing it.
Original post by the bear
it is like asking why do people still play acoustic guitars when they have spiffing electronic ones... maths unplugged is epic
That makes no sense whatsoever. People play acoustic guitar for the sound not because it's harder.
Answer me this. If long division/multiplication is so essential that we must make kids do it even in C1 then why are we allowed calculators in subsequent maths papers? Looks to me like it's just thrown in to make the paper harder because it's too easy compared to the others. Wouldn't it be more useful to make the paper harder by throwing in harder concepts rather than just more tedious number crunching?
Because the type of questions you do in C1 are the type of questions you are supposed to work out in your head.
Original post by WGR
I can understand GCSE maths because that's (mostly) everyday maths but A level? If you're in any situation where you had to use arithmetic series or differentiation you would certainly have a calculator to hand. I feel that they should spend more time teaching the concept rather than pointless number crunching by that stage. I rant because when i did my C1 many years ago I bombed out purely because I goofed up some long multiplication. I understood the concept of the question perfectly I just couldn't do that sum so had to leave the question. When I was allowed a calculator in C2,3 and 4 my marks shot up into the 90s. maybe it's just me but any maths concept I cna handle but I've always struggled with number crunching (long division etc) I don't see why i should have been held back at such an advanced level by that especially when it's totally obsolete nowadays. Simple times table stuff yes but long division/multiplication on paper? No one will ever need to do that in this age of transistors.
What about arithmetic series or differentiation implies or warrants the usage of an electronic calculator? They both pre-date (by a long, long way) the discovery of electricity, for instance. And it's ironic that you call for less number crunching - I would agree with you, numeric calculations are not required in mathematics - and yet wish to be able to use the tool which was invented for laborious number crunching!
Never forget your basic principles. We should all be able to survive without our advanced inventions if need be. Every human being worth their salt should know some basic long division and multiplication, fractions and curve sketching. It's part and parcel of being an intelligent, able-minded sentient being, rather than a drone and a waste of space.
Original post by Peter91
What's the point in asking if you only want answers that agree with you?
What is a rhetorical question?
Original post by Peter91
Sure, but you posted in a forum, then got frustrated when people replied, abandoning the thread you started, with a lovely bit of ad hominem on the way out. 
Because you all started attacking me by saying I was just too dumb to do C1. This is not constructive.
To make it half-challenging.
Original post by WGR
Ok this thread is full of angry maths nerds so I'm out.
gone to get your calculator?
only joking
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