The Joy of Math... sort of...

I had to answer these discussion questions this week, just thought I would share each one as I do them.

Question: Describe your feelings about math, rate your math anxiety, and describe what coping mechanisms might be helpful to you and your classmates.Thank you and Good Luck!

My Answer: I hate math. I have to live with that I guess. Math never has done anything against me personally; it is just that when I need it most, it eludes me or sends me into confusion. I feel anxiety build up as I try to solve a math problem in front of others. I thought of starting a support group for math haters and people who find math an issue, yet I might have to use math to run the group. I hope to laugh off my anxiety and push forward to find out that I can learn math and develop new skills. With these new found skills I hope to develop an unhealthy love for math. I hope to become consumed and totally obsessed with math. I hope to show off my new found skills and teach others how they too can be like me. I hope the teacher of this course is up to such a noble task and will be able to help me accomplish my lofty goals. On the other hand I hope my writing and grammar skills go totally to pot as I take this course. That way there will be a balance in the world and it will not fall apart around me and others.

DQ2: Some people believe that calculators have eliminated the need to learn the skills required to perform mathematical operations by hand. State your position on this belief, and then support your position with real-life stories or examples.

Thank you and have a Wonderful day.

My Answer: I personally do not think calculators are good or bad. I sincerely believe calculators are simply a tool and are not moral agents at all. With that out of the way, I see that most people must still know the formulas to use the calculator to it's fuller potential. What happens is that a person may learn math and never use it leading to the old adage stating, "If you don't use it; you lose it." Most often a person learns math at a young age, then never has to really use math or specializes in a particular area and loses the skills he or she learned. As one ages, the memory of youthful days are much more wanting of fanciful memories of joy and excitement and most often not sitting in math class learning math. Though I suppose there are some people that do truly enjoy math and as their aged mind wanders to past youthful experiences, they may dwell on the days they spent in a math classroom. These people I would suppose used math throughout their lives and never lost their skills and I bet occasionally used a calculator.