math: no more fractions??!!??
By ersmommy1
@ersmommy1 (12588)
United States
January 30, 2008 8:36pm CST
Professor Dennis DeTurck: Fractions have had their day, being useful for by-hand calculation," DeTurck said as part of a 60-second lecture series. "But in this digital age, they're as obsolete as Roman numerals are." What do you think? Agree or not
2 people like this
6 responses
@jhl930 (3601)
• United States
31 Jan 08
I think that if people did away wtih fractions that would be the best thing ever! I always had to do fractions whenever I was in school and since I have gotten out of school I haven't had to use them once and I have been out of school for about three years now! I don't know why the teachers try and teach us and other students fractions because alot of the things they teach in school now we never use in our everyday life. I mean really who uses history(unless that is the field of work that their in)I think that half the subjects in school should be tossed!
1 person likes this
@AD11RGUY (1265)
• United States
31 Jan 08
Sadly, I must agree. When's the last time you've seen a fraction? Well, excluding the guy at the store who just bought a 1/5? Where as we still use fractions in our vocabulary, it is pretty much non-existent in our writing. To make things easier, most numerical representations are based on tens, whether in English or metric standards. So, just like the 2 x 4, fractions are a thing of the past.
(A 2 x 4 is actually 1.5" x 3.5" just in case you didn't know.)
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
31 Jan 08
I disagree... fractions are so not obselete... since in order to fully understand the concept of division, ratio and proportion, and even the decimals... one needs to understand what fractions are... we don't use it that often... but the concept is present everywhere...
I feel like he is saying that we do not need to use the pen and paper or even the brain to solve math problems... since calculators are around...
@ClarusVisum (2163)
• United States
31 Jan 08
Well hey, did you derive the quadratic equation or Pythagorus's theorem every time you used it in a math class? No, you relied on derivations already done. As long as we understand the principles, there is no need for us to reinvent the wheel.
Also, a fraction is just an unsolved division problem; do you realize that? :P
1 person likes this
@argie713 (1809)
• Philippines
31 Jan 08
I still think that fractions are more accurate than decimals. Fraction is a ratio of two whole numbers. Some fractions cannot be expressed in decimals. We must not regard fractions as obsolete. Math is an exact science and no one has the right to change it. Especially an unknown Professor Dennis DeTurck. If he wants to change something. He must go into the sciences.
@ClarusVisum (2163)
• United States
31 Jan 08
Fractions are not more or less accurate than decimals; that's silly.
Yes, math is an exact science, but fractions are literally unsolved 'equations.' For example, 1/4 is literally 1 divided by 4 with the division not done yet, but 0.25 is actually the 'answer' to 1/4. Fractions are equivalent to decimals in the same way that "1 + 1" is equivalent to "2". There is simply no reason for us to write "1 + 1" when we could 'cut to the chase' and write "2". Same goes for writing "0.25" instead of "1/4". This is why fractions are obsolete and no longer necessary.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
31 Jan 08
In our country under the elementary and high school level, fractions are still being taught. They are still part of the curriculum and are being used by day to day activities. We still have the usual old scale in the market. So like when you buy meat it is weighed down and usually you order 1/4 kilo or 1/2 kilo. I believe that fractions will stay for quite a while in our area. Considering that most of the items we usually buy here are are based on fractions.
@Farside604 (870)
• Canada
31 Jan 08
Can fractions really be obsolete? there are so man things that we use factions for or rather used them for. Yhey seem like a building block in just about everything we do. Apart from this fractions are essentially ratios and i know we still use those in econimics and other things that deal with money. i really should check out this detruck 60 second lecture.
