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Calculators generally don't lie [1], but people do frequently make mistakes pressing their buttons. Calculators' accuracy cannot be trusted, because people's a
by mkl 7y ago
Calculators generally don't lie [1], but people do frequently make mistakes pressing their buttons. Calculators' accuracy cannot be trusted, because people's accuracy cannot be trusted. I think this experiment is really simulating things like entering mistakes, and you should pay attention and notice when the numbers seem off. I just finished marking an exam question that depended heavily on calculator work, and quite a few people need to work on their calculator mistrust...
[1] Well, they do! But only things like small rounding errors that usually don't matter.
- codeulike 7y agoDealing with operator error is different from having doubts about the accuracy of an appliance. For quite a lot of things done on a calculator, trying to judge whether the numbers seem 'right' is going to be difficult. A more reasonable way to reduce operator error is to key the calculation through the device a couple of times and make sure you get the same answer.
- mkl 7y agoFor purely keying errors, yes, but at least as big a problem are errors in translating formulas to the calculator, like leaving out parentheses, and these errors will probably just be repeated.