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If humans stop doing it they will get worse at it. A race to the bottom if you like.

by 6510 3y ago

loa_in_ 3y ago
Most mistakes come from exhaustion specific to the task, at least in my experience. Also that reading mostly correct material leads to errors being spotted more easily, again in my personal experience.
AlecSchueler 3y ago
Did we get worse at maths by using computers to do our computation?
- andersa 3y ago
  Worse at doing calculations manually? Absolutely. How many people have done a long division on paper in the last 10 years? Could remember immediately how to do it, not having done it since school? But does that matter, if it lets us get better at applying it to larger and larger problems?
  - 6510 3y ago
    I did one for an arithmetic function some months ago because I wasn't going to use a math lib. I had to watch no less than 3 children's youtube videos to remember how to do it. Not sure if remember is still the right word, I didn't do it since I learn it in school.
- tivert 3y ago
  > Did we get worse at maths by using computers to do our computation? We did as a matter of fact. If you could get in a time machine, I'm sure people 50 years ago were better at mental arithmetic that current-day people. They got a lot more practice, since they had not other choice. Today you can probably live your life without even knowing how to add or subtract. Just stick your card in the slot and let the computer do everything.
- fnordpiglet 3y ago
  We are worse at rote arithmetic but better at math. More people complete calculus and beyond now than ever in history. The major inflection appears to be in the late 90’s and early 00’s after the SAT allowed calculators and presumably schools became more permissive over time. https://maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/cspcc/InsightsandRecommendations.pdf https://maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/cspcc/InsightsandRec... I often hear people bemoan the loss of arithmetic skill. I will never understand that. Beyond very basic arithmetic for accelerating daily life or saving time from reaching for a calculator it has almost no actual value in life and knowledge of the mechanical shortcuts taught in school teach you absolutely NOTHING about math - like actual math, not extremely limited and specialized edge case of grade school arithmetic.

If humans stop doing it they will get worse at it. A race to the bottom if you like.

by 6510 3y ago

If humans stop doing it they will get worse at it. A race to the bottom if you like.

Most mistakes come from exhaustion specific to the task, at least in my experience. Also that reading mostly correct material leads to errors being spotted more easily, again in my personal experience.

AlecSchueler 3y ago

Did we get worse at maths by using computers to do our computation?

andersa 3y ago
Worse at doing calculations manually? Absolutely. How many people have done a long division on paper in the last 10 years? Could remember immediately how to do it, not having done it since school? But does that matter, if it lets us get better at applying it to larger and larger problems?
- 6510 3y ago
  I did one for an arithmetic function some months ago because I wasn't going to use a math lib. I had to watch no less than 3 children's youtube videos to remember how to do it. Not sure if remember is still the right word, I didn't do it since I learn it in school.
tivert 3y ago
> Did we get worse at maths by using computers to do our computation? We did as a matter of fact. If you could get in a time machine, I'm sure people 50 years ago were better at mental arithmetic that current-day people. They got a lot more practice, since they had not other choice. Today you can probably live your life without even knowing how to add or subtract. Just stick your card in the slot and let the computer do everything.
fnordpiglet 3y ago
We are worse at rote arithmetic but better at math. More people complete calculus and beyond now than ever in history. The major inflection appears to be in the late 90’s and early 00’s after the SAT allowed calculators and presumably schools became more permissive over time. https://maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/cspcc/InsightsandRecommendations.pdf https://maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/cspcc/InsightsandRec... I often hear people bemoan the loss of arithmetic skill. I will never understand that. Beyond very basic arithmetic for accelerating daily life or saving time from reaching for a calculator it has almost no actual value in life and knowledge of the mechanical shortcuts taught in school teach you absolutely NOTHING about math - like actual math, not extremely limited and specialized edge case of grade school arithmetic.