Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!bellcore!duncan From: duncan@ctt.bellcore.com (Scott Duncan) Newsgroups: comp.edu Subject: Re: Subtle Math Questions Message-ID: <1991May15.121134.29777@bellcore.bellcore.com> Date: 15 May 91 12:11:34 GMT References: Sender: usenet@bellcore.bellcore.com (Poster of News) Reply-To: duncan@ctt.bellcore.com (Scott Duncan) Organization: Computer Technology Transfer, Bellcore Lines: 20 In article harkcom@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp (Alton Harkcom) writes: > > Everyone got the correct answer: '5' in standard notation as the >multiplication operator has higher priority. I doubt the response >would have been as good if I polled a wide selection of HS graduates >in the US though. I would guess that the majority of high school >graduates in Japan would have gotten it right. I'm concerned that we care whether some other country's kids can get the right answer or not. If education in this country cannot produce students who can get the correct answer (even better, explain their reasoning, even if the answer was wrong), then who cares? Would we feel better about education in this country if it was as disappointing in others? (Perhaps yes since it seems fear over competition from the Russians in the 50's and now the Japanese in the 80's-90's is the major concern of many people.) Speaking only for myself, of course, I am... Scott P. Duncan (duncan@ctt.bellcore.com OR ...!bellcore!ctt!duncan) (Bellcore, 444 Hoes Lane RRC 1H-210, Piscataway, NJ 08854) (908-699-3910 (w) 609-737-2945 (h))