In reply to Mick Heavey’s letter (Oxford Mail, October 7) I would like to ask when the last time was he found it necessary to “work out the square root of a six digit number”, presumably, going by his letter, without the use of a calculator?

While he may think this is an essential skill, I have to disagree.

What would be the point in spending a day or two during your time in education, simply learning how to do something like this, when, on the very odd occasion you need to do so, you can find the answer with a calculator, mobile phone, or computer?

Does this mean Mick can work out the square root of a 23 digit number in less time than it takes to pick up a calculator or sit down at a computer too?

Has he come across the need to do this at any point recently?

What he doesn’t realise is that perhaps education has evolved somewhat since he was at school, and rather than learning how to do a few specific tasks, people are taught how to do many more different tasks, using tools that are readily available.

Mathematicians, like all professionals, use tools to enable them to be effective in the workplace.

ALEX WILKINSON, Chamberlain Place, Kidlington