lex Wilkinson, writing in last Tuesday’s Oxford Mail, criticised Mick Heavy’s letter (October 7) and focussed on Mick’s ability, or inability, to calculate square roots without a calculator.
I think Alex is barking up the wrong tree. Education standards have declined because of the use of such tools.
He questioned the use in life of having such a capability to do complex calculations without aids.
For a start, it gives a greater understanding of what the results should be, and, secondly, mathematics provides an exactness too often missing in today’s society, where ‘near enough’ is good enough.
I found square roots and Pythagorus theorum very useful, and used them daily in working out roof timbers in my job as a carpenter.
The problem is not about how to use what you know, but getting a thorough basic understanding of how things work.
Generally, man looks for the easy way to do things and this leads to a lazy mind – and a lazy body.
That is human nature.
Adrian Taylor, Eynsham
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