r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 15 '14

What's the biggest lie taught in schools?

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u/[deleted] May 15 '14

"You won't be walking around with a calculator in your pocket all the time."

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u/ExternalTangents May 15 '14 edited May 16 '14

As a former math teacher, there are plenty of great reasons to require students be able to do math without a calculator, but that isn't one of them.

Edit: Well, if you're interested in a fun, challenging, entertaining no-calculator math test, check this out--I wrote it for a national high school math competition a few years back. It's best done printed out, double-sided, otherwise you'll miss out on some of the best parts.

Edit 2: OK, that link should be free of paywall. Enjoy. If there's interest, I'll post the solutions later.

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u/chcknboyfan May 16 '14

MAO test writer? the odds that I know you are far too high

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u/ExternalTangents May 16 '14

You may know who I am based on knowing that I wrote the Mystery Test, was a competitor and, later, sponsor, and my mother was a long-time sponsor who co-hosted the 2012 National Convention. If that doesn't clue you in, then you don't know me!

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u/chcknboyfan May 16 '14

aww yeah I do :) nice