<p>I think part of the problem is the kind of math taught prior to college. The vast majority of people won’t use anything past algebra I so I don’t see the point of putting people through more advanced math classes than that. Most of the people who use calculus and above are scientists and engineers, a very small subset of the population. </p>
<p>I think the vast majority of people would be better served if they were taught basic financial mathematics, basic statistics, and basic measurement techniques. For the general population, good language skills and solid historical knowledge are more important than trigonometry and beyond.</p>
<p>Lemaitre, could you expand on what it was that the calculators helped you with the most? Just things like arithmetic and trig functions?</p>
<p>And I agree with Enginox, understanding statistics is becoming ever more important as politicians and special interest groups keep using misleading statistics to lie.</p>
True with the bold.
But why we can’t get rid of the trigonometry and higher math in high school? Because parents cannot afford additional years for college in order for the kids to learn those math again. Sometime even kids who think they will end up in STEM end up with social science or liberal art major as freshman and they totally hate the STEM side.</p>
<p>Personally, I would require EVERY college major to take up to Calculus II. Look, if a Math/CS major like myself had to endure 2-3 Humanities courses and 2-3 Social Science courses, then make those liberal arts students have to wake up in the morning and deal with some integrals.</p>
<p>Are u kidding me? American average math standard is way behind, with exceptions to elite math students and institutions. For those who are talented in math and compete in math competitions such as USAMO etc, they had to study independently and read ahead ample materials. On the other hand, the standard bar is too low, too much breadth, little depth…</p>
<p>why do we need to raise the standard for everyone?
i read an article a month or two ago… the chinese (i am) in china was ranked top 1 in math and science, but is ranked very low in creativity and analytical skills.</p>
<p>Interesting situation. China may be #1 in math and science but there are no significant scientific innovations being developed in China; the bulk of scientific innovation is still developed in the US and Europe. China is extremely good at copying other people’s technology, however. No to mention, much of China’s success is due to the slave labor they possess.</p>
<p>Math innovation falls into the hands of the upper echelon of mathematicians. No Chinese nationalities have ever gotten the Fields Medal, which I thought was surprising. However there are notable Chinese descent mathematicians who are authorities in their field: Ex Terrence Tao & Shing Yung Tau</p>
<p>Why would that be surprising? Only less than 70 years ago China was a country of mostly illiterate farmers. Include Japan, and about 150 years ago Japan was also an illiterate country. The phenomenon of the Asian math geek is fairly recent (and reinforced by American popular culture), and much of their success is simply due to their somewhat unhealthy and obsessive focus on education.</p>
<p>There was a time when American technology and engineering was a pale imitation of its European (mostly British and German) counterparts. That ain’t true anymore. They used to say that technology and engineering in Korea and Japan was inferior to what we had in America. It was true at the time. Not anymore. China will catch up.</p>