Friday, September 12, 1975
13
University Daily Kansan
Ciphers multiply at KU
Staff Writer
By BRUCE SPENCE
Hundreds of University of Kansas students tick off mathematic calculations by the thousands. That's no different than it has always been.
What is changing is the mode in which those calculations are handled.
With the advent of the electronic mini-calculator, No. 2 pencils are allowed frequent respeits, and the slide rule appears to make its place beside the horse and buggy.
Mike Murphy, manager of Team Electronics, 2319 Louisiana St., said a basic four-function model (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) that was listed in the 1972 catalog for $239.95 now sold for $39.95.
With increased use of calculators by students, came problems about how to do math with them.
He said prices usually dropped after the first year of production of a new function because by that time, the cost of resorption was reduced or integrated circuit, had been absorbed.
Recent newspaper ads have offered calculators for as little as $15.
Prices in his store range from $20 to $150,
depending on the location. Murray said,
Of the Schools of Engineering, Business,
and Architecture and Urban Design, and
the Arts, Science, Technology, and astronomy, and chemistry, only the
chemistry department has a definite policy
Over the past few years, calculator prices have dropped, while sales have soared.
Calculators offer a wide variety of features and some models can be programmed with preselected sequences of steps recorded on magnetic sticks—punch in several numbers as variables, and it spits out the answer.
Other schools and departments leave the issue to the individual instructors.
John Landgrebe, chairman of the department of chemistry, said he wasn't aware of any students with the memory-type calculators.
The chemistry department policy, set one- and one-half years ago, says that electronic calculators are allowed at exams but they aren't of the type that can be programmed.
"Mostly what a calculator does is take the drudgery out of the arithmetic part of it," he said. "The student still has to understand what numbers to plug in and how to arrange the formulae to get the right answer, which is key to understanding the problems."
Russell Bradt, chairman of the department of mathematics, said, "In most of the courses here, in most of the instances, calculators are of no great advantage."
Although calculators might be useful in a course such as statistics, he said, they
Gordon Wilseman, associate chairman of the department of physics and astronomy, said most instructors had encouraged the use of calculators.
"It's a tough issue," said Joseph Pichler, of the school of Business.
"The attitude of most of the faculty is that a hand calculator is a very convenient and modern device, and as long as such a device can be used, it can be used to use it to the maximum." Wiseman said.
wouldn't solve differential equations or integrations.
Although the student who didn't have a calculator at exams might be at a slight disadvantage, he said, the time element is not though not insignificant, is minimal.
Faculty members he has talked to have said they didn't want to give an advantage to students more economically well-off or others. But, he said, it could be argued that proper allocation of a student's money would allow him to buy a calculator.
Although students who calculated by hand seemed to develop a certain amount of skill in performing these calculations.
As the number of students who use calculators has increased, Wiseman said, the number of completely absurd answers on exams has increased.
Lawrence Sherr, professor of business,
("The real problem I see is on exams, to
"make sure everybody in an equal
amount of time gets the answer")
said that he allowed the use of calculators if students could buy or could borrow them. If they could't, he said, they would have to do their work the old way.
Charles Kahn, dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Design, said his school had bought calculators that were for checkout by faculty and students.
William P. Smith, dean of the School of Engineering, said that to his knowledge, almost every faculty member in the school allowed the use of calculators.
"Computation is a way of life with engineers, and it's obvious the pocket calculator is replacing the slide rule very rapidly." Smith said.
Although wild answers are a possibility when using calculators, he said, engineers are more likely to make an error if working with numbers less than 10. He found them harder than using some kind of calculation.
"A calculator just tends to give a good deal more flexibility and a good deal more power in what you are doing," he said. "It's important to work with your team or to work to your detriment. If you use it intelligently, it's going to widen your horizon."
Hillel and Lawrence Jewish Community Schedule of High Holiday Services Yom Kippur Day of Atonement
KOL NIDRE:
Sunday, September 14 7:30 p.m.
Forum Room, Kansas Union
Kol Nidre will be chanted by Zamir Bavel
Aharon Shashar will address the congregation
MORNING SERVICES
Monday, September 15 9:30 a.m.
Jewish Community Center
Yizkor (Memorial) Services will be around 11:30 a.m.
Fast Breakfast served by Jewish Community Women at Sundown at the Jewish Community Center
(Closing) 5:00 p.m.
MINCHA NEILAH
For a ride or more information, call:
Steve 842-7163
John 843-8153
RE-PRINT SALE
As a result of a printing error our blotters show a Fall Print Sale scheduled during the week of Sept.15.
The Print Sale has been deleted due to the unavailability of prints.
kansas union
BOOKSTORE
FALL ELECTIONS - OCTOBER 1 & 2
OPENINGS FOR STUDENT SENATORS AND FRESHMAN CLASS OFFICERS:
2 HALF-YEAR FRESHMAN-SOPHOMORE SEATS
6 FULL-YEAR FRESHMAN-SOPHOMORE SEATS
1 HALF-YEAR EDUCATION SEAT
1 HALF-YEAR LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES SEAT
1 FINE ARTS SEAT
3 HALF-YEAR GRADUATE SCHOOL SEATS
1 HALF-YEAR JOURNALISM SCHOOL SEAT
The deadline for filing is September 17 at 5:00. Pick up and return applications with a five dollar filing fee at the Student Senate office, 105B in the Union. A petition with 50 names is required for freshman class officer candidates.
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