I had a calculus prof in college who had tests just like that. His tests were way above what he taught. In any class of 100, there are always a couple students who can do it no matter how hard it is. He'd say if they can do it, the rest of you should, too. The engineering students had to get by him before they could go on to their upper engineering courses. They were commonly having to take his class 2 or 3 times to get through it.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
I have an old math book that belonged to my great grandfather with an original copyright date from the 1700's. He was born in the 1850's. Most of the problems are practical word problems to solve real world scenarios. Many of them were farm and agriculture related such as how much seed or fertilizer you needed to buy for a certain amount of acreage. But it's definitely dated. One problem that stuck with me was to calculate how much it would cost you to hire painters to paint your house if you were paying each 10 cents/day to paint.
Most people don't really want the truth.
They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
I had a calculus prof that would give us colors and abstract stuff, his exams sucked. My next calculus prof was a retired WPPSS engineer and every problem was a story problem, I really liked his exams.
One day I realized that the physicist we collaborated with viewed the world in differential equations. When I mentioned it he said "you don't?". No sir, for me math is a screwdriver and nothing more.
Was never good at math, I'll admit. Now when I help my daughter, or try to, I need to Google the question. When I see the answer, I can walk her through the question without telling her the answer. She's in 7th grade. I'm starting to understand this new math curriculum they teach.
I had a calculus prof in college who had tests just like that. His tests were way above what he taught. In any class of 100, there are always a couple students who can do it no matter how hard it is. He'd say if they can do it, the rest of you should, too. The engineering students had to get by him before they could go on to their upper engineering courses. They were commonly having to take his class 2 or 3 times to get through it.
My calc and biochem Professor were the same. A score of 55 general was considered a B on the curve
Hated our Math teacher & that made me hate Math, my Grandfather said can you Add Subtract multiply Divide, count your money?? I said yes Granddad said you don't need any more Math tell him to go to Hell and go to work, and that's what I did it worked for me. Rio7
I do math all day long when I'm not in meetings. Well, now I cheat and write formulas in excel.
You're the guy !!!
kwg
For liberals and anarchists, power and control is opium, selling envy is the fastest and easiest way to get it. TRR. American conservative. Never trust a white liberal. Malcom X Current NRA member.
Had I attempted those, I'd have never graduated. I've had a few instances where I needed help with a problem and gone to teachers or mathematics PhD candidates. In most instances the response has been "no problem," and they start drawing on a sheet of paper. About 20 minutes later it's "can I get back with you in the morning?"
So, it was a problem.
I took a few stat classes, and matrix algebra was the way programmers handled things. Half way though the session, and with the board half covered with equations there was usually a phrase uttered like "surely you see the relationships," That usually got nothing but blank stares in return.
I'm yet to find my way through n-dimensional hyperspace.
I just spent the day with phycologists getting a baseline of my mental decay. lots of grade school math.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
I'm laughing so hard at the first post! That's me all day. After struggling in college Algebra 101 I gave up. There were 2 pretty girls in my class that seemed as dumb and dizzy as they come. We had a test one day and I studied. They were done and leaving in 15 minutes. I still had 18 problems to go. I threw in the towel for good.
But somehow I can add 3 digit figures in my head at a poker table faster than most people. And I know many college grads that can't read a ruler or a dial caliper.
I had a calculus prof in college who had tests just like that. His tests were way above what he taught. In any class of 100, there are always a couple students who can do it no matter how hard it is. He'd say if they can do it, the rest of you should, too. The engineering students had to get by him before they could go on to their upper engineering courses. They were commonly having to take his class 2 or 3 times to get through it.
I went to college in the early 70's. Electrical Engineering major, and calculus was my hardest class. Regular math, algebra, trig, geometry came easy, don't know why I had such a mental block for calculus, ended up never having to use it my whole career. Those days we used slide rules but electronic calculators came out during my college days, most professors wouldn't let you use them in class.
On another note my physics professor had worked at Los Alamos on the A-bomb. He was a weird duck, almost blind he had to use glasses that looked like binocular eyepieces. He could fill up a chalkboard with formulas and theories non-stop. He was so smart that he was very hard to follow, at least for the dumdums like me.
Life (and forums) is like a box of animal crackers----There's a Jackass in every box
I had a calculus prof in college who had tests just like that. His tests were way above what he taught. In any class of 100, there are always a couple students who can do it no matter how hard it is. He'd say if they can do it, the rest of you should, too. The engineering students had to get by him before they could go on to their upper engineering courses. They were commonly having to take his class 2 or 3 times to get through it.
My calc and biochem Professor were the same. A score of 55 general was considered a B on the curve
I had both a Calculus and a Genetics Prof at TAMU like that. 🤪
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
Hate is a strong word. Being born with a learning disability in math was not pleasant or wonderful. Finally figured out how to use guns to pass multiplication 7x7? Japanese rifle caliber ww2 =49 6x4? N frame s&w .44 special. After passing math I purchased my math book and all 29 of us took great joy burning our books at the flag in celebration of slaying the math monster. Really REALLY hate math. And chicken.
Bangflop! another skinning job due to .260 and proper shot placement.
I earned a BSEE degree and I remember how tough we all thought the calc and physics classes were those first few semesters. Then I went to grad school and figured out what whiney babies we were as underclassmen.
I had a Chinese trig teacher in college. He took English lessons after our class. At least once a class he would just say he can't remember the English name for a term, so just skip it. In trig, terms like sine, cosine, etc. are somewhat important. I got a C out of the class. So far 35 years later it has not come back to haunt me.
Organic Chemistry, that's the one that kicked my ass.
I'm honestly getting very disappointed with this Campfire place when one cannot even use the thing with which they're communicating on this forum to easily find the answer.
I mean, it's right there on the youtubermachine.
Jeebus
The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni)
I do math all day long when I'm not in meetings. Well, now I cheat and write formulas in excel.
Excel is much, much more potent of a weapon that years past. With a help of a few fellow grad students, we made some cool optimization models with Solver. And we just scratched the surface of Excel.
Excel is worlds more than spreadsheets. I like any program application that allows you to look under the hood.
"...aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." - Paul to the church in Thessalonica.
I had a calculus prof in college who had tests just like that. His tests were way above what he taught. In any class of 100, there are always a couple students who can do it no matter how hard it is. He'd say if they can do it, the rest of you should, too. The engineering students had to get by him before they could go on to their upper engineering courses. They were commonly having to take his class 2 or 3 times to get through it.
My calc and biochem Professor were the same. A score of 55 general was considered a B on the curve
I got a 23 on a physics test. Its was a B+.
One dude got 89.
Everyone else was in the 18-24 range.
The professor apologized.
The next tests were “at grade level”
"The Church can and should help modern society by tirelessly insisting that the work of women in the home be recognized and respected by all in its irreplaceable value." Apostolic Exhortation On The Family, Pope John Paul II
I do math all day long when I'm not in meetings. Well, now I cheat and write formulas in excel.
Excel is much, much more potent of a weapon that years past. With a help of a few fellow grad students, we made some cool optimization models with Solver. And we just scratched the surface of Excel.
Excel is worlds more than spreadsheets. I like any program application that allows you to look under the hood.
Knew a guy who would write excel formulas in word, then cut and past them over. Had some massive work books for reporting and he'd spend hours a day critiquing your formulas instead of using the data analysis they created. At the time, most of the other analysts were ignoring excel for R and python and the like.
I had a friend who was scary smart and had photographic memory. He got a full ride to UM, for engineering. Pete was side gig was taking tests for people for money. Think back to when SS numbers were used as your student identifier time frame was early 1980's. Pete charged $200.00 to take any math test and could even get you the grade you wanted or needed. He never went to any of his classes. He just read the book and took the tests, midterms and finals. Pete took a lot of tests and had to turn people down just because of scheduling! He made a lot of money in college. To this day he is one of the smartest people I have ever met. Math was just easy to him. The four of us would play against him in trivial pursuit and he would beat us every time. Scary smart guy.
I had a calculus prof in college who had tests just like that. His tests were way above what he taught. In any class of 100, there are always a couple students who can do it no matter how hard it is. He'd say if they can do it, the rest of you should, too. The engineering students had to get by him before they could go on to their upper engineering courses. They were commonly having to take his class 2 or 3 times to get through it.
My calc and biochem Professor were the same. A score of 55 general was considered a B on the curve
I got a 23 on a physics test. Its was a B+.
One dude got 89.
Everyone else was in the 18-24 range.
The professor apologized.
The next tests were “at grade level”
This guy that I had didn't use a curve. You needed a 70 to pass and getting 49 or 50 on a test was the usual. That's why the engineering students were having to take it 2 or 3 times to get through.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
Happened to me in Chem once. I generally liked Chemistry but this class was brutal. 2 exams only. Mid-term and final. It was 2 questions, you had 1 week to do it as a take home. Essentially getting part of one question right was a guaranteed B, getting 2 parts of 1 question right was an A.
LOVED the class as it was 99.5% lab work - hated the exams.
When a country is well governed, poverty and a mean condition are something to be ashamed of. When a country is ill governed, riches and honors are something to be ashamed of . Confucius
I had a calculus prof in college who had tests just like that. His tests were way above what he taught. In any class of 100, there are always a couple students who can do it no matter how hard it is. He'd say if they can do it, the rest of you should, too. The engineering students had to get by him before they could go on to their upper engineering courses. They were commonly having to take his class 2 or 3 times to get through it.
My calc and biochem Professor were the same. A score of 55 general was considered a B on the curve
I got a 23 on a physics test. Its was a B+.
One dude got 89.
Everyone else was in the 18-24 range.
The professor apologized.
The next tests were “at grade level”
This guy that I had didn't use a curve. You needed a 70 to pass and getting 49 or 50 on a test was the usual. That's why the engineering students were having to take it 2 or 3 times to get through.
If a teacher can't get most future engineers to score over 50%, then he's probably a lousy teacher. Maybe he's the one who needs more education.
Chinese professor in our department wants to name a left hand spinning particle in the bubble chamber, "the screw off". I am trying to explain to him, "NO YOU CAN'T!"
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
I had a calculus prof in college who had tests just like that. His tests were way above what he taught. In any class of 100, there are always a couple students who can do it no matter how hard it is. He'd say if they can do it, the rest of you should, too. The engineering students had to get by him before they could go on to their upper engineering courses. They were commonly having to take his class 2 or 3 times to get through it.
I had a physics prof like that in junior college. I took three classes with that prof and was lucky enough to suffer all three with a genius that blew the curve on every test. He'd score in the 90's and the next highest grade was in the 70's, maybe. In the last class, the genius begged to not take the final, but the prof wasn't having it. The kid (graduated HS a couple years early) answered one or two questions to get the few points he needed overall for his A and walked out. It was the only test he didn't ace and it was the most upset I'd ever seen that prof.
Had a differential equations teacher that claimed she wouldn't round up at the end of the semester, but if you were happy with your grade you weren't required to take the final. Somehow, I scored a 95 on my final test. She graded it in front of me and calculated my grade to be a 69.something. She then says, "that's close enough to a C for me, do you want to take the final?" No, and thank you.
I had a calculus prof in college who had tests just like that. His tests were way above what he taught. In any class of 100, there are always a couple students who can do it no matter how hard it is. He'd say if they can do it, the rest of you should, too. The engineering students had to get by him before they could go on to their upper engineering courses. They were commonly having to take his class 2 or 3 times to get through it.
My calc and biochem Professor were the same. A score of 55 general was considered a B on the curve
I got a 23 on a physics test. Its was a B+.
One dude got 89.
Everyone else was in the 18-24 range.
The professor apologized.
The next tests were “at grade level”
This guy that I had didn't use a curve. You needed a 70 to pass and getting 49 or 50 on a test was the usual. That's why the engineering students were having to take it 2 or 3 times to get through.
If a teacher can't get most future engineers to score over 50%, then he's probably a lousy teacher. Maybe he's the one who needs more education.
You are correct. Trying to "outsmart" generally intelligent students is just being an asspole, not a good instructor.
I took an undergrad sociology class where we were informed grading would strictly adhere to the classic Bell curve. Prof must have recently been schooled by a stats guru and become a committed follower. That being, there would be a definitive number of A's, B's, most of us would get C's, and yes for sure, some D's and F's on the low end. With no front-end knowledge of how tests might shake out, a 90% could potentially be an A or just as easily an F if everyone did well. No one felt comfortable, and the dropout rate picked substantially up near the end. With fewer students, grade slots were getting pretty narrow. I happily scored a B and did not go in to see what my actual numerical value was. I just wanted out.
A little off subject: But I had several classes where seniors were excused from final exams due to graduation schedules. I always thought that was unfair, as they should have the same opportunity to lower their grade that I did.
I took an undergrad sociology class where we were informed grading would strictly adhere to the classic Bell curve. Prof must have recently been schooled by a stats guru and become a committed follower. That being, there would be a definitive number of A's, B's, most of us would get C's, and yes, for sure some D's and F's. With no front-end knowledge of how tests might shake out, a 90% could potentially be an A or just as easily an F if everyone did well. No one felt comfortable, and the dropout rate picked substantially up near the end. With fewer students, grade slots were getting pretty narrow. I happily scored a B and did not go in to see what my actual numerical value was. I just wanted out.
A little off subject: But I had several classes where seniors were excused from final exams due to graduation schedules. I always thought that was unfair, as they should have the same opportunity to lower their grade that I did.
I never graded that way.
Suppose I taught differential equations two semesters in a row, and in one semester the class overall was filled with weaker students. If I taught and tested the same both semesters, the pure bell curve approach could lead to some B students from the weaker class actually having achieved less learning and mastery than C students from the stronger class.
He must have been a speed reader. A professor told me JFK read 8 newspapers every day. I think he could read about 800 words per minute. And that's not even super fast. He showed us how speed reading works. It helped me a lot.
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