[Blindmath] Calculator for Calculus and Linear Algebra

Wed Aug 4 12:42:01 UTC 2010

Dear Peter and others,

   A scientific calculator will be sufficient for most things that
you'll need to do.  There are specific circumstances in which you'll
need some sort of graphing calculator, however.  One example that
comes to mind is when you have some oddly shaped curves and you must
determine the intersection of those curves in order to integrate
properly.  It's usually not too difficult to work around thes less
common problems, especially if you have a friend or your teacher is
willing to help out with that one tiny step.  I've tried things like
the math description engine and the accessible graphing calculator and
I can't say I'm super impressed.  I think that the MDE has a great
deal more potential and functionality than I may give it credit for,
but I never put too much effort into learning it.
   Almost all universities will let you use a scientific calculator on
your exams.  It's the higher level programmible calculators that
students are not allowed to use.  To my knowledge there isn't a
comprable product for the blind though so you'll be fine.  Linear
algebra often doesn't even require a calculator because it is more
learning about the matricies and how those will be manipulated.  My
linear algebra teacher often talked about how such problems are
"cooked to be nice" just so that people can learn the concepts without
needing a great deal of technology to support them.  I hope this
helps.

Sincerely,
   Ryan

On 8/4/10, Joseph C. Lininger <jbahm at pcdesk.net> wrote:
> Peter,
> I am coming late to this discussion, but I can comment as to why the level
> of math is required. There are a few reasons actually. First, there are
> actually a lot of situations in computer programming and software
> engineering where advanced mathematics will serve you. Examples include
> algorithm analysis, designing of new algorithms, system level programming,
> and others. It's interesting to note that many of the computer algorithms
> we use were designed by mathematicians. If you look at data compression, for
> instance, it's mostly a problem of probability and information theory.
> Cryptography is almost entirely mathematical in nature. For basic
> programming you're right. But if you want to design advanced algorithms,
> analyze existing ones, or even choose between two existing ones for your
> specific situation knowledge of mathematics is a must have. As a final
> statement on this particular point I would like to point out that there are
> algorithms out there which are only expressed in terms of the mathematical
> operations required to carry out the algorithm.
>
> There is a second reason I think they make a computer science student take
> all the math and hard science they do. I think a portion of the course work
> is designed to instill a certain way of thinking and problem solving. If you
> compare the process needed to design a software system to that required to
> solve a word problem in mathematics, you'll find there are a lot of
> similarities.
>
> When you study computer science, you're not just learning how to write a
> program. You're learning about computing in general, software engineering,
> and yes, programming. With larger software systems, the battle isn't the
> code itself. With a proper design, the actual writing of the code is much
> easier. It's hard to see that for smaller projects, though. In my opinion,
> that's one problem some colleges have with their computer science programs.
> They emphasize the need to design and use all these tools they give you, but
> you don't really have to for the tasks they set for you. It's like me giving
> you a bulldoser and telling you to use it to knock over a house of cards. A
> simple puff of air would do the job just fine. The result is that a lot of
> people don't understand why things they're being taught are important, so it
> doesn't stick as well as it should.
>
> I apologize if this seems a bit wordy. I felt the need to respond though
> because I used to feel as you do. I couldn't understand why on earth I
> should have to take mathematics to program a computer. I felt that way until
> I got into more of the upper division undergrad computer science courses.
> Then I started to understand how the mathematics applied to the topic of
> computer science as a whole. If you're just getting started, just stick with
> it and you'll start to see why they made you do it. One tip. Make sure you
> understand the math as you go. It'll be a lot harder if you don't. That's a
> lesson I had to learn the hard way.
> Joe
>
> Peter Wolfe writes:
>
>> Sarah and others,
>>
>>
>>
>>      Thank you for your timely reply to my calculator question. How
>> would you configure a  problem with a solution step by step then in
>> calculus? I'm wondering how much do I need to keep in my head and what
>> are some tips on strategies of working calculus problems? Well, I have
>> had precalculus like two and a half years ago and I forgot most of it
>> unfortunately. At the time, I thought that I was going to be a
>> politician but realized you have to be too pc for that arena. You also
>> are the wimb of voters, ethics, pay cuts or forloughs, bureaucracy and
>> etc. I'm now going to computer science and I've programmed before and
>> really don't see why you need this level of mathematics to do
>> operators or compiling much of anything at all other than domain
>> registeration or some bios or software archaetecture course work which
>> only probably 10% of the overall programming career actually pursuits.
>> Most programming in my experience is dealing with algebra like
>> variables, coefficients, standard four operations and etc not really
>> advanced mathematics.
>>
>> On 8/3/10, sarah.jevnikar at utoronto.ca <sarah.jevnikar at utoronto.ca> wrote:
>>> Peter,
>>> If you have a standard scientific calculator that works for you, you
>>> should be ok. Most universities won't let you use them for tests and
>>> exams etc. though.
>>> As far as what you need to know, I think we'd need to know about your
>>> academic background. however, if you have some algebra, trig, and
>>> geometry behind you you can grasp calculus.
>>>
>>>
>>> Quoting Peter Wolfe <sunspot005 at gmail.com>:
>>>
>>>> To Blind Math list,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     I'm wondering if my talking scientific calculator could do Cal I,
>>>> II and III and Linear Algebra work? I'm in particular wondering about
>>>> Calculus I for the fall semester. Also, it would be helpful if anyone
>>>> off list could tell me what sort of things you would need to know
>>>> before starting calculus. I'm about to get a allgebra book an geometry
>>>> with trigenemetry or whatever. Thanks for any suggestions (e.g.
>>>> talking graphing calculators or other equipment with URLS or price or
>>>> suggestions in general to my sunspot005 at gmail.com address.
>>>>
>>>> God bless,
>>>> Peter
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Peter Q. Wolfe, AS
>>>> sunspot005 at gmail.com
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Peter Q. Wolfe, AS
>> sunspot005 at gmail.com
>>
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