Instructor's solution manuals in courses.

[MathematicalPhysicist]

Well my question is, the fact that one can find instructor's solution manuals in the net, doesn't it mean that there are over there some corrupted instructors?

I mean there's a point where you can't ask anymore new questions, doesn't it?

Unless I am mistaken and you can ask indefinitely questions on the subjects which are being tested.
Obviously every student would prefer knowing the answer, but if the student wants one day to become a researcher he should know when to be independent and find solutions to problems without solution manual.

I must confess that I use these manuals, but I ensure that I understand the solution and not blindly copying like a parrot.

 

[symbolipoint]

MathematicalPhysicist

You are using solutions manuals the way the should be used. This is not corrupt. YOU are using the manuals as a way to get help while you are studying, exercising, and checking your solutions and answers. This is more efficient than everyone with difficulty going to the instructor, teacher, professor for help.

You are most imaginably doing like so:

1. Take an exercise problem
2. Read, think, try to solve or answer the exercise.
3. If you have some trouble, you check into some of but not all of the published solution, and try to keep working through the rest of the problem; but if still not managing, then you study more of the published solution.
4. In case you still are confused, you try to study from the notes and book section
5. If still confused, you can ask your professor.

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

I was referring to those instructor's solution manuals that spread around the net not of the students' solution manuals.

Mind you most of the logic textbooks Iv'e seen have answers at the back, but sometimes there are mistakes in them. I am corresponding with one logician, it seems his textbook is plagued with errors also in the answers.

Anyway, I digress; what I was referring is to SM that aren't supposed to be in the net; I.e the detailed SM of the instructors.

Mind you there are some books that don't have official SM spread around the net (like Spivak's DG or Classical Electromagnetism of Schwinger's).

But there are some instructors' SM that can be found in the net, I assume they aren't supposed to be found in the net.
I might be mistaken.

 

[symbolipoint]

I was referring to those instructor's solution manuals that spread around the net not of the students' solution manuals.

Mind you most of the logic textbooks Iv'e seen have answers at the back, but sometimes there are mistakes in them. I am corresponding with one logician, it seems his textbook is plagued with errors also in the answers.

Anyway, I digress; what I was referring is to SM that aren't supposed to be in the net; I.e the detailed SM of the instructors.

Mind you there are some books that don't have official SM spread around the net (like Spivak's DG or Classical Electromagnetism of Schwinger's).

But there are some instructors' SM that can be found in the net, I assume they aren't supposed to be found in the net.
I might be mistaken.

Thanks for the clarification.
I believe other people's posting of an instructors's solution manuals is like unauthorized publishing, regardless if these postings are for profit or not. Too easy to do and so too hard to make it stop if it is happening. Only okay if the instructor himself is posting HIS solution manual on the internet I agree. Posting these without authorization is wrong.

 

[spaghetti3451]

Well my question is, the fact that one can find instructor's solution manuals in the net, doesn't it mean that there are over there some corrupted instructors?

I mean there's a point where you can't ask anymore new questions, doesn't it?

Unless I am mistaken and you can ask indefinitely questions on the subjects which are being tested.
Obviously every student would prefer knowing the answer, but if the student wants one day to become a researcher he should know when to be independent and find solutions to problems without solution manual.

I must confess that I use these manuals, but I ensure that I understand the solution and not blindly copying like a parrot.

< Post edited by a Mentor >

Also, most undergraduate and graduate level problems cannot usually be solved by a student himself. You need to talk to people (which is why you have a place like physicsforums), read textbooks and use online material.

That is one reason for the prevalence of take home finals in graduate level courses. Asking a student to solve a graduate level problem in an exam without having done similar problems before is pointless. The student won't be able to do the problem in most cases.

Also, in research work, you are of course allowed to use any textbooks or online material or talk to people. The key skill to acquire is how to use resources to obtain answers.

 

[berkeman]

Thread closed for Moderation...

 

[berkeman]

I believe other people's posting of an instructors's solution manuals is like unauthorized publishing, regardless if these postings are for profit or not. Too easy to do and so too hard to make it stop if it is happening. Only okay if the instructor himself is posting HIS solution manual on the internet I agree. Posting these without authorization is wrong.

Well said. Thread will remain closed.