- #1
KL7AJ
- 78
- 12
"A calculator is a thing that will give you the wrong answer to 15 decimal places."
Words of wisdom from my college slide rule instructor:
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the reliability and limitations of calculators, particularly in the context of precision and floating point errors. Participants reflect on the nature of answers provided by calculators and the implications for mathematical understanding.
Discussion Character
- Conceptual clarification, Technical explanation, Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant asserts that a calculator can provide the wrong answer to 15 decimal places.
- Another participant agrees, emphasizing the precision of the wrong answer.
- A different viewpoint suggests that calculators can give the right answer to 15 decimal places if used correctly, but may produce incorrect results beyond that due to floating point errors.
- Another participant adds that calculators lack context, which affects their output, particularly when dealing with numbers that represent measurements versus pure numbers.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the reliability of calculators, particularly regarding the accuracy of their outputs and the context in which they are used. No consensus is reached on the implications of these points.
Contextual Notes
There is an underlying assumption about the nature of floating point arithmetic and its impact on calculations, which is not fully explored. The discussion also does not clarify the definitions of measurements versus numbers.