I think the case should be made to students who are in college, at least
those who might subsequently use computers for scientific calculations, that
there are such things as computer algebra systems, that do "symbols" rather
than "just numbers". Thus the "sales pitch" should be at students who know
some algebra and are probably learning calculus.
Convincing 5th grade students that they should use Maxima rather than some
competing program on the basis of how they each do arithmetic seems odd.
5th grade students will either be doing whatever their teachers tell them to
do (or, the US, refusing to do it) and if they are aware of programming,
will probably be using BASIC, or LOGO, or maybe Java, C++, C#, ... as a
comparison.
RJF
> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of Jay Belanger
> Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2007 7:26 AM
> To: maxima at math.utexas.edu
> Subject: Re: [Maxima] strange behaviour with simple decimals
>
>
> Raymond Toy <toy.raymond at gmail.com> writes:
> ...
> >> And it's while they're beginners that they need be sold on Maxima.
> >>
> > Why do they need to be sold on maxima? If it works for
> them, great. If
> > it doesn't, there are other alternatives.
>
> I guess that's it; we have such different premises it's not surprising
> that we don't agree.
>
> Jay
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