🚀 go-pugleaf

A colleague was wondering recently what was the use of teaching
permutations and combinations when there are calculators which will
calculate these results for them. I suggested an essay: Distinguish
between permutations and combinations using examples and showing
calculations. 

Also remember that proof is essay--especially when doctored up as
paragraph proof--and so is flowcharting. 

Redefine "essay" to meet your own needs. Remember your responsibility as
a mathematician: if you don't like to work within the confines of a
category such as "essay" then redefine and rename the catgory for your
own purposes.

Darren Greenspoon <dgreensp@wmnt.yrbe.edu.on.ca> wrote:

> I am wondering if anyone has information on topics for an essay or research
> paper for high school Math students to do in a Calculus course or a Finite
> Math course (Permutations/Combinations/Matrices).  At the school where I
> work, the Principal is making it mandatory to have an essay in every
> course.  As math teachers, we are racking our brains for ideas so that we
> can incorporate this policy into our classes.  Any help or WWW links would
> be very helpful.
>  

-- 
Ernest F. Gunn
gunns@myhost.com


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