My son is taking Algebra II now and just finished rational functions. Which means I just finished rational functions, too. I think the textbook called a function like f(x) = (x^2-1)/(x+1) discontinuous. Or maybe it simply said it had a "hole". Will this be on the test? WILL I EVER USE THIS???? On Fri, Nov 15, 2013 at 8:01 AM, Dan Asimov <dasimov@earthlink.net> wrote:
As I recall, Baker spoke (also?) of "points of discontinuity" of rational functions.
But I don't think a rational function can have a point of discontinuity. (It's continuous at all points in its domain, no?)
And when I took algebra II (then known as intermediate algebra), no one taught about removable singularities.
--Dan
On 2013-11-15, at 7:24 AM, Cris Moore wrote:
George, I agree with you that people are to quick to make math optional.
But what do you think of Baker's critique of the way the curriculum is structured? He gives the example of teaching kids about removable and unremovable singularities in rational functions --- a lot of terminology-heavy stuff that seems more suited to memorization and multiple-choice standardized tests than actual understanding.
My suggestion would be for some math to be mandatory, but for the curriculum to be designed around getting a sense of how mathematics and mathematical discovery actually works. For instance, I would give them a taste of combinatorics and abstract algebra, where there are interesting and accessible proofs --- the current focus on algebra and calculus is about calculation but hardly ever about proof.
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