Manual Computations Vs. Calculators?

Question

Why do people must agonize themselves with Manual Computations? We are in a advanced technological era. Calculators (Scientific) are commonly used in the American land. Manual Computations slows down the process of computing in numerical algorithms and It is time-wasting. Calculators speeds up the process. Therefore the difference is not only in the difficulty in the process but in time. Time really matters. Would rather waste your neurons away or use it. What are your findings? Pls. try not to put answers that are baloney. What are your observations. Should we use machines or our brains? Skeptics are welcome.

Answer 1

Calculators are great at getting you an answer quickly, but how do you know the answer is correct?

Calculators and computers are only tools. We should use our brains before we use machines.

The manual calculation helps verify the calculator (or spreadsheet) result is correct.

For example, I was working on a project where someone spent two days working on a spreadsheet. After which I looked at his fancy spreadsheet and could tell it was wrong after just 5 seconds of review. I had to show him my hand calculations so he knew where he went wrong. He still argued with me that he was correct since the spreadsheet gave him a number. I couldn't believe he was arguing with me since his error was something a college freshmen would have picked up. I had to spend two hours showing him why his spreadsheet was wrong by going through the problem step by step. I was so frustrated that I had to do that. The error was so obvious, but he couldn't grasp the basic concept. He spent another day checking his spreadsheet when he finally admitted to me that he inadvertently used a (-) instead of a (+). What a freaking idiot!

He wasted a day trying to verify his spreadsheet and wasted my time arguing with him. I guess that shoots down the argument that calculators are faster.

However, once the calculations are verified I have no problems with using calculator or spreadsheets (glorified calculators). I use them all the time.

I disagree with manual calculations being a waste of neurons. Manual calculations reinforce the neuron paths by having our brains work on higher order problems while pushing buttons just dumbs us down since it's a rudimentary action.

You can get a monkey to push buttons.
Can you get a monkey to integrate sin(x) dx ?

Edit... another calculator horror story.
Another coworker was given a task of analyzing some parts looking for the best thickness for lightest weight but best strength. After a couple days he came up with an answer, which by the way was twice as thick as my quick hand calculation estimate. I asked to look at his work. It was a jumbled mess full of incorrect assumptions. Top it off he punched in the wrong numbers into his calculator. Needless to say, I took him off the project.

He wasted three days coming up with BS. His calculator did not speed up the process.

I've come to believe that people that argue against manual computations really don't know the basic concepts so they become reliant upon a calculator to give them a number where any number will do.

GIGO = Garbage in, Garbage out

Answer 2

Your view is that problem solving is a far more important need than 'people doing it themselves'. It is a sensible argument.

If you believe that problem solving culture will remain forever it is partially true! A logical number application by relating many needs (which need bare minimum computing) may sbstantially eliminate computing! Thereby computers will become far more useful!

Fact is that 'problem solving' is not easy to people! Without grasping intricacies of computing people cannot do it. So manual computing is a bare need!

Further, though a calculator instantly computes; a manner to imagine correct answers is a human skill. Experience is needed for that . A learning of computing methods is therefore mandatory to all people! What is to be learned is a matter of concern!

'Time to compute' will marginally decrease by using calculators. In fact calculators work by relating data fed into it. Human involvement is a part of it and mistakes too!

Unless and until "few programs based" calculators are common time saving by 'use of calculators' will be marginal.

There is a need to increase speed of human computing.

Calculators shall work as program-using minicomputers!

People and calculators have own strengths and weaknesses.

When computing grows with due regards to said qualities computing will become a pleasure!

More than a machine brain may be preferred!

Answer 3

You have a valid point. Time is important, no doubt.

But, as we see in america, too much calculator use makes the brains numb in general.If you input 2+2 in calculator as well, then there is something terribly wrong. We all do 56X34 in calculator, no problem, but 78+34 should be done in your brain, and to a lot of us, it takes about the same time as typing those numbers in calculators take.

My point is, its always good to exercise your neurons a bit by doing calculations in head. That will, in general, enhance your brain's capability to interpret things and make you intellegent.

Answer 4

We need to know a minimum of how to compute some algebraic expressions to keep aware of the possible mistakes and pitfalls of calculators in some cases.

Also, if some one is tackling some problem, he might need to do the details of the calculations to see the pattern or patterns found in the way to solving this problem.

Other than that, one should not waste his time in computing.

Answer 5

well i went into mcdonalds one day and their system was down
so all calculations had to be done by hand
I had to help calculate the total of my order because even the manager could not do hand calculations they did not even know how much sales tax was
goes to show you that we should at least have some basic knowledge about using hand calculations

Answer 6

I agree that calculators are much less prone to error and faster.

However, you still should have the skills to make the calculations yourself in case you don't have the technology handy or the technology fails.