When I argue that science is not based on faith, because the hypothesis that it
works is tested every time it is applied, some students cry foul.  They seem to
have a problem with recursive functions!  I tell them that calculators are to
blame.  If they learned to get square roots using Newton's method, these
concepts would be much easier.

One day, a (very) senior faculty member was walking by during this discussion.
I said, "Clyde, do you know Newton's method for calculating square roots."
Without missing a beat, he said, "Hell yes, Newton taught it to me himself!"

Paul Brandon wrote:

> For extra credit:
> How long did it take a Friden calculator to grind out a square root?

--
*****************************************************************
* Mike Scoles                      *    [EMAIL PROTECTED]   *
* Department of Psychology         *    voice: (501) 450-5418   *
* University of Central Arkansas   *    fax:   (501) 450-5424   *
* Conway, AR    72035-0001         *                            *
********* http://www.coe.uca.edu/psych/scoles/index.html ********



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