Brookfield Central High School - Legend Yearbook (Brookfield, WI)

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Tell Me Why Should Students Use Calculators? a F or many years, the only method of computation available to mathematicians and students was spen- cil :land paper. lt couid take hours of xaeonous, calculations to sotvea prob- iern, and the slightest error anywhere in the process couid make aii the work nothing more than wasted time. V But then, through major scientific advances, the basic calculator was first invented and then later became availa- ble to consumers. These crude devices were also very expensive, so they remained more of a curiosity than any- thing eise. ' y As calculator technolo im roved , ., QV P and the price of calculators came within theirange i of the average person, 'it seemed that everyone was buying acai- culator, including students. This caicu- lator' expiosion altowedstudents to do 'math' land. science lg hvomeworkg much qiuiskefi' 309: ,FUOIB ..a9GU'?HiBly, but lit ,raisedzthe qunesfioiy'ns-itirignfiol ie: me calculator do the thinking for the stu- dent? The feeling among many teachers at BCHS is that the use of calculators is fine, but only after the student has teamed the theory behind why a certain function works. Says Mr. Miller, I believe the calculator is only as good as the person operating it. Mr. Hilmer continues, l encourage their use at the more advanced revels, because they tree the student from tedi- ous calculations, and allow him to con- centrate on logic. The feeling among students seems to be that they should be used as an aid whenever possible. Comments Fran Ruzicka-Q 1 feel that not using calcula- tors is astep backwards. -The use of caiculators is undoubtedly convenient, but it is important not to lose the basic skills of mathematics to 'the electronic age. I ' 1 -l 124 f Math

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ba- ff One and One Is Two T he well-rounded math background given by the Brookfield Central Mathematics Department can be a foundation for the future. ln the worlds of both busi- ness and science, a prospective employee must have a large and relevant background in mathematics. Such a working knowledge of both the fundamental and advanced forms of math is offered here at Central. Although only one math course is required to gradu- ate, most students take a predetermined sequence of courses. Math is one of those things l'm going to have to know for the rest of my life, so l'm taking all three years plus Computer Science, says Kurt Neumann. At Central, a student can take every course from Gen- eral Math to Calculus. Most students take Geometry and Algebra ll, and some dedicated students progress to Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry. Also offered are Statistics, Computer Science, and Calculus. I took math because it wasn't terribly difficult and because l like it, remarks Libby Hoff. I think it will help me later on with my career. ln all classes there are qualified teachers to help the students learn the sometimes difficult material. From addition and subtraction to using logarithms, sines, and cosines, math students at Central are gaining skills that they will use for a lifetime. Math X 123

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Mc., i if-.3 fl' ...Q From Abacus . . . to Algebra Ml Mrs. Dolores Schwinn - Elementary Algebra ll: Geometryg Assistant Legend Advisor. C5l Mr. Ted Pechacek - Geometry, Trigonometry, Analytic Geometryg Statis- tics Gil Mr. Jack Eleyet - The Calculusg Algebra llg Geometry. Ui Mrs. Kathleen Jones - Geometryg Algebra ll. Q11 Eraser in hand, Doug Wagner prepares to put a problem on the board. 121 Taking a glance at the camera, Lisa Glenn tries to decipher a mathematics test. Alter an absence on the day a test was originally administered, many students must make it up out in the hall, where absolute concentration is much harder to maintain. 13, Laura Albert concentrates on punch- ing values into her calculator. Should calculator use be allowed at the high school level? Gi Jenny Schauer gets some special attention and help from Mrs. Krogmann during an especially difficult unit. Math X 125