Math Is Fun Forum
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#1 2006-10-30 00:25:51
- Toast
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Posting answers to all excercises
I think answers should be posted in reply to all excercises, with explanations for the more challenging problems.
This may be a very tedious thing to do, but I find that in my experiences as a student, knowing that you have got the correct answer or knowing that you're on the right track is an invaluable thing, for several reasons.
Firstly, peace of mind. Getting tests back that you've done well on really boosts your confidence, and if you haven't done well on the test, well then at least you know what went wrong and how to remedy it next time.
Secondly, what's the point of going through questions on a topic you might know very little about (but think you know a lot about), getting loads of incorrect answers, and thinking they're right? The result: false knowledge, worse than no knowledge at all.
So, think we could do it? How important do you think having answers is? 
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#2 2006-10-30 01:03:45
- Devantè
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
I think most of the time it would be pointless. I've spent time making loads of exercises, but no-one seems to be doing them, so I don't bother posting answers. My opinion: Why post answers to questions that no-one even bothered to answer?
But a good idea, nonetheless.
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#3 2006-10-30 02:19:15
- Jai Ganesh
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
Toast and Devante',
Getting a right answer is undoubtedly satisfying.
It sends a signal to the brain that your mind is perfectly in order.
Why not post answers to all the questions?
It can be done, it shall be done and I am sure MathsIsFun is listening 
It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.
Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.
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#4 2006-10-30 03:43:18
- Toast
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
Hmm you do have a point Devante, there aren't many page views; I think it might have something to do with the informality of that forum.
But if you take the time to make an excercise, you might as well complete it with answers; it might make a difference to those who do do the excercises.
i dunno
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#5 2006-10-30 03:49:26
- Devantè
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
(It's exercises, not excercises, BTW )
I will eventually post answers, but only to a few of them. Some people have answer one or two of the exercises, but compared to over 65 exercises, that isn't much...but I guess it makes a nice storage facility for problems.
Think of it as the 'Ganesh's Puzzles' section. 
Last edited by Toast, The Crazed Post-Editor (Today 20:06:14)
Last edited by Devanté (2006-11-17 08:07:44)
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#6 2006-10-30 18:10:24
- Toast
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
lol, I've been spelling it 'excercises' for ages 
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#7 2006-11-17 07:25:07
- rida
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
lol, I've been spelling it 'excercises' for ages
Isn't saying that pretty pointless no offence
Dreams don't come true, you gotta make them come true.
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#8 2006-11-17 08:08:39
- Devantè
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
lol, I've been spelling it 'excercises' for ages
I've been spelling it that way without even noticing it. For some reason my hand kept pressing the c keystroke.
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#9 2006-11-18 03:34:17
- rida
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
It is really annoying I spent ages making a question on exercices and nobody has answered it.
Dreams don't come true, you gotta make them come true.
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#10 2006-11-18 04:59:49
- Devantè
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
I made several exercises - over 50 - that still haven't been answered, but it doesn't really matter. I like the fact that they have been archived for future use.
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#11 2006-11-18 10:14:09
- MathsIsFun
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
I don't think they ALL need answers - maybe half? And some should also be fully worked, as examples.
(BTW, I still remember I have to find a way to sort the topics alphabetically)
I think they are a GREAT resource, particularly as we are around to help people out.
Overall the exercises have had many thousands of pageviews. We have probably helped lots of people. But people tend to use the internet without responding.
We could publicise them more, but I don't really know how. There must be teacher groups that would be interested.
"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..." - Leon M. Lederman
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#12 2006-11-18 10:54:14
- Devantè
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Re: Posting answers to all excercises
If we could get teachers to use our exercises from the Exercises forum, that would be a huge step, and could promote MathsIsFun even more.
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