Letter to the Editor | Solving for how without the why

The Letter to the Editor discusses concerns that students may be learning the “how” of mathematics without understanding the “why.” The author says it was interesting to read about a new emphasis on math education after performance reportedly plummeted in their state. They compare earlier learning that required obsolete tools like slide rules and log tables to solve difficult problems and understand underlying reasoning, not only procedures. The letter argues that calculators, as introduced later, can teach students to operate machines rather than grasp concepts. The writer thanks Texas Instruments for making it easy to solve equations, cube roots and compute areas under the curve without understanding why.