Posted by T.Gracken on August 31, 2002 at 10:55:47:
In Reply to: Re: questions??? posted by Soroban on August 31, 2002 at 01:55:21:
: All that talk about L'Hopital was wearing me out.
: I use it as a last resort - not the first.
I do make assumptions about the level of student (perhaps too often). I don't always use L'Hopital's rule as a last result (as it can save a great deal of effort on occasion). I assumed the student would be familiar with it as he/she mentioned 'integration'. When the response was 'how do you get a derivative', I realized I made the wrong assumption. My grousing (although difficult to tell when just typing text) was meant in jest. I usually type what I would speak, but (generally too late) remember that when typed, all of the inflections in tone one normally uses in speech (so that one can distinguish jest from grouse, et al) are lost.
In any case, If I find that the level is too advanced, I don't really have any problem at all stepping back (so to speak), until the level is appropriate. We all have had to do that here on occassion.
: Recently, someone asked about the limit of
: (sin x)/x as x -> 0, using the "Squeeze Theorem".
: Some clown, with his usual devastating brand of
: acid sarcasm, said, "Ever heard of L'Hopital?"
Was that me??? I avoid squeeze theorem like the plague. (and I do find sarcasm humorous on many occassions)
: I beginning to rant... sorry. I'll shut up now.
No need to not rant. I've been known to on occassion... but usually my thoughts outrun my ability to type. (...of course, that may be a clue to all you out there how slow I type.)
And as a final note to you, Mr. S.; I often do write answers more harshly here than I might in a classroom due to the anonymity this forum allows (although I always provide my email address for anyone wishing to respond). As you spent many years in a classroom setting, you must be aware that the forums are very different, especially in today's sue happy, gotta make everyone feel good society where math seems to be the topic that is accepted by the vast majority of people to be a target for critisism. Can you imagine how long you or I would be allowed to stay in a classroom if I treated my students like a coach treats his/her players? You (being a retired teacher?/instructor?/professor?/etc.) know that in any other educational discipline one can get away with saying things to students that, if said to a student in a math class, would have students & parents filing grievances and demanding the teacher be fired. Believe me, I've had my share of this over the last 14 years, and so has every other professor in my department no matter how careful they are with their tongue. My gosh, I was once reprimanded (by a dean!) for telling a student in a remedial course not to sleep while in my classroom; that if she was that tired or bored, she should just go home.
But I ramble... I better get a cup of coffee before it gets worse... maybe I should try decaf!!!