Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: [Phys-L] Conceptual Physics Course





-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org
[mailto:phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org] On Behalf Of Bob Sciamanda
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:46 AM
To: Phys-L@Phys-L.org
Subject: Re: [Phys-L] Conceptual Physics Course

On a related note, what do you do to convince a person in a lasting
manner that the reciprocal of (1/x + 1/y) is not, in general, x+y?

The units will not agree.
Also, just give some values to x and y and test the two versions.


The units don't help you here. For instance, if x and y both have units
of meters, then both of the given expressions have units of meters. I
think you might be taking
the reciprocal of (1/x + 1/y)
to be
(1/x + 1/y) itself.


From: Jeffrey Schnick
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:22 AM
To: Phys-L@Phys-L.org
Subject: Re: [Phys-L] Conceptual Physics Course Regarding the
question about algebra conceptual physics course, the other
monkey wrench in the works is that some of the students, I
would estimate about a third of them, will already be quite
good at algebra.

On a related note, what do you do to convince a person in a
lasting manner that the reciprocal of (1/x + 1/y) is not, in
general, x+y?
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@mail.phys-l.org
http://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l
Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em)
treborsci@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/res12merh/
_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@mail.phys-l.org
http://www.phys-l.org/mailman/listinfo/phys-l