I guess it was the atoms, coffee, coconuts and tractors that threw me off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_function

Now tell us what you meant when you said "Then all three of them have much to answer for." :)

Bob Hansen

On Oct 17, 2012, at 8:32 PM, Louis Talman <talmanl@gmail.com> wrote:



On Wed, Oct 17, 2012 at 5:49 PM, Robert Hansen <bob@rsccore.com> wrote:

How do you handle units? Like 12 miles or 14 hours?

That's a very good question. How does one handle units in general? What axioms does one use? If there are none, then Robert's earlier question about an exam is well-posed: "Is this mathematics?"
 
How do you show a rational function between polynomials, such that a student can see it and simplify it or factor it?

What on earth is "a rational function between polynomials"? Dare I ask, "Is this mathematics?"?

--Louis A. Talman
  Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
  Metropolitan State College of Denver

  <http://rowdy.mscd.edu/%7Etalmanl>