On 29-5-2011 22:58, Orchid XP v8 wrote:
>>> You need to know what a multiplication table *is* in order to understand
>>> long multiplication and long division. However, you absolutely do *not*
>>> need to memorise the contents of said table to comprehend mathematics.
>>>
>>> I have no idea what the corresponding tables are for octal. But I still
>>> understand how long division works in octal - i.e., THE EXACT SAME WAY
>>> AS IN DECIMAL!
>>
>> My point exactly. Having learned it in one situation carries over to
>> another. Proves how vital it was for you to learn at that point ;) See
>> also my response to Rudy.
>>
>>> The rest of your argument seems to follow from this flawed premis.
>>
>> That you didn't think it through does not make it flawed ;)
>
> You don't need to know the numerical value of pi to 40 decimal places in
> order to know how to use it. Similarly, you do not need to memorise 50
> figures of a multiplication table to understand how long division works.

You do at the age you (or actually we, the old men in this group) 
learned long division.


-- 
Apparently you can afford your own dictator for less than 10 cents per 
citizen per day.

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