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Computations and Computing Devices in Mathematics Education Before the Advent of Electronic Calculators pp 409–431Cite as

The Unsettling Playfulness of Computing

Part of the Mathematics Education in the Digital Era book series (MEDE,volume 11)

Abstract

Calculation algorithms are fated to be supplanted, and the art of using them replaced by different sets of skills, and eventually: machines. Yet, using and creating algorithms is still mathematically relevant and in fact contributes to the evolution of mathematics itself. In school and everyday life, however, calculating is often seen as a mindless, boring activity. Algorithms are indeed designed to require as less thinking as possible. I suggest that taking a playful attitude towards algorithms in school is essential so that they can be appreciated in full. Playing with algorithms allow them to really become objects of interest, and be offered as one particular way of experiencing mathematics.

Keywords

  • Play
  • Algorithms
  • Epistemology
  • Perfection–imperfection

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Notes

  1. 1.

    He actually dedicated 20 years of his life computing a total of 707 digits without noticing the mistake he made in the 528th digit.

  2. 2.

    Another powerful example concerns the inferiority of the prime counting function versus the logarithmic integral. A large number of confirming observations were made before the first counterexamples were identified, hence the interest in continuing calculations.

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  1. Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Jean-François Maheux

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  1. Center for General Education and Institute of History, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Alexei Volkov

  2. Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada

    Prof. Viktor Freiman

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Maheux, JF. (2018). The Unsettling Playfulness of Computing. In: Volkov, A., Freiman, V. (eds) Computations and Computing Devices in Mathematics Education Before the Advent of Electronic Calculators. Mathematics Education in the Digital Era, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73396-8_16

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