Must be future engineers...

markem · 08-18-2010, 07:22 PM

I like to ask grad students this question:

What is the shortest distance between two points?

You see, the average student immediately goes back to some half remembered statement from a 7th grade teacher but the question that they answer is "What is the shortest distance between any two points?" rather than the one I asked. The answer to the question I asked? Zero.

It is as important to understand the question as it is to know the answer.

08-18-2010, 07:22 PM	#7
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,664 Trading: (47)	Re: Must be future engineers... I like to ask grad students this question: What is the shortest distance between two points? You see, the average student immediately goes back to some half remembered statement from a 7th grade teacher but the question that they answer is "What is the shortest distance between any two points?" rather than the one I asked. The answer to the question I asked? Zero. It is as important to understand the question as it is to know the answer. __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx

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