Wed, 29 Apr 2009, 01:23

A student asks:

	
	
	Dear Prof Patt,

	Can we use calculators of this exam? With the floating point stuff, 
	it might be useful in saving some time.

	Thanks,
	<<name withheld to protect the student who wants his caculator>>



Indeed, it might save you some time.  However, for obvious reasons that
I am not happy about, I will have to ask you to take longer to do the
arithmetic without a calculator.  Calculators will not be allowed in
the exam.  Use of a calculator will mean an automatic 0 on the exam.

In the interest of saving you time, it is not necessary to work out the
detailed arithmetic to the last detail.  For example, if a calculation
results in a value containing fractions, leaving the result in fractional
form will receive full credit.

For example, suppose the answer to a floating point question is 1.0011 x 2^(-1),
it would be enough to show the answer as 19/32, which is 1/2 + 1/16 + 1/32.
You do not have to do the division.

OK?

Good luck tomorrow.

Yale Patt