this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2023
131 points (96.5% liked)

Technology

58180 readers
4687 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Pentagon Set to Allow Calculator Use on Military Entrance Exam as Recruiting Slumps::The change would put the ASVAB on par with how test-taking has evolved in the past decade, with calculators being widely used in math classes and on college entrance exams such as the ACT and SAT.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 30 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I don't know about this. I would think there would be a lot of military applications, such as judging ranges, where being able to do arithmetic in your head would be pretty vital at times. Maybe I'm wrong?

[–] SatanicNotMessianic@lemmy.ml 15 points 1 year ago

It’s really a test of aptitude rather than knowledge per se. It’s highly correlated with IQ. It’s used to help decide the kinds of roles a person may be qualified for on the basis of ability, rather than knowledge. They will train a person in whatever specific skills are needed.

[–] BrisaLuna@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I agree, although I think their main concern at this time is to recruit bodies for following orders than math their way into their careers.

No military strength if no military numbers.

[–] foggy@lemmy.world -5 points 1 year ago

Yeah but we can pretty much make borderline sentient robots now. idk

If you're doing the kind of ranging that requires arithmetic you've probably specialised and received training in it.

Regular man with gun ranges by sight.

[–] datelmd5sum@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

why would you do math in your head if you had pen and paper?

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Because you're in the middle of a war?

[–] Astroturfed@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Pen and paper readily available in a warzone isn't common I believe... Just guessing, never been in an active warzone. Have tried to keep track of stuff doing multi days backpacking hiking trips. Finding a pen and paper in a hurry would suck.