Fall 2021 MTCA Workshop #1

Jason Ermer

Can We Use a (Broken) Calculator?

If only we math teachers had a dollar for every time we were asked, "Can we use a calculator?" In this session, calculator use is not just allowed, it is required. There is a catch, however! (Isn't there always?) Each of my customized calculators is "broken" such that only a few of the buttons work. Given a particular calculator's limitations, what values can and cannot appear on the screen? Given a target value, how can we display that value with the minimum number of (broken) button-presses? From a simple premise, we will discover a surprising variety of opportunities for exploration!