Entering partial derivatives?

[DrD]

I'm not too far removed from the point of view expressed by Parisse, except that I've found that no technology (CAS or otherwise) is academically universal.

I have taken math classes where no calcs were allowed, others where computer software Mathcad, Maple, Mathematica, etc. was the recitation support tool, and one trig class (long ago) where my hp48 was coveted by the professor, as he would always ask me for hp 48 solutions to classroom examples, comparing them with his lecture notes.

The most recent class I attended, linear algebra, the prof used only a few mathcad examples, throughout the course. The material covered, if well understood, didn't require hardware. Sometimes problem sets were a little more extensive, but for those, the process of the solution was paramount, with accuracy almost a secondary concern. However, it was always stressed that subject matter was what lecture time was about, unless it was a class with a technology perspective foremost.

In my vocational life, of course, it was accuracy above all, and hp calcs of various models were always near to hand my entire career. Beginning with hp-25, I still use the hp-50g even after retirement!

Lately, I have much more "fun" with the Prime, though! Thanks to Parisse, and Han, I have learned a great deal, possibly the most important being great respect for their efforts, regardless of how fitting the results may be!

-Dale-