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do math homework in pen

Should you use a pen or pencil doing math? (solved)

Should you use a pen or pencil to do math? mathematics is a subject that requires good attention and focuses on details.

which is the best tool that helps a lot pen or pencil doing math?

In this article, we’re going to discover what most students frequently use in their mathematical studies and why they prefer using it.

Should I use a pen or pencil to do math?

For stem majors, an average successful student should spend 2 hours a day studying mathematics which is 10 hours a week. The majority of college students prefer using pens, especially for passing exams or doing homework.

In addition, many professors demand from students to give them the work back done in pen, not pencil. Because writing pens are very clean and tidy, Not smudged papers and broad or finner strokes.

In the school system, pencils are acceptable because students are still in the learning phase and make a lot of mistakes. But for a college student, this can’t be an option, they already have draft papers to scribble out.

This is not meaning that students should not be allowed to use pencils, they already have many advantages like erasing mistakes as a principal advantage. But with the apparition of corrector pens, pencils lost their power.

Even though many students love to use pencils, college professors insisting working with pens, solving math problems on scrap paper, and copying it properly and professionally on an official paper.

It is not an obligation to choose to use pens instead of pencils. It remains a personal question many people find pencils good for math or vice versa.

But we will show 10 reason why you should use pens even if you love pencils doing math.

1 – Seeing your mistakes

According to LinkedIn, the research approved that humans are making 3 to 6 mistakes per hour on average. But the number will be likely higher in mathematics activities that seem complex and require a lot of attention.

Making mistakes doing mathematics is beneficial for students to know more about not erasing with a pencil.

Using a pen instead of a pencil doing math allows students to find and point out their mistakes localize their weaknesses and find solutions. Using a pencil, in this case, doesn’t allow the student to remember when he missed out or made mistakes.

Many students say that scribbling helps them to understand their level in mathematical subjects and how they are ready to pass exams

2 – Pens writings are 2 times clear

Pens writing are two times more clear than pencils because pencils are made from graphite which let some small holes in letters or lines that infect the reflectivity. As a result, makes less clear writing than ink does.

this is an example of pencil holes.

pen or pencil doing math

The density of color is variable depending on the head sharpness and pressure exert on a pencil. So we can see the difference in the darkness of a color, this is the normal due mechanical process of writing that pencils have.

Pencils work with a friction force, meaning rubbing graphite ( head material of pencil) with surface paper which lets stains on the paper but many small grains are left on the side of the paper. Whereas pen work is completely different.

doing math with a pen is not like a pencil, a pen gives good quality writing. To clarify you won’t notice holes in the writings because the ink is liquid material and not solid raw that gets rubbed on the surface of the paper.

3 – Pencils need to be sharpened every

An average pencil is sharpened 17 times before ending up according to, office express . Could be more or less, to keep and have relatively stable quality and accepted writing size we found that students should sharpen after every 120 words .

that means sharpening after half-hour of consistent work . So students should spend every hour 2 minutes sharpening their pencils which could be very annoying for many people. While the average of sharpeners’ lifespans is less than 6 mounts.

For this reason many pencils lovers prefer to use mechanical pencils to avoid this problem. But it is still to adjust a mechanical pencil every half hour but less demanding than such a sharpening process.

Pencil users are usually interrupted in their work every while they have to set up their pencils, so they can continue the work.

4 – Pencil writings aren’t controllable

Pencil Fontes isn’t stable the writer always varies between 0.2mm and 1mm in his writings. So after the sharpening process, students could reach 0.4 to 0.3 mm . But with the work, the writing thickness begins to increase until reaching the 1mm mark.

So in pencil writing paper, we can notice the difference and incoherent size font which is not professional.

pens have fixed-size heads the font is constant unless the user increases it by changing the angle of writing.

5 – You can do math better with a pen than with a pencil

according to hypertextbook the friction coefficient of steel that the pen use is between 0.15 and 0.6 while graphite is higher and vary between 0.5 and 0.8 this explains the smoothness of the ballpoint pen and pencils.

pens are smoother for writing because they use oil inks , not a pencil that has solid material rubbered with the paper.

It is like making a difference between chalkboards and whiteboards . writing with markers is not like using chalk, chalk is rougher and has less dust.

for people who are doing a lot of math working for long hours using a pen and pencils creates a difference. Using a pencil will require a lot of energy to write on paper which exerts a lot of power and tiring quickly the hand.

6 – Erasers can tear the paper

Erasing pencils’ writings many times can tear paper, and erasing 3 times in the same spot can smudge the paper and makes it not appealing for a professor or someone to revise it. Many students tear their papers using bad eraser quality.

But the problem comes for people who love to sharpen well their pencils, writing finer than the majority of students do.

Writing finner lines make it very hard and near impossible to erase them 100%, stains stay which makes paper smudgy and not comfortable to read. So many people find the idea of using a pencil to erase useless and not efficient.

7 – Pen teaches you confidence

According to Psychologytoday 85% of worldwide people suffer from a lack of confidence. That is due to the lack of self-esteem, say. So this is the reason why a majority of professors adopt using a pen for exams and assignments.

The goal is to raise the confidence of students and not make them be afraid of making mistakes. Creating the bad habit of writing and erasing is not sane and perfectionism in a non-perfect world.

In college, students have to be self-confident in their decisions, they can learn that from classrooms. Some students say that pencils teach them indecisiveness and increase their self-doubts about their works.

Using a pen teach student confidence and the acceptance that everything is not perfect and mistakes are human nature.

8 – Eraser is time-consuming

As we noticed in our article humans make between 3 to 6 mistakes on the average doing unconscious task. So what about solving mathematical issues like exercises or going into exams?. Mistakes could be multiplied by 10 .

for instance, if we take and consider that students only make 10 mistakes per hour doing math-solving exercises or passing exams. Also, we’re going to consider the average time of erasing is 1 min for big math mistakes .

As a result, students will lose 10 minutes erasing, while putting a straight line is enough to go to the next step.

Math sequential if you make mistake in the beginning everything that follows goes wrong. The question is, after writing 15 lines of Alegra or filling the whole page, do you need to erase the whole page to start again or do something else?

9 – Pencils exams can be altered

According to Rechargenet , 37% of students are cheating 65% are males and 24% are female . The cheating phenomenon is overspread in college, hence universities don’t allow students to use pencils to answer exams.

Cheating with pencils is very easy and professors could not control it. Some students interchange exams paper which makes it very hard to detect. On the other side, the student is not protected if he wants to ask a professor to revise his exam mark.

Anyone could alter the student exam paper and put something else wrong that could ruin a student’s future .

10 – pencils writing can become smudgy

Doing math with a pencil seems comfortable for many students. But once you start making mistakes and using Eraser things change. erasing many times the paper makes it smudgy, shadowed, and hard for reading.

Many people prefer to use pens instead of pencils to make clean writing because smudgy papers are noisy and don’t help the student to focus between lines.

For people who love to use pencils to do math whatever the problems that pencils have, they could watch this video to see the best pencil to use doing math.

mechanical pencils are more useful because they don’t need sharpening, in addition, this rotation special characteristic makes them behave like a pen.

but the other question is if we want to take notes should we use pencils or pens?

  • ← Is blackboards or whiteboards better for teaching?
  • Are fountain pens practical? (12 important things ) →

do math homework in pen

yassin.ajanif

Yassin ajanif is a physics graduate and electromechanical engineer width more than 5 years in the field. My goal and my team are to share our experience to help you succeed in your career as a stem major. we talk about all tips, problems, and struggle STEM students face in their career and how to overcome them.

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Math: Pen vs Pencil

do math homework in pen

Many math students are given strict instructions by their teachers to do all their work in pencil. I disagree.

The advantage of doing work in pencil is that:

  • it is easier to erase, so students are less likely to be paralyzed by “I am not sure this is correct, so I don’t dare write it down”

The disadvantages of working in pencil are that:

  • writing has less contrast with the page (easier to miss negative signs & exponents)
  • after repeated erasures, the page is hard to read
  • pencils often need sharpening, making writing harder to read
  • the lead in mechanical pencils breaks often, adding a distraction

The disadvantages of working in pen are:

  • many pens can leave blobs of ink on the page after drawing a line
  • you cannot erase your work (use  scrap paper  to solve this)

The advantages of working in pen on scrap paper are:

  • higher contrast writing makes it harder to miss small symbols (fewer errors from overlooking something)
  • no time outs needed to sharpen or extend lead needed
  • much less time spent erasing (cross it out with one line and move on)
  • less mess from eraser shreds

If I have a choice, I do all of my math work on scrap paper in pen. I then copy my final results over, either into my computer or onto the paper I intend to submit. Copying my work over has helped me figure out more math topics than any other activity, as it gives me another opportunity to: – think through the problem – consider alternative approaches to solving it – verify I have not made arithmetic or algebraic errors – edit my solution to make it as clear and convincing as possible

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By Whit Ford

Math tutor since 1992. Former math teacher, product manager, software developer, research analyst, etc.

One of my colleagues (at a community college) insists on pencil. I would hate that. I hate writing with pencil because it gets on my hand. (I am left-handed.) I cannot use mechanical pencils – the lead breaks or slip inside constantly.

Like you, I write in pen, and rewrite the problems. I too learn more that way.

I agree. Pen, pencil, whatever, as long as you’re trying and showing your work. I think I’m in the minority of Math teachers on this topic. Many kids think of their math teachers as very picky. I try to be more relaxed and go with the flow, as much as possible.

Agreed. Math is an artful topic, but the calculations and musings of math need not be perfect, beautiful, or even neat, at times. I like pens because they glide smoothly and provide a more pleasing tactile experience, but pencils are sometimes the gritty experience I need in order to wring out the most from a distracted brain. Use the tool that best meets your current greatest need.

I prefer pencil because they can be deleted easily when I get the answer wrong.

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The Best School Supplies for Learning Math

Learning math can be tiring and frustrating, but if you're equipped with good tools, it's easier to untangle those tricky problems. Whether you're taking notes, doing homework, or studying for a test, these school supplies can ease the way. Keep reading or watch the video below to see our top picks.

do math homework in pen

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The rings of the Maruman Kurufit Binder open all at once with a tab mechanism.

Our favorite paper to pair with Japanese binders is Kokuyo Campus Loose Leaf Paper . Graph paper is essential for almost every math class, but you can mix and match all kinds of sheet styles. We especially recommend Kokuyo’s special dotted rule paper , which incorporates subtle, evenly-spaced dots into its lines. This makes it easy to incorporate diagrams and graphs into notes.

Be sure to double-check that your class doesn’t require special paper, especially if it’s an engineering class. We should note that, if your class provides printed handouts on letter-size paper, they will need to be folded to fit in B5 sheet protectors . Consider using an A4 folder to organize printouts instead.

The perforated pages of the Maruman Spiral Note Basic Notebook are sturdy enough for notes but tear out neatly too.

If you haven’t written with a fine lead size before, be aware that it’s a little more prone to breaking. Luckily, the Orenz has a guide pipe to protect its lead that retracts as the lead wears down and extends with every click of the top button. Refrain from extending more lead than you need and all will be well.

For readers who are heavy-handed or experience hand pain, our guide to The Best Ergonomic Pencils can help you find a comfortable fit.

The Pilot FriXion Gel Pen dries quickly and erases easily.

While these pens write a little more translucently than other gel pens, they're still darker, less smudgeable, and take less pressure to write with than pencils.

Given the thermoreactive nature of FriXion ink, we recommend against leaving homework or notes written with it in a hot car. We also warn against using FriXions for tests, as work you turn in could be exposed to high temperatures or friction later.

Staedtler PVC-Free Erasers erase cleanly and come in handy plastic holders.

If your taste tends more toward the cute, check out the Beverly Cocosasu Page Markers . They’re not just adorable, though. Their innovative design allows you to tear the long end off and use it as a bookmark, then stick the short end at the exact line you want to reference in the future.

Use Correct Joho Index Cards to review your notes in advance of a test.

For the ultimate math enthusiast, a precise ruler is a must. On a typical ruler, the printed marking lines lead to variance in measurements. The Kokuyo True Measure Ruler alternates between printed and unprinted blocks for each millimeter span, thus providing more accurate measurements.

The Raymay Pen Pass Mechanical Pencil Type Compass is a handy solution for your geometric needs.

If you're struggling with the material, ask your teacher for help. If your teacher isn't available, check if any other teachers in the department will answer your questions, find a tutor, or form a study group. Sometimes switching from writing to talking gives you a fresh perspective and helps ideas stick in your mind, and it lets your teacher know you care about the class.

When you're doing homework, always show your work and use as much paper as you need. Sometimes it can be tempting to cram all your work into the smallest possible space, but this makes it more difficult to notice mistakes and fully understand your own thinking. If you're worried about the environment, use recycled products and recycle your old notes too.

One of the keys to preparing for tests is not being caught off guard by them. We love using planners to stay on top of tasks, but you can also set up digital notifications. Remind yourself a week or two beforehand so you can study in smaller chunks instead of all at once.

Repetition and familiarity can turn math from an enemy to a friend. Set aside time to do your homework without rushing, and don't skip practice tests before exams (take them more than once, if you need to). A vital part of practice is resting and coming back with a new perspective: take breaks, too!

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No matter the type of math you're learning, good study supplies can make the experience a little less confusing and a little more fun. Has anything helped you with math that we haven't mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below.

do math homework in pen

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do math homework in pen

do math homework in pen

The Benefits of Using Pencil and Paper in Math

One of the most visible changes in math education over the past 20 years has been the shift towards using computers. Many students in middle schools now see their homework problems on screens via tools like ASSISTments and Khan Academy and submit their solutions through screens, too.

This shift towards technology comes with some significant advantages, b ut this technological shift also comes with disadvantages. Sometimes students don’t benefit from two technological tools used by many generations of mathematicians, engineers, and scientists to work through problems: paper and pencil.

With the support of the Reboot Foundation, Bill Hinkley, a veteran math teacher, used the math program ASSISTments to explore how his students use paper and pencil when solving math problems, exploring the value of students showing their work. Using a randomized controlled trial Hinkley found intriguing results in student outcomes when students wrote down their math problem using a pencil and paper.

Key Findings

  • Students who were encouraged to work with paper and pencil outperformed their peers by about 13 points.

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February 16, 2016

Classroom Tech: Teaching Math with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

Main image for Classroom Tech: Teaching Math with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

March 2020 Update: See Amy's new posts about virtual teaching when your school is closed, summarized at Virtual Teaching in the Age of COVID-19 and Coronavirus

February 2018 Update: Amy is back with an updated post on her Math teaching blog. A lot has changed technologically in two years, but with iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, Apple TV, ForScore and other apps, you can almost always come up with more ways to use technology to teach! mathista.org: Using the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil for Teaching

amy

This is a guest post from my wife Amy, who used an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil in the classroom with great success. She used a combination of apps with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, and shares her story here. You can find more of her posts over at mathista.org .

This fall I took a long-term substitute job in my kids’ school district. I have been out of the classroom for over a decade, and during those years curriculum and technology have changed a great deal. I knew the learning curve would be steep when I stepped back into the classroom, but I was ready for the challenge.

Luckily the classroom I entered had a broken Smartboard . Did I say lucky ? Yes! This is how I felt as I started the job of teaching Algebra and Math 8 students in late October. Because they weren’t used to being taught using the Smartboard, this would be one area that I would have some built-in time to get up to speed. My own kids (grades 9 and 6) promised they’d help me learn to use the Smartboard as soon as it was up and running.

As the weeks went on, I got my teaching sea legs back and was eager to start using the Smartboard. After all, we’d entered a graphing unit in one of my classes and this technology would make things A LOT easier for teaching. The major problem with the board was that it wouldn’t calibrate. This means that when you write, what you are writing shows up an inch or more away from where you actually wrote it on the board. One day after school my kids helped try to calibrate it, and we thought we had it working. However, after a day of trying to use it in my Algebra class, I quickly realized that it was still enough off that it wasn’t very helpful.

Using the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil with Apple TV

do math homework in pen

So, the Smartboard was still broken, but I realized that I could use my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil and connect it to the Apple TV in the classroom (which is conveniently displayed on the Smartboard). I used the Paper app and pulled up a blank note of graph paper. With my Math 8 classes, we started to graph lines on the grid and we worked on solving problems using the multi-colored pens available in the app.

Paper was great for what I was doing at the time. We were graphing lines in the y = mx+b form and the graph paper of 10x10 in the app worked very well. However, I knew that as we progressed into larger values, it would be a problem for me. I wished I could use Google Drive for any document and have it be interactive the way Paper was.

Using Paper with a combination of apps with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil to show algebraic substitutions

Using Paper with a combination of apps with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil to show algebraic substitutions

forScore

My daughter is a musician and she uses the  forScore  app for her piano music ( read more about her initial iPad Pro for Pianists review ). She recently purchased an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil for her music. One day while I was out for an afternoon run, I had a GREAT idea! I’d seen her annotate and pull in music to forScore using screen shots of paper music. Could I use forScore for my math classes? I mentioned it to her and she said, “of course ... you can pull anything in there!”

Soon we were taking screen shots of Google Drive documents, graph paper and even blank paper for notes. forScore pairs with DocScanner , so there are times that I scan in a document that I have a printed copy of. I’m able to use all the annotating features; highlighters, different colored pens, the eraser, text box etc. The Apple Pencil is fantastic paired with the iPad Pro. There's no lag when writing, so it feels very natural, just like a real pencil on paper. However, when writing on the Smartboard, there's a bit of a lag which can interrupt your flow.

The Smartboard has since been updated and a new projector was installed. It now calibrates properly so I am able to use it as intended, connected to my desktop computer. However, because I was forced to find this solution and think outside the box, I now have this option as well.

do math homework in pen

Teacher Tips: Using the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

Formulas - The Google Drive app doesn’t work well with math formulas. Even if you have created a document on the Google Drive desktop using formulas, when you open it in the app, formulas don’t show up. As a result, you can’t take a screen shot of a document with formulas in Drive. To use documents with formulas, use DocScanner to scan the paper copy and pull it into forScore.

Erasing - The eraser in forScore can’t change size the way it can in some other apps. You can use the side of the Apple pencil to make your eraser larger than if you just use the tip.

Organizing Documents in forScore - To organize your documents, give them a title and then label them by composer. For example, some of my “composers” are: Module 3 Lesson 3 and Graph Paper .

My composer list in forScore

My composer list in forScore

Airplay - Some of the challenges I face with this method are that I’m using Airplay. It kicks me off the network frequently and the screen on the Smartboard goes dark if the iPad goes to sleep.

Be Prepared

Here are some tips for working around issues with the network and the display:

  • If you are working with the iPad and Apple TV for one class try to use that same combo for the other classes. In my classroom, it is tricky to switch the input from one to another quickly between classes. I find that I am more successful when I plan all the lessons to either use the same technology OR to use the technology for one group and then in the other class I have a no technology day.
  • To avoid having the screen go dark and having to re-enter the passcode many times during a class period make sure your iPad settings are to 10 minutes or longer for sleep during inactivity. The downside to this is that it will drain your battery more quickly, so remember at the end of use to put it back to a reasonable length of time.
  • Do have backups of the problems/notes you plan to use in case the technology fails. You probably already have individual copies of notes for the kids if you are using it for notes so it is easy to simply switch to the whiteboard. If you are doing something with individual whiteboards it is easy enough to write your problems up on the whiteboard or chalkboard. Using word problems? It is not a bad idea to have 4-6 copies of what you are using so that you could put the kids into groups and have them work through the material with hard copies. There’s nothing worse than having an entire lesson derailed because the technology doesn’t work.

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How to Take Math Notes With a Smartpen

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Everybody knows that it's important to take good math notes, but do you really know how to take notes that really make a difference? The old rules may not work for modern students. For example, we've always heard that you should use a sharp pencil to take math notes. But these days it's much better to use a smartpen!

Using a Smartpen for Taking Math Notes

  • A smartpen has the ability to record your teacher's lecture as you take notes. This is important because no matter how quickly you copy notes in class, you are likely to miss something. If you are able to record the lecture as you write, you can review the teacher's words as you work through the class problems--and you can do it over and over again! The best tool for recording math class is the Pulse Smartpen, by LiveScribe. This pen will enable you to tap on any space in your written notes and hear the lecture that took place while you were writing it. If you can't afford a smartpen, you may be able to use a recording feature on your laptop, iPad, or tablet. If these tools aren't accessible, you can use a digital recorder.
  • If you can't use a smartpen, you should be sure to write down everything that might be useful as you do your homework. Be sure to copy every single step of every problem, and in the margins of your notes, jot down anything the teacher says that may give additional clues to the process.
  • Science has shown that we all learn best through repetition over time. Rewrite each problem or process at night as you study. Also, try to re-listen to the lecture.
  • Sometimes we struggle on exams because we haven't worked through enough problems. Before you leave a class, ask for extra sample problems that are similar to the problems your teacher works through. Try to work through the extra problems on your own, but seek advice online or from a tutoring center if you get stuck.
  • Buy a used math textbook or two with more sample problems. Use these textbooks to supplement your lectures. It is possible that one book author will describe things in a more comprehensible manner than another.
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Pen or Pencil for Math?

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do math homework in pen

I recently challenged the longstanding requirement among math teachers for students to “ show your work .” Now it’s time to go after another common math teacher mandate: always use pencil.

The reason I stopped requiring students to use pencils is the same reason I stopped requiring them to do a lot of things: giving students choices is a key to empowering them as self-directed learners. I’m reminded of a student who spent ten minutes setting up a graph using pen, and had to redo it after realizing her scale was way off. When the teacher asked what she learned from this experience, the girl said she needed to plan more carefully. The teacher then asked if she learned anything else. “Yeah, next time I’m going to use pencil,” the girl replied.

It’s far better for students to learn from their mistakes like this girl did than for us to prevent their mistakes by telling them what to do and how to do it (and what to do it with). But students who use pencils often erase their mistakes before learning from their mistakes. If anything, then, we should require students to not use pencils, as 5th grade teacher Jennifer Bearden @JenBearden ) tweeted:

Just had an aha. Have kids use ink in math so they CAN'T erase. I can see all their thinking. Bkwrds from wht I've alwys thought.

The advantages of ink (including no need for pencil sharpening breaks!) notwithstanding, my point here is about student empowerment. Requiring students to use pens is therefore no more appropriate than requiring them to use pencils. Let’s give students opportunities to make thoughtful decisions that serve their needs as learners, informed by their experiences rather than our biases. And let’s help them by focusing on what’s in their heads, not what’s in their hands.

Image by Cheryl Casey, provided by Dreamstime license

The opinions expressed in Coach G’s Teaching Tips are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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The Fountain Pen Network

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Math And Fountain Pens

CalvaryMaid

By CalvaryMaid January 6, 2013 in The Write Stuff

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CalvaryMaid

Does anyone else do math with a fountain pen? As was the case with penmanship, I hated math in school and didn't study it once I wasn't forced to in school. When I got into fountain pens last year, I read a post here that said that kids in some European countries (probably Germany and/or France, I don't remember which) used fountain pens for math. That inspired me to renew my math studies and to do it using fountain pens exclusively. When I make a mistake, I just cross it out. Sometimes the crossed out parts contain the seeds of the right answer. It's actually neater than using pencil, because when I use a pencil, I press really hard, and the marks don't erase well. I feel that my fountain pen hobby is helping me to explore other interests that I would not have considered before.

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Now bridle your horse, cavalry maiden. Soon a furious battle will blaze. Brünnhilde must charge into battle, she must see the Volsung wins. Let Hunding decide where he belongs. I do not require him in Valhalla. So make ready and quickly ride into battle. - Wotan, Act II, Scene 1, Die Walkure

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moylek

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moylek 5 posts

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Jan 21 2013

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do math homework in pen

engineerboy

Happy New Year!

I use fine nibbed FP's for all my engineering calculations and concept sketching. Obviously, pencils make more sense for sketching things that you need to erase. But, I like the line width variation I can get with a flex nib.

There is a line of thought about using ink versus pencil for calculations. Where one has pages of calculations such as when doing differential equations and other complicated problem solving, I can tell you from experience there were many times, I erased lines and lines of work, thinking I had done it wrong, only to find that those sections of calculations were not in error! With pen, you would strike it out and start another page. If you found a possible flaw in your work, at least you could use if for reference.

BTW, I received your Christmas card, thank you! I got so backed up with the end of the year stuff with the business, that I've gotten behind on my letter writing.

Have a fantastic new year!

Collectors Item

Yes- Everything with a fountain pen.

Extremely Rare

I'm a systems analyst working with and amongst mathematicians (at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario). I got used to being the only person in the room using a fountain pen over twenty years ago, when I first started working at the university. So it was a bit surprising to move into my new office in the math building and find myself only one of many fountain pen users - and particularly odd I thought since I, too, associated math with pencils and erasers.

So, to answer your question: if the mathematicians I work with may be judged as good exemplars then, yes, you can do math with a fountain pen.

Kenneth Moyle

Hamilton, Ontario

I've done math with a fountain pen since I first got one in second grade. We had a rule that pencils were for drawing only, everything else was supposed to be done in pen - interesting how these things are handled differently in different countries!

I don't usually try to get a perfect solution at the first try but just play around with different ideas and talk to my equations for a few pages before writing them down neatly. As things get more complicated, there are often multiple ways to approach a certain problem, so it's nice to have a few in reserve in case the first one doesn't work out.

thang1thang2

Tez

My math teacher refuses to grade work if I write it in pen.

I'll have a Brandy Alexander, please.

That'd be awesome. Math is so much more fun in a colour!

:D

notVirtuThe3rd

I do it all the time!  

Beautiful!!!

reval

Since I used fountain pens at school and university, and my courses included a lot of math and sciences: yes. For drawing graphs I used mostly pencils though. Although fountain pen users were in the minority, fountain pen use was certainly not rare at my university. This was in the 1990s and in the Netherlands.

Lisya72

Absolutely. I don't take tests with it because they require a pencil, but I did all my homework in fountain pen.

ModiHammarstedt

myn

Sorry to hear that some teachers aren't willing to allow fountain pens - seems to me that if a student can do math with a fountain pen they should go to the head of the class.

"Minds are like parachutes. They only function when open." James Dewar

http://i49.tinypic.com/2j26aaa.png

Well now, I could do math with my fountain pen but no-one would be able to read it for all the corrections. Guess it's a good thing I no longer have to worry about 1 + 1 = 3 By the way Bernardo how on earth did you get such a neat math book. If I tried that it would look like a chicken had walked through it backwards.   Sorry to hear that some teachers aren't willing to allow fountain pens - seems to me that if a student can do math with a fountain pen they should go to the head of the class.

My guess: It's either his notes (no work needed) or he has chicken scratchings somewhere else and writes down the final work on there. Or the work is easy enough that he doesn't need to double check that he's writing down the right things.

I do all my math and physics with a fountain pen, always one with an italic nib, because nothing is easier on the eyes than seeing calculus in italic! I've gotten many compliments from people who glance at my notes because of this!

Oh, please do let us see some italic calculus. Please?

fastercat

I was introduced to fountain pens in college. I did most of my engineering homework with a Parker that is siting next to my computer right now. Although it is waiting for a classic Washable Blue Ink cartridge or a shot from Dr. Ink Needle.

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Dipped Only

I am very glad to hear that you are pursuing the study of mathematics not out of necessity (so not as part of a school curriculum) but out of inspiration and interest. I am in a somewhat similar situation.

In 2007, purely out of interest, I purchased a couple of school mathematics textbooks ("Year 11 Cambridge Mathematics 2-Unit" and "Year 12 Cambridge Mathematics 2-Unit"). My aim, purely out interest you understand, was to attempt every question in those books. Well, I did attempt every question and I succeeded in correctly answering most of them. It took me about two and a half years to complete those textbooks.

Then I realised that the 2-unit level was not enough. So off I went to the bookshop again and this time I bought "Year 11 Cambridge Mathematics 3-Unit", "Year 12 Cambridge Mathematics 3-Unit" and "Year 12 Cambridge Mathematics 4-Unit". I am using the same approach as before, that is to say, attempting every question (and succeeding at most). I am less than half a chapter from the end of the Year 12 3-Unit textbook having taken three years to get this far.

I certainly do use a fountain pen for mathematics.

The very act of writing with a fountain pen seems to make the mathematics easier to understand! Then again...it could just be my imagination!!!

WaskiSquirrel

WaskiSquirrel

I started college with plans of being a math teacher, but soon switched to being a physics major. The physics actually helped the math truly make sense. After I started teaching (as a science teacher), I began working on a masters' degree in mathematics. I finished everything but 2 chapters of the thesis. (I wish I had finished those as well, but that is water under the bridge.) Anyway, I was able to add mathematics to my teaching license along with all of the other sciences. I've taught most science courses from grades 7-12 and math courses all the way from 8th grade Algebra 1 to dual credit Calculus.

Anyway: I like to use a pencil to do my mathematics. I purchased a nice pencil sharpener to help me out. There is something soothing about the feel of a wood pencil between my fingers and the smell of pencil shavings. I like fountain pens as well, but I mostly use them for writing. In high school, I used them in math as well, but since then I discovered the joy of pencil.

As a teacher, I don't have a requirement. I suggest pencil, but I don't actually care. For some kids, the permanence of pen is good. For other kids, the ability to change their work in pencil is best. I'm part of the latter group in my math, but part of the former in my writing. I have realized that a lot of it comes down to personal preference.

By the way: I just wrote up an answer key to a worksheet with my Pilot Custom 823. It felt good, for whatever that is worth. Of course, it was only for Algebra 1.

Proud resident of the least visited state in the nation!

aj3537

1357567422[/url]' post='2557312'] 1357550109[/url]' post='2557146'] 1357538560[/url]' post='2557068'] My math teacher refuses to grade work if I write it in pen.

I had a math teacher like that. All math was to be done with a mechanical pencil. I bought a set on Eno mechanical pencils with colored lead. I would color code exponents, (), and integrals. When I got to college, pencils were banned on exams so you couldn't change answers.

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COMMENTS

  1. Should you use a pen or pencil doing math? (solved)

    5 - You can do math better with a pen than with a pencil. according to hypertextbook the friction coefficient of steel that the pen use is between 0.15 and 0.6 while graphite is higher and vary between 0.5 and 0.8 this explains the smoothness of the ballpoint pen and pencils. pens are smoother for writing because they use oil inks, not a ...

  2. Math: Pen vs Pencil

    pencils often need sharpening, making writing harder to read. the lead in mechanical pencils breaks often, adding a distraction. The disadvantages of working in pen are: many pens can leave blobs of ink on the page after drawing a line. you cannot erase your work (use scrap paper to solve this) The advantages of working in pen on scrap paper are:

  3. Digital vs. Paper in Math Class

    Blending the Two. The best model is to "blend" learning - combine tech with hands on or paper-based teaching. Students will get the most out of a lesson if tech is used only when it enhancesthe lesson, not dominates it. Practicing concepts by hand on paper is irreplaceable in the math classroom.

  4. Benefits of using Pencil and Paper in Math

    The choice isn't to use traditional tools or modern ones; it's to recognize the value of math homework technology in conjunction with traditional tools for solving math problems — paper and pencil. You can use these tools while still holding students accountable by making work with pencil and paper an expectation.

  5. Learning math: still paper and pen

    7. When you write with a pen/pencil on paper, your brain is actually registering the words --- whereas typing registers the letters. Consequently, the overall notes written by hand (in any subject) "sticks" with you longer and better than those just typed up. Ideally, you'd write by hand on paper first, then type them up in LaTeX taking into ...

  6. The Best School Supplies for Learning Math

    The Best Binders for Learning Math: Maruman Kurufit Binders. The rings of the Maruman Kurufit Binder open all at once with a tab mechanism. With the Maruman Kurufit Binder, organizing your notes and homework is a breeze. Its compact size fits in even the most overstuffed backpack. Adding or shuffling pages is simple, as its rings all unhook ...

  7. Doing math on paper vs computer

    1. Most of the time, I just use a plain text file (open editor.exe on Windows, resp. TextEdit on Mac) to develop math. I know this is rather trivial, but often this is sufficient, probably at least for algebra related mathematics. For example, this recent answer of mine was completely done in a simple text file.

  8. The Benefits of Using Pencil and Paper in Math

    A math teacher explored how his students use paper and pencil when solving math problems. Students who used paper and pencil outperformed their peers by about 13 points. ... Many students in middle schools now see their homework problems on screens via tools like ASSISTments and Khan Academy and submit their solutions through screens, too.

  9. Classroom Tech: Teaching Math with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

    The Apple Pencil is fantastic paired with the iPad Pro. There's no lag when writing, so it feels very natural, just like a real pencil on paper. However, when writing on the Smartboard, there's a bit of a lag which can interrupt your flow. The Smartboard has since been updated and a new projector was installed.

  10. How to Take Math Notes With a Smartpen

    Using a Smartpen for Taking Math Notes. A smartpen has the ability to record your teacher's lecture as you take notes. This is important because no matter how quickly you copy notes in class, you are likely to miss something. If you are able to record the lecture as you write, you can review the teacher's words as you work through the class ...

  11. How many of you still work with pen and paper? : r/math

    The surface is texurized and the pen is pressure sensitive so it feels more like paper than what ive experienced on a regular tablet. Another option is something like the ReMarkable 2. It does a better job of simulating paper, is more satisfying to use, and isn't as hard on your eyes.

  12. Difference in Learning Among Students Doing Pen-and-Paper Homework

    A repeated crossover experiment comparing learning among students handing in pen-and-paper homework (PPH) with students handing in web-based homework (WBH) has been conducted. The system used in the experiments, the tutor-web, has been used to deliver homework problems to thousands of students in mathematics and statistics over several years.

  13. Anyone else who loves doing math in pen? Using a Sailor pro ...

    Jinhao 51a is my go-to math pen; I love the small stiff nib for it. Unfortunately the neat freak in me resorts to pencil when it comes time to submit a paper assignment, since I would inevitably have to cross out many corrections. ... However, I can't imagine spending the money on Tomoe to do homework on it, lmfao. Reply reply

  14. Why do schools require the use of a pen in math? : r ...

    Answered. I should give a disclaimer: when I was in school in the 90s (in the US), the math classes there required the use of pen. It wasn't just my school either. Some of my friends mentioned that they had to use pens in their schools. While both my grade and high schools arranged an exception for me due to my dyscalculia, I always still ...

  15. Pen or Pencil for Math? (Opinion)

    Requiring students to use pens is therefore no more appropriate than requiring them to use pencils. Let's give students opportunities to make thoughtful decisions that serve their needs as ...

  16. Math Homework Can End Up Doing More Harm Than Good, Study Shows

    Giving pupils math homework can sometimes do more harm than good, according to a new study - particularly when the tasks involved in the work are too complex for kids to complete even with the help of their parents. The researchers, from the University of South Australia and St Francis Xavier University in Canada, interviewed eight Canadian ...

  17. PDF On-line homework versus pen and pencil homework.final

    Feedback from pen and pencil homework varies considerably across instructors, while standardized online homework is typically graded immediately, informs students where they went wrong, and allows retries. Instructors, however, may not be aware of learning difficulties among individual students, as they are not personally grading the homework.

  18. Free Math Worksheets

    Khan Academy's 100,000+ free practice questions give instant feedback, don't need to be graded, and don't require a printer. Math Worksheets. Khan Academy. Math worksheets take forever to hunt down across the internet. Khan Academy is your one-stop-shop for practice from arithmetic to calculus. Math worksheets can vary in quality from ...

  19. Bit of a Frivolous Question

    The main reason for using a pen for math is to promote accuracy and neatness. Unlike pencils, pens do not smudge or fade, which can lead to mistakes in calculations. Using a pen also encourages students to think before they write, as they cannot easily erase their work. 2.

  20. Doing Mathematics with Fountain Pens?

    If I have to turn in the assignment I use pencil, because most professors don't want homework and tests in pen. If its notes or problems that aren't turned in I use FPs. I write with med and broad nibs, since I have large handwriting. ... I do math with a fountain pen all the time - and I do a lot of mathematics. If When I make a mistake, ...

  21. Math And Fountain Pens

    Location:Eindhoven. Flag: Posted January 7, 2013. Since I used fountain pens at school and university, and my courses included a lot of math and sciences: yes. For drawing graphs I used mostly pencils though. Although fountain pen users were in the minority, fountain pen use was certainly not rare at my university.

  22. Every time I see people do math with a pen : r/AdviceAnimals

    PastaNinja. •. This is brutal on tests where you're given a limited amount of space to write in your answer. On homework assignments and such, I doubt a TA wants to see 2 pages of crossed out shit before they finally get to my answer. If you get the answer right, you get full marks for it; it is irrelevant how many times you got it wrong ...

  23. MathGPT

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  24. PDF Meaningfully Integrating Racial Topics Across the Curriculum

    math and social studies, yet King and Woodson (2017) offer insights into just how racially harmful these attempts can be for students of color. They describe a case of a 3rd grade homework assignment in Norcross, Georgia where students were tasked to answer several math word problems: 1). Frederick had 6 baskets filled with cotton.

  25. What type of pen would you suggest I get for doing math?

    Miadhawk. •. The best pen for math would be a dry writing F or XF/XXF nib. I'm a bigger fan of using a CI or a stub nib, but when it comes to math nothing beats one of those. Look at Pilot/Namiki's Metropolitan or Sailors' Reglus. Reply. adkaid. •. Richard Binder does excellent needlepoint nibs.