Pippy and Calculate

[Mitch Bradley]

> I don't think Python's evaluations are useful as a calculator to
> a child, though.  You would have to explain this:
>
>   
>>>> 2+2
>>>>         
> 4
>   
>>>> 3/4
>>>>         
> 0
>
>   

When I was in elementary school, we first learned division with 
remainder, so the result of 3 / 4 is 0 remainder 3.

Fractions are a more advanced topic, and decimal fractions yet another 
level.

I think we are applying assumptions based on "already having learned the 
whole wad of mathematics convention" to learners. Mathematics learning 
is a process.  People are not born with algebraic notation wired in; it 
is an artifice like any other language.  People are born with the 
ability to learn such artifices, but not with a particular one.