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<p>Yeah, that’s a real knee-slapper. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>As I said before, my (brilliant) chemical engineer father was the one who impressed me with the importance of being able to estimate using large numbers. To my knowledge, none of the plants he designed all over the world have blown up yet. 
He was also scornful about teaching that depended on memorizing formulae. He said that if you needed to use it frequently you would remember it, and if not you’d look it up. Being able to DO something with it was more important than memorizing it. He also used to pose math problems for us to do in our heads during dinner. :D</p>
<p>Engineers are not “learning geometry by estimation.” But I can imagine a situation in which they might use their knowledge of loads and weight-bearing ability of certain materials to estimate costs of certain design alternatives before working out all of the details. Just as an example.</p>
<p>I guess I don’t understand why so many parents equate memorizing math facts and solving problems only using a single “approved” method ordained by the teacher with good math education and good math skills. Perhaps it is because that is all THEY can understand?</p>