Math Matters Update

Monday April 23, 2012

 

Orrin Hatch, six term Senator from Utah, is in the fight of his life, as is Sen Richard Lugar from Indiana. This weekend Hatch's challenger, in the Republican primary managed to stay in the game. Hatch fell short a mere 32 votes out of 3,908 cast to obtain 60% of the vote.If Hatch had done that he would be home free, no Republican challenger. Well math matters.

I had an earlier reference to this in a post March 19.I asked the two undergrad classes to comment. Not a single person in either class has done so. I added a site to the graduate class for them to read the article. 

Here is the link

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/print/2012/04/the-man-who-broke-atlantic-city/8900/

We instructors regularly get e mails at or around Sunday night deadlines that a student was unable to finish an on-line assignment. Now what has the re election of Orrin Hatch, a gambler in Vegas and his results, and students failing to complete on Sunday night all have in common?

Don Johnson, the gambler not the actor, only plays when the odds are on his side. That is how he wins. See my March 19 post. 

That is why I wanted all of you to read the article. Ask any accounting  student about their career goals and they quickly recite completing a certified exam. Well, if you plan to do that, you will need every possible factor in your favor. The difference between passing and failing may be one or two multiple choice question. Or as Hatch learned this weekend, 32 votes. 

As Mike Phelps swim coach observed, if you want to win at swim contests, first, get in the water. 

Too many students put off until tomorrow what would be advantageously done today. If anything is going to go wrong on-line, waiting till the deadline means the student sill certainly run out of alternatives, or the ability to start again. The wise student starts early, on everything. Yes there are breakdowns in on-line exams, exams mysteriously disappear around the appointed time, before they should.

I have no control over that and neither do you. And that is the point. Start early. Get the statistical advantage on your side. 

I have never met a student who expected to fail a certified exam. But half of all students fail at a part of the exam they take, every time the CPA exam is given. Clearly 50% have grossly unrealistic expectations. 

Repent now, 

or as Glenn Steinle used to say

I don't know what it means to be a CPA

But I sure know what it means not to be a CPA. 

 

Comments

[Daisy Castillo]

I had read this article when you first posted it and thought it was quite interesting. In retrospect, it makes more sense. Just like Don Johnson, put the odds in your favor by planning and being prepared. It will ultimately help you be ahead of the game or better yet, the class.

[Dennis Elam]

Thanks Daisy that was my point. I am increasingly of the opinion for example that students should work up to taking the CPA exam. Begin with an exam that does not limit the overall time, in months not minutes to pass the exam. After gaining experience under timed test conditions at a testing center, and better yet, obtaining a certification at some level, then consider taking the CPA exam.
As you say it is really the same thing, the odds must be in your favor.